Work

Between Looms and Beds: Unveiling Transportation Challenges with a Radius-Led Mixed-Methods Approach in Informal Space Based on a Study Conducted in Guangzhou, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate the conflicts between formal and informal urban spaces and how formal urban policies’ neglect of informal needs exacerbates traffic chaos and segregation in East Asia, aiming to decipher the operational logic of informal transportation systems and their dynamic interactions with formal urbanization processes. Focusing on Zhongda Textile City, we delve into the specific manifestation of these conflicts, which appear in four key aspects: (1) mismatch between urban planning and informal needs, (2) physical disconnection between formal and informal areas, (3) infrastructure projects occupying informal spaces, and (4) policy-making neglecting existing experiences. Using a mixed-method framework, we highlight the marginalization of informal spaces through their evolving relationship with formal systems and provide insights into urbanization strategies that account for these symbiotic yet contested dynamics.

Source: Buildings

DOI: 10.3390/buildings15071185

Authors: Wangwang Li, Haoxian Cai, Xiaodong Zheng, Wei Duan

Institution: Beijing Forestry University

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137