How transport infrastructures become personal, social, ecological, and land use boundaries

Book chapter, 2024

Transport infrastructures such as roads and railways fragment space into distinct zones, with the boundaries defined by physical barriers (walls, fences, noise screens, guardrails) and the risks and nuisances of traffic (speed, noise, pollution, dust). This chapter argues that these barriers are not only physical boundaries but also personal and social boundaries for humans, ecological boundaries for animals, and land use boundaries in cities and the countryside. The chapter also discusses political and governance aspects involved in the creation, shift, or removal of those boundaries. The arguments are grounded on evidence from case studies in several countries, drawing from academic and non-academic literature.