The Dynamics of Urban Activity Distribution with Respect to the Advance of High-Speed Transit Systems

Yudai Honma¹* and Osamu Kurita²

¹Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
²Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
*E-mail address: yudai@sd.tmu.ac.jp

(Received May 31, 2008; Accepted October 27, 2008)

Abstract. The dynamics of commercial activities in cities has been explored by the Harris-Wilson's balancing-mechanism model. As properties of balancing-mechanism, it is known that the derived distribution depends on the various elements such as the shape of region or transportation network. In this paper, we take the balancing-mechanism in the general urban activities, and analyze the dynamics of urban activity distribution with respect to the advance of high-speed transit system. In particular, focusing on the Japanese railway system, we examine how the construction of Shinkansen bullet train affects the developments of cities in Japan. As a result, we clarified that the opening of high-speed transit system promotes the further developments of large cities, and miserable declinations of small cities.

Keywords: Balancing-Mechanism, Urban Activity, High-Speed Transit System, Japanese Railway Network, Magnetically Levitating Train