Spatial accessibility and mobility of the population in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte: analysis based on the 2010 demographic census

Abstract

The Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, like others in Brazil, offers inadequate conditions for the movement of people and commodities. In addition to the precariousness of the public transportation system and the high rates of traffic accidents, one can observe a gradual worsening of problems related to traffic jams and pollution, factors that negatively impact the quality of urban life and economy. Therefore, it is relevant to carry out a diagnosis of the conditions of spatial accessibility and mobility in these urban areas. This article proposes and analyzes indicators of spatial accessibility and mobility of people among the cities located within the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (Southeastern Brazil), based on the values of distance, time and average speed of movements identified in the Brazilian census sample of 2010.