Cities and flows: re-asserting a relationship as fundamental as it is delicate

This paper emphasizes the relationship between cities and (transport) flows and critically explores the question of how this relationship has changed over time. It ties in with the legacy of Brian Hoyle's work on port cities and discusses the general mechanisms and trajectories of urban development in the context of transport networks, particularly the tension between the concentration and dispersal of flows and their impact on places. Thus, the relationship between places and flows is considered both fundamental and delicate: that is, it is not only immanent to both, it also causes tensions and conflict. This is discussed in more detail in relation to two distinct cases: ports and airports. In response to related conflicts, the integration of flows in urban areas is pursued as a policy and planning strategy. However, the cases reveal that integration is difficult to achieve, due to complex systems' dynamics and the individual logic of each sector, where integration is often accompanied by disintegration. Some light is also shed on a constructivist view of the subject matter. Finally, some ramifications for research and planning practices will be presented. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.