Lost in transit? – effects of a highly transit-affected town

ABSTRACT In this article, we argue that a place can become too well-connected, and that in this manner, its identity and key character can be ‘lost in transit’. Therefore, as the article points out, in the future urban planning of places highly affected by transit, it will be important to emphasize co-thinking of the concepts of ‘transit towns’ and ‘living towns’. We examine a place in Denmark which is particularly influenced by transit, namely the seaport town of Hirtshals. Through empirical and ethnographic explorations, the article seeks to reveal the challenges which a town primarily characterized by its role in goods transportation and ferry transit faces in terms of liveability and social quality for its inhabitants. This is performed through a case study using various practical methods, including document analysis, interviews, surveys, registration data, and physical-spatial place analysis.