There was a time when new railway lines and motorways determined where urbanisation took place. Although that influence still exists, it is much less significant than it was. The fact that transport policy in recent decades has been backed up by strong spatial policy therefore makes perfect sense. Thanks to this, urban development has ensured support for public transport and bicycles and prevented greater dependence on cars. Dena Kasraian defends her PhD thesis on Wednesday 24 May with NWO funding under the programme Urban Europe at the TU Delft.