Accessible pedestrian paths for educational setting design evaluation: Case study in Surabaya and Bandung City, Indonesia and Brisbane City, Australia

Abstract

Covid-19 has changed the city and human lives, especially related to walking. The lockdowns in several countries such as China, Japan and Australia have prescribed urban residents to stay within approximately five to ten kilometres radius of their homes. The lockdowns were found helpful in suppressing the Covid-19 spread at a local level. However, more discussions are needed on the well-being and health of residents during a hard time. In Australia, two people could exercise during lockdowns for one hour within the resident’s neighbourhoods. The needs for accessible pedestrian paths in the neighbourhood are essential during Covid-19. Some universities were closed during the lockdowns in the educational sector, but students could stay near the campus and use facilities within. Many students need accessible pedestrian paths to walk to the campus from their apartments and shopping centres. This lockdown further generates the idea to research pedestrian paths’ accessibilities in some educational context in Surabaya, Bandung, both in Indonesia and Brisbane, Australia. The simple access evaluations are conducted with photography documentation and simple measurement based on ADAAG 2010 and local regulations. Therefore, the pedestrian paths in two locations in Indonesia are found to be less accessible, while pedestrian paths in Brisbane are found to be more accessible. The less accessible Indonesian pedestrian paths are caused by a lack of spaces, poor construction, and pedestrian paths’ poor management. Meanwhile, better access standards, better infrastructure management, and proper construction are essential key points for better accessible pedestrian paths.