Built Environment Determinants of Pedestrian Activities and Their Consideration in Urban Street Design

Regine Gerike,Caroline Koszowski,Bettina Schröter,Paul Schepers,Peter Jones,Ralph Buehler,Rico Wittwer,Johannes Weber

doi:10.3390/su13169362

Regine Gerike, Caroline Koszowski + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169362

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Abstract

Pedestrian facilities have been regarded in urban street design as “leftover spaces” for years, but, currently, there is a growing interest in walking and improving the quality of street environments. Designing pedestrian facilities presents the challenge of simultaneously accommodating (1) pedestrians who want to move safely and comfortably from point A to B (movement function); as well as (2) users who wish to rest, communicate, shop, eat, and enjoy life in a pleasant environment (place function). The aims of this study are to provide an overview of how the task of designing pedestrian facilities is addressed in international guidance material for urban street design, to compare this with scientific evidence on determinants of pedestrian activities, and to finally develop recommendations for advancing provisions for pedestrians. The results show that urban street design guidance is well advanced in measuring space requirements for known volumes of moving pedestrians, but less in planning pleasant street environments that encourage pedestrian movement and place activities. A stronger linkage to scientific evidence could improve guidance materials and better support urban street designers in their ambition to provide safe, comfortable and attractive street spaces that invite people to walk and to stay.

Highlights

IntroductionSpaces for pedestrians were treated as “leftover spaces” in urban street design
For many years, spaces for pedestrians were treated as “leftover spaces” in urban street design
This study focuses on the design of streets and pedestrian facilities as one important determinant of pedestrian activities, as well as one main field in policy-making for promoting walking

Summary

Introduction

Spaces for pedestrians were treated as “leftover spaces” in urban street design. In regard to technical geometrical street design, motorised vehicle size was the main determinant for minimum lane widths. The provision of dedicated lanes for public transport depended on space availability and its level of prioritisation in local transport policy; defined target values for traffic quality for motorised vehicles, e.g., in terms of level of service for the forecasted traffic volumes, determined the number of lanes in street sections and at junctions. The accommodation for pedestrian needs or place functions has fallen by the wayside, in areas with limited street space availability. Seen from an engineering perspective, with a width of about 0.75 m to 1.00 m, a “standard” pedestrian does not typically occupy much space, causing pedestrians to be perceived and treated as a more flexible user group compared to motorised vehicles and bicycles

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