Increasing Urban Walkability through Citizens’ Participation Processes

Francesco Scorza,Raffaella Carbone,Piergiuseppe Pontrandolfi,Giovanni Fortunato,Beniamino Murgante

doi:10.3390/su13115835

Francesco Scorza, Raffaella Carbone + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115835

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: May 22, 2021
Citations: 23	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Basilicata

Abstract

The work is focused on the integration of space syntax analysis (SSA) in a process of participatory planning focused on a neighbourhood scale where the challenge of promoting pedestrian-friendly regeneration process is a bottom-up priority. The promotion of active mobility is one of the main themes of the urban regeneration project CAST operating on the western part of the city of Potenza (capital of the Basilicata region, Italy). Both the state of the art of the case study area and the potential effects of the intervention proposed on the basis of the participatory process have been assessed by SSA as a walkability assessment method. By measuring a street network’s syntactic parameters, it was possible to further enrich the cognitive framework relating to the current situation and to simultaneously evaluate the effects (in terms of potential movement and social usage) deriving from design interventions. The paper presents a methodology to evaluate the urban pedestrian environment and to provide an insight for walking-related intervention and improvements in neighbourhood-scale planning, according to a participatory approach. The research, based on specific local characteristics, represents a transferable approach to supporting and informing policy-makers and designers engaged in inclusive and participative urban regeneration projects.

Highlights

The axial analysis was carried out using topological distance and considering two different route network’s maps (Figure 4): the vehicular road network and the network resulting from the integration of the latter with pedestrian paths
The proposed interventions designs are based on the acquisition of data and information according to a “citizen-centred” inclusive approach taking into account bottom-up contributions compared with robust technical evaluations based on space syntax analysis (SSA)
A participatory walkability assessment method was integrated with traditional street survey-based approaches with web-assisted procedures to create a shared and flexible cognitive framework, including different and several pedestrian users’ perspectives

Summary

Introduction

A “citizen-centred” participatory framework [1] has helped increase citizens’ awareness concerning the environmental externalities generated by traditional urban mobility organization (based on private and public vehicles) in recent years, as demonstrated by initiatives undertaken at national and international level aimed at reducing the use of private cars, increasing the use of public transport and encouraging walking and cycling [2,3,4]. Urban active mobility helps make cities and communities environmental friendly, healthier and more socially inclusive. Urban mobility produces 40% of CO2 emissions in the transport sector [5]. It is clear how action is needed in order to encourage a modal shift in favour of transport modes that guarantee sustainability from environmental, social and economic points of view, such as walking

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Conclusion