Abstract
As pedestrian zones are public spaces in urban areas, they are important in terms of meeting people’s needs. However, it is worth noting that attention should be paid not only to the development of the physical infrastructure, but also to a sustainable balance between the socio-economic and environmental aspects. To guide urban planning and management initiatives towards more sustainable patterns, it is essential to re-examine the already existing characteristics of cities, establishing how they are used and perceived by inhabitants. The present research suggests environmental, economic and social criteria that determine a greater vitality of pedestrian zones in cities and better life quality for the inhabitants. A questionnaire survey was used to assess common attitudes regarding the research topic in major cities in Lithuania. The multiple criteria decision-making COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional ASsessment) method was used for the formation of a priority queue. The research results showed the attitudes of inhabitants towards pedestrian zones in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda. The inhabitants of these three cities regarded social and environmental criteria groups as the most significant. Contrary to what was expected and anticipated, respondents do not consider economic criteria as playing a key role in the sustainable preservation and development of pedestrian zones.
Highlights
Pedestrian zones are public spaces in cities and towns intended for the use of pedestrians
The survey showed that the majority of urban residents in Lithuania visit pedestrian zones several times a month, while another majority visits pedestrian streets as frequently as several times per week
In the analysed pedestrian zones, residents mostly engage in leisure activities and cultural or other forms of entertainment
Summary
Pedestrian zones are public spaces in cities and towns intended for the use of pedestrians. It is argued that public spaces can be perceived as a mirror of social customs, values and culture [7,8,9,10,11] that reveal themselves gradually over time and are best recognised in old, traditional parts of the city or in the centre, as these places serve the most public functions [12]. These are public spaces that greatly affect the image of the city, and their functions and aesthetic quality determine the viability of public spaces [13]
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