Toward a Safer and More Vibrant Shopping Street by Walk Bikes ( poster )

Abstract

Background Utsunomiya City is located 100 km north of Tokyo with a population of half a million. Since 2010, the city authorized Cycle City Utsunomiya Promotion Plan to achieve safer and more comfortable cycle-friendly environment. However, the main shopping arcade called Orion Street in the city center is notorious for its conflicts between passing bicycles and pedestrians. This street was once the symbol of hollowing-out with many shops closed, but efforts have been made to restore the once busy shopping arcade. In October 2016, a pavement cafe demonstration experiment was held in Orion Street for a month by setting tables and chairs on the street to encourage shoppers to return. Aim In order to avoid traffic accidents between bicycles and pedestrians, only walk bike mode is permitted on this street during pavement cafe experiment. Pictogram signs to urge walk bike were placed along the street. In addition, volunteers solicited cyclists to cooperate walk bike mode. We carried out a before and after study to examine the effectiveness of the walk bike regulation in Orion Street. Method Number and directions of pedestrians and bicycles, speed of bicycles have been measured using the Eco-counter sensors and video cameras on 24/7 basis in Orion Street since September 2016. Analysis was made to compare the observed data of pedestrian traffic and speed of bicycles before, during and after the pavement cafe experiment. Results Average bicycle speed was reduced by 25% during the experiment comparing with the average speed before. Although the bicycle speed went up after the experiment, the average speed remains 15% lower than pre-experiment period. Another finding is that the number of bicycles passing through Orion Street is reduced to 90%. This is due to the fact that walk bike campaign during the pavement cafe experiment forced those who wish to continue riding bike to divert to alternative routes. Conclusions Based on the result of this study, the city is planning to implement walk bike regulation after the permanent conversion of Orion Street to pavement cafe street starting this year.