Transportation Aspects of Shaping the Public Spaces of Urban Squares in Warsaw (Poland)

Abstract

The aims of this paper are recognition of transport and urban characteristics of urban squares of the big European city on examples of Warsaw - capital of Poland, examine the relationship between the spatial and functional structure of urban squares and the solution of the road-street system and their transport service and presentation of transportation typology of urban squares. The analysis covered thirty selected Warsaw squares located in various parts of the city, mainly situated in the downtown and city center at left bank of Vistula River. The size of the square measured by the surface of the square, road-street layout of the square, public transportation service, with distinction of individual means of transport and exchangers, presence of pedestrian zones or green zones with pedestrian traffic in the area of the square and linear bicycle infrastructure serving the square and the Public Bike System station as well as possibility of parking solutions were analyzed. The results of the presented in this paper confirm that the analyzed squares are a very important element of creating the functional and spatial structure of the city of Warsaw. The tested squares are characterized by a very large diversity: in terms of surface area, solutions of the street system shaping the spatial structure of the square, the functions and categories of administrative streets crossing the square, traffic density volume, forms of transportation service by public transport and bicycle. Five types of squares were distinguished in terms of transport: pedestrian square, autonomous square, city local traffic square (urban square with local traffic), urban transit square of 1st and 2nd category. Pedestrian zones and green zones with dominant pedestrian traffic are an important element of shaping the space of squares and significantly affect the function of a given square. The analyzes show that, especially in the downtown and center, there are relatively few parking spaces located in Warsaw’s squares, and their number is decreasing. This is the result of the actions of city authorities promoting sustainable development policy, including travels to the city center and to downtown by public transport and bicycles. With a view to improving the attractiveness of public spaces in Warsaw squares, attention should be paid to the aesthetics and technical, functional and material standards of the transport infrastructure being implemented, as well as to improve the accessibility of public transport stops, ensure the consistency of the squares’ spaces with the bikeway system in the city.