The Mindset of a Walkable City
Posted by John Malloy on 05/22/2010
The notion of a pedestrian-friendly city seems only natural; the city should be a playground for the walker. However, more and more often we see mindsets shifting away from physical transport nodes and onto automated ones. The car, especially.
Urban planners, and designers alike, are beginning to push for low carbon transport and what is better that walking? No carbon footprint, no cry.
Recently, Roger K. Lewis wrote a sterling set of design criteria essential to motivate the rise of modern walkable cities:
- Street patterns must be easily navigable and latticelike, with blocks that are not too big and intersections that are not too far apart. Streets must be continuous and interconnected, providing motorists and pedestrians with more than one path for traveling to a destination.
- Public streets must be artfully proportioned. Widths of sidewalks, planting strips, cart ways and medians are critical, as are the heights and setbacks of buildings flanking streets. Well-configured street spaces balance a sense of architectural definition and enclosure with desirable exposure to sky, sunlight, air movement and views.
- To make walking truly pleasurable, streetscape quality and amenity are important. A thoughtful mix of shade trees and vegetation beautifies streetscapes and makes them ecologically greener. Good lighting and signage, convenient street furniture and attractive paving materials enhance a streetscape experience visually and functionally.
- It must be safe to walk, day or night. In addition to good lighting and durable walkway paving that doesn’t trap high heels, streets need well-marked crosswalks and synchronized traffic-control signals. Police or other public safety officials should be seen regularly patrolling streets.
- Buildings facing public streets need lots of windows, entrance doorways and storefronts. These benefit merchants looking for customers and pedestrians looking for merchandise. Because there is safety in numbers, streets lined by eateries with outdoor seating are even safer, not to mention livelier. People will walk along such streets because walking is delightful.
(via Washington Post)
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John Malloy on 05/22/2010. Filed under
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