The post-lockdown walk
After the lockdown, we will all be eager to step out and embrace the world again.
People will take their usual daily walks, breathe in fresh air and celebrate the colors of nature. Now imagine, if by some miracle, we find our sidewalks and other pedestrian flow zones different from what they used to be.
Imagine finding benches were there were none, pavements that are smooth, flower boxes, drinking fountains and even chic public toilets like the ones they have in Europe. Imagine wider sidewalks and narrower roads for motorized vehicles. Imagine selected streets that are closed “for pedestrians only” with lots of trees, umbrellas for shading, vegetable and flower planters and outdoor cafés.
In this issue, we share how Walkspan’s data and location intelligence technology can be used, not only for navigation and real estate, but for smart city and complete streets planning. We ask: How good are smart cities if the public realm that connects their high-tech, digital buildings are unkempt, unsafe and bleak? The last thing we want are science fiction cities in movies where the sidewalks are deprived of color, nature, amenities and vibrance.
Walkspan's Sidewalk Information Management System (SIMS) delivered solutions to a number of New York City neighborhoods. Decision filters were applied to help identify those solutions that are low-cost, easy to build and maintain, sustainable, part of community building and placemaking, and inspired by beautiful elements in the neighborhood along with best practices from around the world.
Using Walkspan’s microscale approach and decision filters, fine-grained sidewalk solutions were efficiently selected. Figure 1 is an example of a decision filter matrix for sidewalk utility. Ten similar matrices were created to address the ten constructs of walkability. These constructs are sidewalk natural beauty, man-made beauty, utility, safety, comfort, access, vibrance, interest, legibility and social equity.
Figure 1. Decision Filters for Sidewalk Utility
In addition, a number of sidewalk improvement imperatives learned from the world’s best practices were recommended:
Prepare a Walkability Master Plan
Conduct a microscale assessment of all sidewalks
Employ smart city and sustainable solutions
Plan not only for sidewalk safety but for beauty, utility, comfort, access, vibrance, interest, legibility, and social equity
Keep small business character vs big box national retail
Plant trees for beauty, comfort and to reduce climate change, including heat island effect
Use subway entrances and other transit hubs as neighborhood gateways
Adopt a green infrastructure plan
Mandate building frontages to embrace their sidewalk through design
Offer incentives to restaurants and cafes to put up outdoor seating
Build green roofs over parking lots where possible
Adopt a placemaking approach to sidewalk design
Extend the sidewalk where possible
Adopt shared streets where possible
Create “pedestrians only” zones
Conduct surveys or crowdsourcing to get residents to participate
Promote outdoor art and events
Make all sidewalks accessible to children and the elderly
Create wayfinding signages or navigation apps that highlight neighborhood character and quality
Walkspan makes smart cities beautiful, sustainable and livable!