Crowded, Cracked or Calm? Designing a City that Works for Walkers

As urban areas grow more crowded, the need for effective pedestrian infrastructures is becoming clear. City design must go beyond accommodating vehicles; it should place walkers at the forefront to create safe, inviting, and functional spaces. How can we shift our footways from crowded and cracked to calm havens for pedestrians? This post explores tools such as Pedestrian Comfort Surveys, Healthy Streets Assessments and formal Pavement Parking alongside the hazards of informal pavement parking, and the challenges posed by overhanging bushes and the detritus of everyday life — all aiming to create towns and cities that seamlessly integrate pedestrian life.

Where pedestrians are prioritised a vibrant community can develop

Pedestrian Comfort Surveys

Grasping the needs of pedestrians is crucial for effective urban planning at street level. Pedestrian comfort surveys serve as vital instruments for evaluating how inviting an environment is for walkers. These surveys chart a particular area, considering elements like street furniture, footway width, and existing pedestrian traffic. This information helps determine if additional development might cause overcrowding on the footway. If a comfort survey shows that a development would cause discomfort, planners can then find ways to mitigate this.

There is no requirement for local authorities to inspect the condition of footways, with the code of practice focusing on risk. This means that many highways authorities only inspect quieter footways on foot when a fault is reported (some authorites admit to never inspecting them on foot!) By identifying which areas need improvements, city planners can target upgrades that boost walkability and reflect the community’s wishes.

Healthy Streets Assessments

Alongside comfort surveys, Healthy Streets Assessments help analyse the local environment from a pedestrian’s perspective. These assessments look 31 different factors to examine the broader health impacts and community well-being of routes to and from the proposed development to assess where improvements can be made.

Damage to footways and street furniture can deter walkers

Areas assessed in a Healthy Streets report include:

• Air quality: Poor air quality is linked to increased health risks making it less likely that journeys will be undertaken on foot.

• Noise levels: Excessive noise can deter walking and affect community health.

• Safety and personal security: Identifying damage to street furniture and footways contributes to the development of safer pedestrian areas, and recognising and removing litter and graffiti can enhance people's sense of security.

• Shade and shelter: Incorporating street planting and ensuring walking distances between sheltered areas that protect from rain, such as fixed awnings or other building and infrastructure-provided shelters, can make walking more attractive for pedestrians in bad weather.

  
  

By focusing on health in planning, councils and developers can create inviting environments that encourage walking. The active travel push implemented in London, which includes a focus on better footways and reducing vehicle traffic, has seen pedestrian counts increased by 27% (TfL, 2023), fostering social interactions and enhancing overall community well-being.

The Danger of Informal Pavement Parking

A controversial issue througout the UK at the moment is informal pavement parking. This occurs when vehicles park on footways, forcing pedestrians to walk close to traffic or squeeze past the parked cars. In certain areas, the cars are parked so close to the overhanging hedgerow that it is impossible to walk on the footpath. This is a significant threat to safety, especially for vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and wheelchair users, not to mention cyclists who have to move into the stream of moving traffic to pass these vehicles on the road.

When footways are blocked, pedestrians often have no choice but to step into the street, leading to dangerous encounters with oncoming vehicles. This impact on people is serious. In 2019 a Parliamentary Select Committee concluded that;

"Pavement parking affects everyone who uses the pavement. Pavement parking puts pedestrians in danger when they are forced to move into the road to get around a vehicle or where there are trip hazards due to damage to the pavement. People with mobility or visual impairments, as well as those who care for others, are disproportionately affected. It exacerbates, and is a cause of, social isolation and loneliness for people who feel unable to safely leave their homes or are physically prevented from doing so by pavement parking."

It is alarming to think that this was now 5 years ago and little has changed in the majority of the UKs towns and cities.

To tackle this problem, councils need to enforce stricter parking regulations and create designated parking zones. One option can be to adopt formalised pavement parking, but this must not happen at the expese of reasonable footway width. Promoting alternative transportation options, like biking or public transport, can also ease car congestion, resulting in safer pedestrian environments.

Where space allows, designated pavement parking helps pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists share urban spaces safely.

The Irritation of Overhanging Bushes

An often-ignored aspect of walkable city design is the impact of overhanging bushes and trees. While greenery enhances a city’s look, uncontrolled overgrowth can pose problems for pedestrians.

Bushes that extend into pathways can:

• Reduce walking space: In accordance with standards set out in Inclusive Mobility (2021) an absolute minimum clear footway width of 1 meter should be maintained for clear passage. A standard push wheelchair width is 63.5 cm, with the largest electric wheelchairs measuring up to 81 cm.

• Create visibility issues: At crossings, clear sightlines are essential; obstructed views can lead to accidents.

  
  

Additionally, branches that overhang can scratch pedestrians, posing a significant challenge for individuals using mobility aids. This situation can deter people from walking due to safety concerns, resulting in increased car usage and further parking issues.

In the UK, homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of hedgerows on their property, including any overhanging branches. This responsibility is crucial not only for the aesthetics of the property but also for the safety and comfort of pedestrians.

Creating Environments for Walkers

Creating a space that prioritises walkers is a complicated task that needs thoughtful planning and community involvement. Tools like pedestrian comfort surveys and Healthy Streets Assessments help councils, planners and developers understand the needs of those on foot while tackling issues like poorly maintained footways, litter, grafitti, footway parking and overgrown vegetation.

The shift towards walkable urban environments is not just an aesthetic choice; it is a crucial step in fostering sustainable living. By converting our crowded, cracked streets into calm, walkable areas, we can build healthier, more connected communities.

Transforming urban spaces takes time, dedication, and teamwork. Still, the result is a community that prioritises the comfort, safety, and well-being of pedestrians. As we continue to shape our built environment, incorporating walking-friendly practices will not only change the way we travel but also enrich the overall experience of city life. Together, let’s create vibrant spaces where walkers can thrive, enjoying the environment with ease.