A framework for research on pedestrian streets in America
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Published:
Aug 22, 2017
Keywords:
Pedestrian streets, Pedestrian districts, Sustainable streets, Livable streets, Street design
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Abstract
Sustainable cities require sustainable streets, placemaking, and pedestrian- focused urban planning. Americans who visit Europe are often struck by the many vibrant pedestrian precincts and pedestrian friendly streets across the Atlantic. People walk these streets for utilitarian purposes or just to experience street liveliness. Healthful walking is integrated into their daily lives. Why aren’t there more pedestrian oriented streets and precincts in the United States? What has made some pedestrian streets around the country not only endure but prosper? On the other hand, why have so pedestrian malls been re-opened to auto traffic? From the late 1950s through the late 1970s main streets across the United States were closed to automobile traffic in an attempt to compete with the emerging regional shopping centers. For the most part they failed and were eventually re-opened to automobile traffic. Other pedestrianized streets have been notably successful. Why? This article reviews the prospects for pedestrianized streets in the US, discusses factors that may have contributed to their success or failure, and outlines a program of rigorous research needed on success and failure factors for these streets. The aim is to advance understanding of this important part of a more sustainable street ecosystem so as to inform contemporary US urban planning policy
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KottJ. (2017). A framework for research on pedestrian streets in America. UPLanD - Journal of Urban Planning, Landscape & Environmental Design, 2(2), 319-324. https://doi.org/10.6093/2531-9906/5271
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References
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Topp, H., & Pharouh, T. (1994). Car-free city centres. Transportation (21), 231-247. doi: 10.1007/BF01099212
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Zipori, E, & Cohen, M. (2015). Anticipating post-automobility: design policies for fostering urban mobility transitions. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 7(2), 147-165. doi: 10.1080/19463138.2014.991737
Bates, K. (2013). Making Pedestrian malls work: Key elements of successful pedestrian malls in the US and Europe. [Master’s thesis]. hdl.handle.net/1794/13018
Beyer, S. (2015). Making pedestrian malls work. Governing. 28(8) Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/gov-pedestrian-mall-charlottesville.html
Ewing, R. and Clemente, O. (2013). Measuring urban design: Metrics for livable places. Washington DC: Island Press.
Ehrenhalt, D. (2012). The great inversion and the future of the American city. New York: Vintage.
Feehan, D, & Becker, C. (2011). Pedestrian streets, public spaces and business improvement districts. Journal of Town and City Management, 2(3), 280-286.
Gordon, D. (1991). Steering a new course: Transportation, energy, and the environment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Gunnarsson, S. O. (2007) Principles towards a walking-friendly and human city. Logistics & Sustainable Transport 0(0), 33-39.
Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.
Jacobs, A. B. (1993). Great streets. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Jackson, Richard (2011). Designing Healthy Communities. [Television series.] Arlington, VA: Public Broadcasting Service.
Judge, C. (2013). The experiment of American pedestrian malls: Trends, analysis, necessary indicators for success and recommendations for Fresno’s Fulton Mall. Fresno, CA: Futures Conference, Fresno State University. Retrieved from http://www.boulderdowntown.com/_files/docs/americanpedmallexperiment.pdf
Kott, J. (2011). Streets of clay: design and assessment of sustainable urban and suburban streets. [Doctoral dissertation]. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/854
Kott, J. (2016a). Streets of yesterday, today and tomorrow. World Transport Policy & Practice, 21(4), 42-51.
Kott, J. (2016b). A Future for Pedestrian Streets in America? Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Portland, Oregon, November 5, 2016
Madhani, A. (2016, May 19). Census shows big U.S. cities continue to grow. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/05/19/census-shows-big-us-cities-continue-grow/84552378/
Newman P. and Kenworthy, J. (1999). Sustainable cities: Overcoming automobile dependence. Washington DC: Island Press.
Newman P. and Kenworthy, J. (2015). The end of automobile dependence: How cities are moving beyond car-based planning. Washington DC: Island Press.
Pojani, D. (2005). Downtown pedestrian malls: Including a case study of Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. [Master’s thesis]. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/33968563_Downtown_pedestrian_malls_including_a_case_study_of_Santa_Monica's_Third_Street_Promenade
Pojani, D. (2008). American downtown pedestrian “malls”: Rise, fall, and rebirth. Territorio, 46, 173-190.
Robertson, K. (1983). Downtown Retail Activity in Large American Cities 1954- 1977. Geographical Review, 73(3), 4-23.
Robertson, K. (1990). The status of the pedestrian mall in American downtowns. Urban Affairs Quarterly, 26(2), 250-273. doi: 10.1177/004208169002600206
Robertson, K. (1995). Downtown redevelopment strategies in the United States: An end-of-the-century assessment. Journal of the American Planning Association, 61(4), 429-437. doi: 10.1080/01944369508975655
Sadik-Kahn, J and Solomonow, S. (2016). Street fight: Handbook for an urban revolution. New York: Viking Press.
Schawartz, S., & Rosen, W. (2015). Street smart: The rise of cities and the fall of cars. New York: BBS Public Affairs.
Schlossberg, M., Rowell, J, Amos, D. and Sanford, K. (2014). Rethinking streets: An evidenced-based guide to 25 complete street transformations. Eugene, OR: University of Oregon Sustainable Streets Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingstreets.com/
Sgobbo, A., & Moccia, F. D. (2016). Synergetic Temporary Use for the Enhancement of Historic Centers: The Pilot Project for the Naples Waterfront. TECHNE Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment, 12, 253-260. doi:10.13128/Techne-19360
Shoup, D. (2011). The high cost of free parking. Chicago: Planners Press, American Planning Association.
Thomas, D. (2016). Placemaking: An urban design methodology. New York: Routledge.
Topp, H., & Pharouh, T. (1994). Car-free city centres. Transportation (21), 231-247. doi: 10.1007/BF01099212
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2015). Step it up: The Surgeon General’s call to action to promote walking and walkable communities. Washington DC: U.S-Department of Health and Human Services, Offices of the Surgeon General. Retrieved from https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/call-to-action-walking-and-walkable-communites.pdf
Zipori, E, & Cohen, M. (2015). Anticipating post-automobility: design policies for fostering urban mobility transitions. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 7(2), 147-165. doi: 10.1080/19463138.2014.991737