#Pedestrian Walkway

[im-fckn-threaded]

Hey, I know this blog is about knitting and the people following me would like to see knitting stuff, or so I guess. But I'm also a transportation engineer and urban planner by day and there is a lot of cool stuff out there that I thought some of you might want to see.

Therefore, HIGH LOOP be upon ye (image is clickable and takes you to the project website):

This is the Puji Road Bridge in Shanghai, that is supposed to be transformed into an elevated park "offering a unique urban journey". It connects the districts of Zhabei and Jing’an. From an architectural point of view, this walkway is fun, creative and has a unique and interesting aesthetic. The different colors are supposed to indicate different functionalities. Yellow indicates social activities like sitting and chatting or gastronomy. Magenta areas are supposed to invite the pedestrians to meander and enjoy the view of the river and cityscape. Green is a fast lane for scooters and bikes. And blue is just the background color and space for pop-up stores or event space. Cool cool....

I had to do a bit of digging around on google maps, but this is what it currently looks like and on the other side what it is supposed look like one day:

Except, from a transportation engineering perpective this thing is a nightmare!!! You wanna know why? Safety and order! Three things are just going to cause lots of issues and that are the colors, the road markings and the assigned spaces for the different groups of road users and the way they mingle.

The following is not supposed to be bashing cool new concepts for the fun of it, but is based on serious knowledge and experience from a professional and practical point of view.

We know from experience and recent research, how pedestrians decide where to walk. For example by sending them through a virtual reality environment or using eye tracking technology in the real world. Generally they are the ones most sensitive to detours, because they are the slowest group of road users. So, red is for pedestrians? Imagine being the wheelchair user or their companion in the lower right corner of the picture, having to walk the red line:

First of all, noone in their right mind is going to do that, not even when taking a walk and taking in the scenery. That's going to take forever.

Secondly, we know that pedestrians as well as any other participant in traffic need some kind of visual aid to know, what their designated space to use is, where does other participants' space begin and end etc. Even on streets dedicated to cars only, we need a division in lanes, as soon as a certain width is reached. That creates a feeling of safety and also gives people a general sense of order (which is what the brain wants in almost all kinds of situations in life). Usually in urban and transportation planning we try to work with axes. This bridge, I don't even know where to place this in terms of axes. There is not a single axis. You have to change direction all the time or you bump into something. Everything is all over the place. Look how many times the different paths cross. And then they want to let city scooters drive there? And what is that green line in the middle of the road? The murder lane? Dissecting the entire space into three parts, so you have to cross even more times, from left to right, from the yellow sun loungers on the right to the yellow sitting area on the left (which is probably catering or a pop-up store or whatever), from one view point to the sitting area? There are these flower pots (seemingly random), sometimes round, sometimes oblong. And people walking on the blue parts???? Which are dedicated to what exactly?? Just think of how annoying it is to walk somewhere and having to bypass even the smallest obstacle, inconveniently placed.

Lastly, no road marking on the entire thing looks like established standards. Most people don't even know the meaning of road markings, they don't see very often. Let alone something they have never seen before. What is the difference between the red and the white dashed line? Why is the white one left and then right on the fast lane? Why does it stop and start again in the middle of nowhere? Does it make a difference for me and my scooter, where the white stripes are? Where do the bikes go, whre the scooters? What if you are faster and have to overtake? And why do the stripes suddenly stop and the regular doted line divides the lanes?

I dream of this design at night and wake up crying. But it's fun to look at.

[us-the-voices-and-more-voices-2]

saw this cool change.org

go sign it! pedestrian car deaths ARE preventable, and if we keep putting pressure on it one day they will be.

[selfhelpradio]

pedestrian walkway

[detragefietser]

Woman using bike ramp Golden Gate Bridge pedestrian and bike walkway 20150515-154155 C4 by Charlie & Melody Wambeke Via Flickr: This is an image capture of a woman using the ramp to walk her bike up the west stairs of the pedestrian walkway under the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. As seen in other photos in this short series, the wooden stairs are well worn by all the foot traffic over the years. The area below the six lane roadway of the Golden Gate Bridge is noisy, with the clanking of the cars driving over metal dividers in the roadway above. It is a great place to see the superstructure of the bridge up close but a place where one does not tend to linger. You can see other views of this stairway in the next two slides. As usual in 2015, this image captured with Canon Powershot SX50 point and shoot camera.

[nnctales]

Transforming Brooklyn Bridge: A Revolution in Infrastructure Renovation

One of the most enduring symbols of human architectural brilliance is the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. Since its completion in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has stood as a testament to engineering prowess and urban resilience. Today, however, we stand on the precipice of a new era for this venerable structure, as modern civil engineering techniques and technologies are transforming the Brooklyn…

[wutheringheightsfilm]

controversial but speaking as a pedestrian, cyclists are often just as apathetic and uncaring towards pedestrians as drivers of cars

[thepictorialist]

Not a bad way to spend the day—London, UK 2023

[desert-anne]

sometimes i look at a building and know it was designed from start to finish with no input whatsoever from anyone who had ever worn a skirt

[casbitchh]

shout out to rich people giving away stuff for free on fb marketplace place!!! guess who is now the proud owner of a deep pink metal coat stand

[didnt-hear-idsb-live-again]

hey lovely re: tailgating at the g

a lot of that area gets used for parking and for big events they have a huge police presence cause they're worried about terrorism threats so i don't think you'll be able to.

also according the the g website you gotta get a permit to tailgate

https:// www.mcg.org.au/things-to-do/yarra-park/recreational-activity

This says you need a permit “for prohibited activities”, which it proceeds to list as raising banners or having a bbq. It very much sounds like you can stand around and peacefully vibe - none of this looks or sounds much different than was the case at the US venues!

[tcr55]

I can’t give you the exact location because of the rabbit warren nature of the system, but somewhere underground in Shinjuku - the impressive thing is the lack of people, and it’s mid morning.

[facilitymaintenance955]

safety pedestrian walkways

Ensure safe passage with our pedestrian walkway solutions. Expertly designed and maintained for optimal safety in any environment.

[validworthblog]

What are designated walkways?

Designated walkways are meant for pedestrians to use within any perimeter area of any lot. Designated walkways are often used as a critical control measure in many workplace situations to make pedestrians stay within a designated area when they are walking and ensure that vehicles do not stray into pedestrian areas during movement. What is the purpose of designated walkways? Designated walkways…

[linemarking3]

Safety / Pedestrian Walkway Service - Pedestrian walkway line marking

Ensure safety and clarity with our pedestrian walkway services. Expert solutions for marked pathways to enhance safety and navigation efficiency.

[ianfulgar]

COOL IDEA! A covered corridor made entirely of bamboo as a transformative passageway, guiding pedestrians from the vibrant commercial district to a tranquil leisure resort complex. This installation, woven with the organic textures of bamboo, creates a seamless integration with the urban environment while offering a serene escape from the city's intensity. The transition experience plays a crucial role in architecture by providing a gradual shift in the atmosphere, allowing people to mentally and physically prepare for the change in pace. This corridor emphasizes sustainability through its use of natural materials. It enhances the journey, creating an immersive experience highlighting the contrast between the bustling city and the calming retreat. The intent brings a deeper connection to the environment and encourages relaxation and mindfulness as individuals move from one space to another.

[violentpretty777]

can we still fall in love this summer ?