The Pedestrianisation and Its Relation with Enhancing Walkability in Urban Spaces

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A B S T R A C T The study aimed to answer the question of how pedestrianisation can influence walkability to increasing physical activity vitality and livability of urban spaces. Therefore, after the theoretical understanding of the framework of the research, the study will focus on experimental research on the Salamis rode of Famagusta to assess the problems of walkability in the street to propose a sustainable and human friendly solution for this area. The main aim of the research is to find what is the interrelation between pedestrianisation in public urban spaces and walkability? Therefore, it concludes that walkability as a part of pedestrianisation scheme will lead to increase the quality of the urban environment by increasing safety and organization in urban infra-instructors.

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The Pedestrianisation and Its Relation with Enhancing Walkability in Urban Spaces MA.NAJMALDIN HUSSEIN 1 1Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Turkey E mail: najmaldin.hussein@gmail.com A B S T R A C T The study aimed to answer the question of how pedestrianisation can influence walkability to increasing physical activity vitality and livability of urban spaces. Therefore, after the theoretical understanding of the framework of the research, the study will focus on experimental research on the Salamis rode of Famagusta to assess the problems of walkability in the street to propose a sustainable and human friendly solution for this area. The main aim of the research is to find what is the interrelation between pedestrianisation in public urban spaces and walkability? Therefore, it concludes that walkability as a part of pedestrianisation scheme will lead to increase the quality of the urban environment by increasing safety and organization in urban infra-instructors. CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2018) 2(1), 102-112. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.3666 www.ijcua.com Copyright © 2017 Contemporary Urban Affairs. All rights reserved 1. Introduction Due to increasing the vehicular traffic in the contemporary urban spaces, it creates lots of problems for its users. These problems effects on the ability of walking in space by increasing noise and decreasing safety in the environment. As a result the vitality and livability of urban spaces will decrease and people will also lose sense place which is the result of unsustainability in spaces. This research after a theoretical understanding of the pedestrianisation and its relation with walkability in urban spaces will introduce a model of assessment in public urban spaces. Consequently, the study will apply the model in the context of Famagusta. The output of the study will also be useful for urban designer and architectures to understating the problems which lack of walkability might appeared for its users the fore it will propose long term and short term proposal to increase walkability in urban spaces and especially in Salamis Road of Famagusta. 2. Literature Review 2.1. The Role of Pedestrian Walkable Streets in Urban Sustainable Development Appleyard (1981) in his book "livable streets" claims that streets should have social functions as well as facility functions. Gehl (1987) discusses about the appropriate planning of streets for pedestrian by highlighting social activities. Simpson (1988) believes that developing old city centres might increase walkability and the quality of urban spaces. in this regard, Bahreini (1998, 292) states that, Street related issues are self-governing subjects in new urbanism, as well as safety, social aspects, attraction, pedestrians, mixed land uses. Previously, cities were recognised by its tall and huge building and construction, but nowadays pedestrian streets are the main streets to identify the identity and characteristic of a city. Compensations of pedestrianized streets and alleys presents the flexibility, exhilaration, dynamism comfort, breezing, clarity, connection, not using unsustainable energy resources, reliability. Table 1 illustrates the role of pedestrianisation in increasing the quality of urban environment. Table1. The role of pedestrianisation in increasing the quality of urban environment. 2.2 Walkability and Its Interrelation between Quality of Urban Environment Gehl (1996) defined social activity while two people are together in one specific place. So the purpose of being with each other might vary. The meeting is somehow represent as a seed for inclusive forms of social activities. This construction is important in relate to pedestrianisation. Even if the physical component and its organization does not have a direct effect on the quality of urban environment and intensity. By respecting to the outcomes of pedestrianisation can affect the possibilities for meeting, seeing, and hearing people.

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