DOI: 10.5176/2301-394X_ACE14.42
Authors: Hansa Srilertchaipanij
Abstract:
Footpath is the most common type of public space of the city that connects points of origin and destination. The role and utilization of footpath however are diverse. It reflects the complexity of the social comprehension of the citizens towards the publicness of city’s public facilities. This research aims to determine the role and utilization of footpath as one type of city’s public space by examining behavioral response of footpath users and to improve the pedestrian condition on footpath in Victory Monument, Bangkok. This research was an empirical examination of behavioral responses and perceptions of people to the role and utilization of footpath in Victory Monument. It used methods involving pedestrian counts to examine the walking performance of the pedestrians, the behavioral observation to study the social characteristic of footpath activities, and in-depth interview with group of footpath users. The result of the studies shows that the physical setting of the footpath in the study area is efficient to accommodate the walking pedestrians. The change in footpath utilization during evening hours however significantly reduced the efficiency of footpath for walking. The increase of pedestrian unit flow rates and the sustained and stationary activities on footpath in the evening reduce the walking space per pedestrians. The optional walking route at the Skywalk footpath becomes the main access with the largest amount of pedestrian flow while the footpath utilization changes at Phayathai Island footpath below. It proves that the pedestrians prefer to access without alternative activities on intermodal site footpath. The social interaction among footpath users is minimal regardless of vibrant activities on footpath. However, the number of events for the individual pedestrians performing sustained and stationary activities such as window shopping and waiting is a significant factor in the predominant change of footpath’s role and utilization. The rebalancing of role and utilization of footpath that prioritized pedestrian and social interaction requires the shift from generalized legal definition of footpath to specific control, authority, users and scope of publicness. The participatory process from all groups of user is required in redefining the role of footpath space. The activities and utilization of footpath space should be rebalanced to prioritize the pedestrians. Policy maker should initiate a functional legislation act on the use public space especially footpath that benefits pedestrians of the metropolitan city.
Keywords: footpath space, footpath culture, role and utilization of footpath, stationary and sustained pedestrian
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