The aim In this pilot project a new tool was developed to get more information about local problems of pedestrians. By counting, observing and asking pedestrians on street the awareness of planners should be raised. After the road construction was finished the ex post survey should provide feedback if the situation improved effectively. The methodology In co-operation with a socio-scientific institute the Vienna City Administration developed a method that should assure an overview about the local situation with little expenses. All pedestrians were counted (not only street-crossings) within the street section at peak hours. Traffic-behaviour analyses were arranged by an observation with standardised forms. Standardised interviews on site with pedestrians and open interviews with stakeholders of the neighbourhood should indicate the personal opinion of the users. The location of this pilot-project is the Elterleinplatz, which is the centre of the 17th district of Vienna in a densely built up area. At the square there is a shopping and administration centre and highly frequented stops of two tram-lines. The results The ex ante survey illustrated that the Elterleinplatz is not only frequented by 24.000 cars, but also by 20.000 pedestrians and 25.000 public transport users in trams. The comparison of these figures pointed out the importance of this intersection for all road users. The observation and interviews documented the problems of pedestrians at urban intersections: e.g. the lack of space at waiting areas, long waiting times at traffic lights, high speed of car traffic. A new conflict point was located by this survey: A high amount of dangerous crossings from the tram stop in the middle of the street indicated the need of an additional safe access point. The ex post survey has pointed out the success of the redesign. The sensed safety of pedestrians has risen, the interactions between cars and pedestrians have become slower and more relaxed. The overcrowdings of the corner points have been reduced. But the pedestrians still have the impression that the waiting times at the traffic lights are too long. Children and elderly people still have problems to cross the car lanes. The ex ante-ex post survey is a simple method that provides an overview about a local situation from the pedestrian point of view by counting, observing and asking the pedestrians. The results of the ex ante survey could improve the quality of the redesign. The positive results of this evaluation can be used to convince politicians and local media of the success of improvements for pedestrians. (Author/publisher)
Abstract