The author reviews the history of the growth of pedestrianisation and discusses the factors affecting the design of the network. The bibliography contains 345 references: the names and addresses of over 100 relevant organisations are listed together with the names and publishers of 31 journals. The characteristics of pedestrians are not sufficiently taken into account in the planning and layout of facilities, particularly the special characteristics of the disabled, elderly and young children. Variation in pedestrian flows are discussed. More use of segregated routes in towns could greatly reduce accidents to the very young and the very old. The success of pedestrian facilities depends upon the environmental conditions that they create. Often economic assessments of traffic control systems are based solely on the value of vehicle occupant time, ignoring the cost of pedestrian delays. The design of the walking surface structures depends upon the amount of vehicular access permitted. Factors affecting the layout and construction of pedestrian routes are discussed. The economics and implications of pedestrian routes for other traffic are also considered.
Abstract