Abstract
This study investigated how people use streets and squares in town centres, which arrangements were preferred and what problems were encountered. A comparison was also made as to how urban space is used during weekdays, evenings and Sundays. Studies were carried out at Brighton, Chichester, Haywards Heath, Horsham and Winchester in Britain, Esslingen, Luneburg and Starnberg in Germany and Como, Saronno and Vicenza in Italy. Pedestrians were counted, observed and interviewed. Each country had its individual pattern. Several unexpected findings lead the author to suggest that we need to know much more about the subject for more informed decision-making about pedestrianisation schemes.