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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

With regard to mobility representations, appropriations and practices in public space

Sonia Lavadinho

Observatory of Mobility mobile 076 582 62 62sonia.lavadinho@geo.unige.ch www.unige.ch/ses/geo/oum

Evaluating walking promotion policies

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Why are we talking instead of just walking ?• Today we walk out of choice, not out of necessity

• Mobility for all means mobility for none

• Targeted promotion policies can only work if walking is made to fit in complex daily agendas

• Planning walking routes can be an effective tool to promote walking practices, provided some challenges are met regarding walking representations

• How do we know it’s working ? People actually walk there !

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Representations

accessibilitycontinuityattractivity

Appropriations

Practices

multifonctionnalityland mixsociability

daily needs proximity

challenges

belongingidentity

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

AimsDemand-oriented evaluation

Give• elements for a targeted promotion policy in adequacy with user

profile

Find out• walkers’ motives and practices

• how walking gets inserted in daily agendas

• which walking routes work and why some don’t

• how walking promotion campaigns are perceived

• where to disseminate information on walking

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

The pedestrian masterplanStarted in 1995, adopted by the Grand Council of Geneva in 2001 and the State Council of Geneva in 2004

Legal framework

• Law on the application of the federal law on routes for pedestrians and routes for hiking, L 1 60 (1998)

Sustainable development framework

• Rio Conference (1992)

• Aalborg Charter (1994)

• Local Agenda 21 (1995)

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Ch. 1 Encouraging walking

lay out walking routes

promote a network connected to the suburbs

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Ch. 2 Enhancing places within districtsextend pedestrian facilities at the foot of the old city and on the right bank

lay out emblematic squares and playgrounds in existing districts and in new areas

enhance other areas by connecting small public areas currently used for other purposes (pocket gardens)

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Ch. 3 Facilitating pedestrian movements

redefine priorities at crossroads

highlight shopping streets

create safe routes for children and the elderly

highlight parks entrances

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Ch. 4 Eliminating obstacles to pedestrians

remove localised obstacles (function, topography or real estate)

create a dense, continuous pedestrian mesh

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Ch. 5 Moderating traffic within districts

within districts, use the whole range of moderation measures (30 km zone, residential street, one-way streets, etc.)

on the main network, reinforce safety on heavy traffic roads, namely crossings

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

The walking routes• From estate to estate

• From site to museum

• From quay to runway

• From city to city

• Walking downstream

• From here and afar

• From body to heart

• From history to modernity

• From cedar to cedar

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Fro

m h

isto

ry to

m

od

ern

ity

Station 3 – Pl. du Petit-Saconnex

Station 1 – Parc des Franchises

Station 4 – Budé

Station 2 – Promenade des Crêts

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Walk

ing

dow

nstre

am

Station 5 – Bois de la Bâtie

Station 8 - BFM

Station 7 – CFF St-Jean

Station 6 – Pointe de la Jonction

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Fro

m c

ity to

city

Station 10 – Plateau de Champel

Station 12 – Gare des Eaux-Vives

Station 9 – Pont de la Fontenette / Parc Noie-tes-Puces

Station 11 – Parc des Contamines

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

The ideal walking route

• homogeneous (structure & texture)

• accessible (entry & exit points)

• continuous (mental & physical, in time as much as in space)

• connected (PT interfaces, distance from center)

• readable (anchoring, landmarks, orientation, history)

• attractive (equipments & urban furniture)

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

The real walking route

Within districts• Peripherical location• Organised around secondary poles• Daily places & activities• Ordinary landscapes • Implicit heritage landmarks

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April 05Sonia LavadinhoOUM, University of Geneva

Lessons learned• Requalifying nature, water, land & urbanscapes FACILITATES

the emerging of new walking representations and practices

• Offering additional room for other activities and furnishing public spaces ENHANCES attractivity, security and accessibility

• Sharing stories HELPS togethering in public space

• Walkers PLAY an important part in producing walking routes

Before we start building walk-friendly routes, we should start learning how to design walk-friendly minds