Mohamad Hosain Saraei; Shahabadin Hajforoush
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Today, the increasing growth of urbanization and urban population and consequently, heavier traffic and larger number of motor vehicles in urban and suburban areas have created many problems for the transportation system. On the other hand, the unresolved problem ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
Today, the increasing growth of urbanization and urban population and consequently, heavier traffic and larger number of motor vehicles in urban and suburban areas have created many problems for the transportation system. On the other hand, the unresolved problem of traffic congestion in cities and the related air pollution have had seriously damaged health and life quality of many citizens and resulted in the death of many patients diagnosed with lung and heart diseases. Therefore, the present study seeks to investigate the desirability of urban routes' design for cycling and its relationship with the indices of a bike-friendly city in Yazd. The present study addresses these questions: how desirable is the design of urban routes for cycling in Yazd? Do present rules and standards increase the satisfaction of cyclists? What is the relationship between the desirability of urban cycling route designs and developing a bike-friendly city?
Materials & Methods
The present descriptive study is considered to be a survey in terms of nature and methodology and applied-developmental in terms of purpose. Data collection was performed using library, documentary and survey methods. Citizens of Yazd were selected as the statistical population. Personal estimation method was used to ensure a homogeneous and standard sample is selected with an appropriate size. The sample included 20 experts and urban designers and 100 cyclists who have cycled on urban routes in Yazd. Purposeful methods of sampling such as snowball and theoretical sequence have been used in the present study.
Results & Discussion
Results obtained from the UTA technique and the Fuller hierarchical method used to weigh relevant indicators show that the security criterion has ranked first (with a weight of 0/344) while the continuity criterion has ranked last (with a weight of 0/181). Pearson correlation analysis did not find any significant relationship between income, gender, age and education with cyclists' satisfaction level, but a significant relationship was found between the observance of standards in urban routes and the level of satisfaction. Considering the linear regression diagram and r2 = 0/52, a desirable design for urban cycling routes can provide up to 52 percent of the conditions required for turning Yazd into a bike-friendly city.
In general, findings of the present study are closely related with Bicalho et al. (2019), Yang et al. (2019) and Nazarpour and Saedi (2020) concluding that developing cycling infrastructure in accordance with appropriate rules and standards, holding workshops to create a positive attitude and a greater understanding in urban planners toward cycling, improving street connections and the desirability of the cycling routes' designs for cyclists will enhance the creation of a bike-friendly city. The present study indicates that compliance with national standards and regulations in urban routes is mandatory for cyclists. Findings are also closely related with Podgórniak-Krzykacza and Trippner-Hrabi (2021), Babiano et al. (2017), Shabanpour and Zareh (2019), Manafi Azar et al. (2018) and Soleimani et al. (2017) which indicate that cycling increases access to transportation network, prevents congestion and inefficiency of public transportation, reduces traffic jams, increases safety and security, prevents environmental pollution and results in sustainable urban transportation. Thus, the present study has concluded that a desirable design for urban cycling routes can turn Yazd into a bike-friendly city.
Conclusion
Results of UTA technique indicated that rules, regulations, and bylaws assigned for cycling paths in Iran such as longitudinal slope, cross slope, open sight distance and stopping sight distance, minimum radius of curvature of the bike lanes, horizontal signs, and special traffic lights shall be reviewed and practically used to create a more comfortable space for cyclists. The analysis indicates that urban routes in Iran must be designed in accordance with the standards of cycling routes, and the respondents have also emphasized on this necessity. Moreover, it was indicated that there is a positive correlation between compliance with standards and the level of comfort in cyclists. In other words, compliance with standards in urban routes' designs increases the level of comfort in cyclists. Finally, it can be concluded that there is a positive and meaningful relationship between the desirability of urban routes' designs for cycling and the chance of turning Yazd into a bike-friendly city.
Mohammad Rahim Rahnama; Mehdi Bazargan
Abstract
ExtendedAbstract
Introduction
Walking is one of the most basic methods of transportation in cities. Before the Industrial Revolution, pattern of movements within cities was based on a human scale. But with the onset of Industrial Revolution and the subsequent dominance of modernist thought, the role ...
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ExtendedAbstract
Introduction
Walking is one of the most basic methods of transportation in cities. Before the Industrial Revolution, pattern of movements within cities was based on a human scale. But with the onset of Industrial Revolution and the subsequent dominance of modernist thought, the role and importance of pedestrian zones diminished. Due to the unsatisfactory situation of modern urban planning and its failure, the increased importance given to human development and environmental issues resulted in the introduction of New Urbanism approach. New Urbanism is a response to modernism and the negative effects of suburban expansionin Europe and North America after World War II. In recent years, there have been widespread reactions against the use of motorized vehiclesseeking to revive the issue of increasing walkabilityof cities. With a population of 3057679,Mashhad annually receives 30 million pilgrims and tourists due to the presence of holy shrine of Imam Reza (Peace be Upon Him), which sometimes makes the movement of pedestrians especially around the holy Razavishrine difficult. Furthermore, the holy Razavishrine is located in the central part of the city (Central Business District-CBD) surrounded by a worn-out urban texture and a network of organic passages and thus needs paths with walkability capability. Therefore, the present study intends to identify walkable and human-centered routesin Mashhad using the New Urbanism approach.
Materials and Methods
The present study takes advantage of a descriptive-analytic survey methodology. 32 quantitative and qualitative pedestrian related indices are investigated and 400 questionnairesaredistributedin Mashhad. ArcGIS software is used to analyze the collected data. The study area is Mashhad with an area of around 35187 hectares, a population of 3057679, and a population density of 87 per hectare.
ResultsandDiscussion
Investigating respondents’ age group indicates that 5% of respondents are in the 15-24 year age group, 17% in the age group of 25-34 years, 9% in the age group of 35-44 years, 15.75% in the age group of 45-54 years, 22% in the age group of 55-64 years and 31.25% in the age group of 65 years and more. 32% of the respondents are men and 68% are women.
Surveys show that pedestrians in the western half of Mashhad are more energetic. Public participation is higher in informal settlements of Mashhad. Police records show that crime rates are higher in the suburbs of Mashhad. Regarding hiking culture, the findings show that districts number 1, 8, 9 and 11 ranked highest in the studied indices. The patterns and spatial trends of activities and population attraction centers establishmentin Mashhad show that due to the presence of holy Razavi shrine, most of these activities are located in the central part of the city (CBD), which has the highest potential to attract the population. In fact, the CBD and western areas of Mashhad have the highest economic potential to attract popular activities in Mashhad and thus, the highest number of air pollution sources. The central part of the city (CBD) and west of Mashhad have the highest sources of air pollution. Moreover, the central part of the city (CBD) and the western parts of Mashhad show the highest degree of interconnection in their urban pathways and thus, are more capable of facilitating movement within the city. Per capita green space of Mashhad is 14.26 m2.District number 7 with an area of 2736894 m2 (22.4%) have the mostand Samendistrict with an area of 44736 m2 (0.36%) have the least green space.
Conclusion
Based on 10 principles of New Urbanism, 32 quantitative and qualitative pedestrian related indices were extracted, identifying the paths that canbe used as routesfor pedestrians. For this purpose, 400 questionnaires were distributedin districts of Mashhad. Quantitative and qualitative data were then converted to location-based data and used for spatial analysis (SDA). Finally, combining location-based data, pedestrian routes were identified in Mashhad. Results indicate that based on the New Urbanism indices,district number 8 and Thamenare the first priority, district number11 is the second priority and district number2 is the third priority for pedestrian routes. Kohsangi, Imam Reza (AS) and Moallem-Imamatstreets were also identified as the best pedestrian routes in Mashhad.