QUALITATIVE LOS FOR PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES

Abstract

Pedestrian level of services indicates the environmental qualities of a pedestrian space and serves as a guide for development of standards for pedestrian infrastructure, but these are based primarily on vehicular traffic flow theory and not on basic requirements of pedestrians like comfort, convenience, safety, security and attractiveness. The behavior of pedestrians will change with respect to different land use type and this change in behavior of pedestrian further reflects change in perceived level of service (LOS). These facilities are evaluated under the qualitative evaluation of pedestrian level of service. The objective of this study is to offer some theoretical guidelines for qualitative evaluation of the levels of comfort offered along walkways in major activity centers. Walkways facilitate movement of people, and for this study a sidewalk includes any type of dedicated passage for pedestrian oriented activities. An ideal street circulation system should offer choices, particularly for the green modes, i.e. walking and bicycling. A pedestrian circulation system within the street network with comfort as the focus is presented in this thesis. Major activity centers are defined here as those urban areas which have become destinations owing to higher density mixed-use developments.