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PAVING THE WAY FOR SOUTHBANK PROMENADE CHANGE
2019 | Safe City Smart City | Southbank Promenade
//This project embraces a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to safety issues in the Southbank Promenade and investigates personal, social, spatial and technological levels. Through the synthesis of the design process, to generate comprehensive proposals that address the psychological, physical and technical realities needed to ensure a safe urban environment.//
Southbank Promenade
People’s lifestyle has been improving along with the development and creation in our surrounding area. Conveniences and fewer troubles were looking forward in human’s future vision. The growth of technology and entertainment which people have been after having led them to unwanted consequences such as accidents, conflict or others. Human’s awareness needs to be raised especially in crowded areas which people potentially occurring body collisions. With the increase of pedestrians and cyclists are having their own social time around this area, we should reconsider if it has to remain as Shared Zone.
The Shared Zone concept will determine the outcome of the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists. The different approaches given above will reduce the potential conflict and improve the overall experience along Southbank Promenade.
The user’s misbehaviour plays a massive part in affecting the user’s experience in this area. The two main kinds of travel methods in the Southbank promenade are cycling and walking. However, there are always some unfortunate experiences in all kinds of activities.
Human Behaviour Analysis in Southbank Promenade
Cyclists often disobey the speed limit, especially cyclists. They usually ride in speed to make sure they send the food on time. Speed restrictions are useless without a speedometer. Cyclist can’t estimate their cycling speed, which will be pretty risky in a crowded area. They also barely ring the bell to give pedestrians notice, potentially creating some accidents if people aren’t aware of them.
Pedestrians have specific responsibilities while walking on their pathway, yet they are barely mindful and step towards the directions they feel convenient. They turned out to be inattentive with surrounding areas while busy talking with others. They might mishear the bell rang, and that will cause them trouble. Some drunk people who walk might distract the others or giving trouble to those in that particular area.
Southbank Promenade - Site Photo
Throughout the few
weeks of observation in the Southbank promenade, there are few kinds of cyclist's riding patterns in the crowd.
Pedestrian Pattern Analysis
In this pattern analysis, we may see pedestrians usually walk-in group when there’s high density population. Pedestrians usually walk along with the crowd without observing around.
From the pattern analysis, it explained pedestrians barely have clear direction where they walking toward to. Pedestrians has no crowd to follow along therefore they will walk when using the phone sometimes.
Tour groups usually walk without organized as they wanted to take pictures randomly sometimes. Tour guide will lead them the direction to yet when there’s too many people will be hard to control.
Throughout the few weeks of observation in the Southbank promenade, there are few kinds of cyclist's riding patterns in the crowd.
From the first picture, we can see cyclists riding and twist around in the crowd. That's quite confusing to the pedestrian, where they have no clue which direction the cyclist going to. It does worry the pedestrians and cause them to feel unsafe often.
In the following picture, we may know the cyclist rides along the sideway when the crowd mainly focus on the other side.
However, cyclists will also ride in speed when the crowd density is low, and there are spaces for them to increase their speed in the following picture.
At last, the pictures showed how the cyclists following each other closely regardless of how crowded the area was, especially during 5-6:30 pm on weekdays.
Cyclist Pattern Analysis
The new proposed separate bike path would help cyclists and pedestrians to move safely and efficiently. These ideas are not just to make the street more user-friendly for the visually impaired, but to ensure the whole spaces are well used for all different kinds of users and purposes.
New Proposal Diagram
New Proposal Diagram
To improve the experience for both pedestrians and cyclists, have analyzed a few potential solutions which might affect the result effectively. A clear favourable surface was designed for new bicycle paths to allows them not to worry to have many collisions with pedestrians.
Relocated and resized new crossing(current crossing is 14m, the new proposed crossing is up to nearly 30m) proposed according to the cyclists and pedestrian’s walking flow (Cyclists are using the Southbank Promenade as a pass by street to reach their destination, pedestrians are more likely to enjoy their leisure time around or having their lunch and dinner). Additionally, it was due to the rapid growth of the population as well as the crossing time wasn’t long enough which was claimed by plenty of pedestrians. The crossing line has been designed parallelly with the exit of the bike path and walkway, to provide a better direction to the public where they should head to.
The biggest change that we applied to this particular area in Queensbridge Square will be the removal of the huge object which limiting the space for cyclists and pedestrians.
The retain of Sculpture in the middle is to avoid an undesirable forward sight in the shared zone without any limitation. This will create a safe movement for both pedestrians and cyclists along with the new proposed permeable uneven tactile, to indicate cyclists lowering their speed. Besides that, a textured rumble strip marks the beginning of the street, so cyclists know to slow down and to allow pedestrians to hear cyclists enter. The surface stones were carefully arranged, changing in tone, module, and finish to hint to people how to arrange themselves.
New Proposal Diagram
Human’s behaviour was part of the main factor that was highly concerned to be improved. Safety awareness needs to be raised gradually to improve public safety and improve the user experience for all.
The Southbank’s population predicted to rise by 114%, the city planned to increase the pedestrian zones due to the increase of pedestrian’s number including the residents and visitors further escalating the issues at the Southbank promenade. Thus, a new separated bike path would help the cyclists and pedestrians to move safely and efficiently.
Humans are always long for meaningful relationships around us. This proposal aims for unlocking the multiple benefits of a tight-knit community, offering flexibility, and cultivating a sense of belonging. Therefore, this hybrid retail envisions a cross-generational shared community hub in the heart of the shop or shopping centre will enable customers to enjoy a social lifestyle where they live.
Presentation Board