22 April 2013
 |
| Sidewalk on Belmore Road in Randwick |
Sidewalks – they really are more than just
the concrete domain for pedestrians. Jane Jacobs takes three chapters to talk
about sidewalks as the means for safety, interaction and socializing children.
The safety argument was the most interesting. Safety is determined by the
amount of human interaction going on in the street – people coming and going,
people watching the comings and going, kids playing, etc, etc. Safety and this
interaction make neighbourhoods attractive, makes people want to live there. As
soon as areas are perceived as unsafe, people leave. It seems an easy concept:
how do we make streets safe and appealing? Keep people in them through retail,
restaurants etc. But that too can not be completely controlled by the planner.
Book mentioned:
Jacobs, J. (2000). The death and life of
great American cities. London: Pimlico.
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