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Pedestrian Bridges

Density. Connectivity. Walkability. Pedestrian Bridges. And related cool stuff. Why?. Hong Kong. . To replace crosswalks or… to compliment them… or even to compliment and replace sidewalks themselves

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Pedestrian Bridges

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  1. Density Connectivity Walkability Pedestrian Bridges And related cool stuff

  2. Why? Hong Kong . To replace crosswalks or… to compliment them… or even to compliment and replace sidewalks themselves In high density areas, pedestrians are so numerous that simple crosswalks and sidewalks oftentimes do not satisfy pedestrian needs: . Convenience . Access to destinations . Connectivity . Safety AVOIDING street traffic while providing the same utility as sidewalks and crosswalks… or MORE

  3. Crosswalk vs. Bridge A 4-way intersection with a similarly 4-way pedestrian bridge above. Four-way and 2-way bridges are both common across Asia. Completely removes any need for pedestrians and vehicles to mix Has the added advantage of allowing pedestrians to cross diagonally Accommodates bicycles and people alike Beijing, China

  4. Sidewalk vs. Bridge Elevated walkways replace or compliment sidewalks, especially in high-density areas where commercial activity extends beyond ground-level storefronts. Effectively doubles street-front sidewalk activity and potential Can be covered to provide convenient walking access at all times Can directly transition to bridges crossing streets – removes need to interact with vehicles on street level Taipei, Taiwan

  5. Roadway vs. Bridge A well-placed bridge can cut the length of a street for pedestrians, making lengthy, high-speed arterials less of a walkability obstacle. Fast, wide streets can remain fast and wide while pedestrians cross above Pedestrians are less likely to do dangerous things such as jaywalk because the nearest crossing is too far With this, high-speed roadways and pedestrian walkability are not incompatible Beijing, China

  6. Evolutionary A comprehensive elevated walkway system… Hong Kong’s Central Elevated Walkway System. Spans many city blocks, all elevated Unified system Complete with maps, signage, and markings for connections to various destinations Connectionsbetween many downtown core destinations: plazas, banks, ferry docks, subway system, bus system, malls and department stores, government buildings, commercial buildings

  7. Walkability (looks like this) Freedom to walk anywhere, anytime. Many destinations, many connections Arguably more convenient than motor vehicle transport A very interesting perspective to look at the city from Safely separated from car traffic and road activity, but connected to the city Hong Kong

  8. Taking it further… 800+ meters in length 135 meters in elevation 20 minutes from top to bottom Daily traffic of 55,000+ Hong Kong’s Central-Mid-Levels Escalators further the cause of walkability by creating a conduit for pedestrians up and down the mountainous side of Hong Kong’s island geography. Shops, bars, and restaurants line the route

  9. What about the US? Downtown Minneapolis Skyway system connects 60-some blocks by an elevated bridge system. But no uniform system – bridges close arbitrarily due to being owned and run by different entities Mostly only bridges, not nearly as comprehensive and connected as Hong Kong Minneapolis, USA

  10. Something to think about What could be different? Major American cities, even of similar densities and populations as large Asian cities that do have extensive pedestrian bridges, lack such pedestrian amenities Why? Car culture, lack of inner city destinations, or? Even places like NYC (pictured) have next to nothing in terms of bridges and walkway systems, yet others such as LA have extensive divisions caused by highways and arterials NYC, USA The bottom line – even in ‘walkable’ places such as downtown Chicago, or Manhattan, even Times Square… pedestrians are still second to the car.

  11. Conclusions Good pedestrian bridges and walkway systems increase walkability immensely The more integrated, connected, and uniform these bridges are, the more benefit Walkway systems connecting many destinations arguably allow greater freedom and convenience than vehicles and roadways do in the same city Streets do not necessarily have to be ‘shared’ between pedestrians, bikers, and drivers – pedestrians can and maybe should have their own walking paths Roadways and pedestrian walkability can coexist - No more ‘car-first’ environments Tokyo, Japan

  12. Lujiazui circular pedestrian bridge in Shanghai, China end.

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