03 Key Takeaways - Midtowncolumbusga

03KeyTakeawaysNote: Full survey results available in the Appendix.26Gehl Studio27

Four Key TakeawaysData from the Favorite Place Workshop,the Public Space, Public Life Survey,01the Intercept Surveys, and the MobilityEven geographically close placesseem disconnected and difficult tonavigate if you aren’t in a car.Workshop was analyzed and revealed fourkey takeaways. These are outlined on thefollowing pages.Please see the Appendix for an overviewof all the collected material.2802Streets are not seen as public spaces.03People want more options to movearound than they feel currently exist.04When people feel invited, they come.Key TakeawaysGehl Studio29

01: Even geographically close places seem disconnectedand difficult to navigate if you aren’t in a carChallengesChallenges Wide roads and fast moving traffic separate destinationsand amenities, parks, restaurants and shops. Distances seem longer than they are due to a lack ofconsistent and comfortable sidewalks and wayfinding.A low quality walking environment, created by a lackof wayfinding and disconnected sidewalks, increasesperceived travel time up to 2.5 - 5 times.* Large setbacks separate shops from sidewalks. Many front entrances cater to those arriving by car andat times even turn their backs to the street.Case Study: Actual versus perceived time when walking from the Village on13th to the Columbus MuseumWalking between popular destinations - e.g. shops to groceryat the Village on 13th, involvescrossing four lanes of trafficwithout a pedestrian signal.30Key TakeawaysSt Elmo Shopping Center is acrossthe street from Lakebottom Park,where many people walk andrecreate, but shop entrances arehidden by parking.Actual travel distance by car: 0.6 milesTravel time 2-3 minutes.Actual travel distance by foot: 0.3 miles.Travel time 6-8 minutes.?Perceived travel time by foot: 14 minutes** research by Lund University Sweden, Janson& Josefsson on perceived travel time vs actualtravel time in relation to quality of trip.A clear pedestrian desire line byWeracoba Creek, connecting tothe Village on 13th, identifies aneed for pedestrian connectivity.Top image shows the view from theColumbus Museum to the Villageon 13th. The bottom image showsthe view from 13th Ave and WarrenWilliams Road to the Museum.Gehl Studio31

01: Even geographically close places seem disconnectedand difficult to navigate if you aren’t in a carOpportunitiesOpportunities Between the Civic Commons and Cross Country Plazathere is plenty of space and thousands of visitors, butlittle activity. This demonstrates untapped potential. The Columbus Public Library has 400,000 visitors ayear - about equal to the Columbus population. But only 6people walk by it an hour! (Less than 1% of all visitors) With the proximity between the Library and nearbyresidential neighborhoods and shopping centers, thereis an opportunity to create walking invitations throughwayfinding, narrowing roads to shorten crossings andcalm traffic, and orienting entrances to nearby streetsrather than parking lots.The Library entrance is oriented to theparking lot, but more invitations to visitthe space could be made from BoxwoodBoulevard and other nearby streets,especially since desire lines show pathswhere people would like to walk.Macon Road is intimidating topedestrians.More frequent pedestrian crossingsand traffic calming are needed toinvite people to walk from the CivicCommons to shopping.Wayfinding, connecting sidewalks,and programming that activate theCivic Commons could inspire morepeople to walk to the Library andspend time on its grounds.32Key TakeawaysGehl Studio33

02: Streets are not seen as public spacesChallenges Streets are designed as arteries for moving vehicles,not as places for people. A lack of street hierarchy between local and majorstreets invites cars to move through quickly.Streets with disconnected sidewalks - or no sidewalks at all- do not invite people to walk,especially children or those withmobility impairments.When Columbus’ streets areturned into public spaces- with seating or activities they become placesOpportunities Little activity, but a lot of space. Most places are notvery sticky, meaning people that walk by don’t feelcompelled to stop and spend time. When streets inColumbus are turned into public spaces, this changes.At the weekend lunch hour, four out of five people lingeron Broadway - this is when, we can imagine, they feelthey have a reason to be there. What would make peoplewant to linger at other times of day?Broadway & 11thWeekday Lunch HourA lack of shade and narrow sidewalks adjacent to fast movingvehicles make walking uncomfortable and even scary.84 pedestriansCivic CommonsWeekday Lunch Hour68 lingering5 pedestrians1 lingeringBroadway at lunch is sticky people feel invited to walk andstay. Civic Commons - withoutplaces to sit or walk around - isnot.Bus stops create an opportunityto activate the street, but if theylack shade and connections tosidewalks and street crossings,they won’t be appealing.34Key TakeawaysGehl Studio35

03: People want more options to move around than they feelcurrently existChallengesIt’s hot out here! A lackof quality sidewalk connections and shade makebus stops inaccessible anduncomfortable. Options to move around without a car are few. Sidewalks and bike lane networks aredisconnected, and in many places non-existent. Newlanes are being added and the City is now recognizedas a “bronze” level for biking, but current conditionsinclude: non-continuous routes, lack of clarity aboutwhere cyclists should be on the road, and lack ofshade protecting sidewalks and bike lanes.If this road wasn’t closed,this wouldn’t feel safe! Alack of protection makescycling feel unsafe. Intersections are wide and lack clear pedestrianmarkings, which can make pedestrians feel exposedto moving traffic. Bus stops often are separated from connectedsidewalks and lack wayfinding, shade, and seating.Even if one wants to walk,missing sidewalks makedoing so a challenge.36Key TakeawaysCrossing wide streets - such asMacon Road - is difficult whencrossings are far apart andconfusing to navigate.Wide intersections withoutclear markings create confusion and danger for pedestrians and cyclists.Gehl Studio37

03: People want more options to move around than they feelcurrently existOpportunitiesOpportunities Columbus residents walk when there are safe andcomfortable ways to do so. People want to get out of their cars. In some neighborhoods - like the Broadway areaUptown - there are high quality, wide and even sidewalksthat can support walking beyond special events, such asthe farmers market.We asked: If you could get around just aseasily would you switch how you travel?We asked: What mode of transit do driverswant to switch to?Walk, 2%Higher rates of weekendwalking indicate peopleCHOOSE to walkwhen they have time & feelinvited.Unreported, 15%Yes, 71%Unreported, 30%Bike, 39%No, 14%Walking Rates:Weekday and WeekendBus, 11%WeekdayWeekend1000I love getting outof the house!Other, 18%Average # ofpedestrians/hour.1200When the options to ride aremade comfortable via an eventor support from the police incalming traffic, people turn out!400200Cherokee Ave600BroadwayNumber of Pedestrians8000Broadwayat 11th Street38Key TakeawaysLakebottomat Cherokee AvenueLexington, KYW Short StreetCharlotte, NCNorth Tyron StreetGehl Studio39

04: When people feel invited, they come403054 people / hourat 10am20302001PM010AM108AMThe QUALITY of the builtenvironment - a sense of history,street trees, active frontages thatengage, opportunities to peoplewatch - invites people.Saturdayafternoon eventat Cherokeegenerated a lot ofactivity40103PM Columbus residents love to attend events - theyattract more people than normal days - but they alsoinvite more children and young people to walk andspend time in public.5046 people / hourat 2pm2PMSaturdaymorningBroadway ispacked withpeople506012PM60 Columbus has great events and beautifulneighborhoods. When these events are held, whetherit’s a weekly bike ride or the annual Arts in the Park,people spend more time in public than on non-eventdays.10AMNumber of people spending time in Uptownand Lakebottom during the day8AMOpportunityAnd PROGRAMS - that turnstreets into public spacesand offer something foreveryone - invite people too.Friday night concertson Broadway40Key TakeawaysPeach LeagueOpening Day, Lakebottom ParkGehl Studio41

Columbus Quality CriteriaA locally defined evaluation toolColumLocation:Findings from the Favorite Place workshops - theattributes people liked about their favorite places, aswell as a set of quality images* - were used to developlocal ‘Quality Criteria’. YESuality# IN-BETWEENCriteria- NO#1 M& Sh icro-ClimadeateThe Quality Criteria will be a tool to supportengagement and planning. It can be used to evaluatecurrent conditions and pilot projects, to generateideas about how a space could work better, and toengage people in thinking about public space designand activation.#1 Micro-Climate& Shade#2 Active, Built Edges& Human Scale#3 Spontaneous& Fun#4 Open Space, Scenic & River#5 Comfort & Safety#6 Family-Friendly#2 A& Hu ctive, BumanilScalet Edges#3 Spontaneous &Fun#4 SOpencenic & ASpace ctive#5 Comfort & Safety#6 Family-Friendly#7 P& Soceople Watial Spa chingceThe Columbus Quality Criteria was tested at a secondworkshop and edited according to feedback.More information about where it will live can be foundin the Pilot Projects section.bus Q#8 P& Releaceful,axing Quiet#9 AWal ccess foTakinking, Cyclir Peopleg Tran ng &sit#10& LocCulturalal Iden Offertity#11PlaceInviting s to S Withit#12 People& Activities#9 Connected#7 People Watching& Social Space#8 Peaceful& Relaxing#9 Access, for PeopleWalking, Cycling &Taking Transit#11 Inviting - WithPlaces to Sit#12 People& Activities#10 Cultural Offer#10 Cultural Offer Local Identity42Findings*The quality images are a deck of photos representing quality public space, programming andactivation examples from around the world. Theimages serve to inspire and kick-start dialogue.See Appendix for ColumbusQuality Criteria Hand-OutsGehl Studio43

Linking the Four Key Takeaways44.to the Four Key Strategies01Even geographicallyclose places seemdisconnected anddifficult to navigate ifyou aren’t in a car.01Improve connectionsbetween destinations andfavorite places. Leverageexisting qualities to decreaseperception of distances.02Streets are not seenas public spaces.02Design streets that invitepeople to stay - not just movefrom A to B.03People want moreoptions to move aroundthan they feel currentlyexist.03Provide more options forhow to move around the citythat are equally convenient,connected and comfortable.04When people feelinvited, they come.04Create more everydayinvitations with events andquality buildings and streets.StrategiesGehl Studio45

Nov 03, 2019 · Macon Road is intimidating to pedestrians. . At the weekend lunch hour, four out of five people linger on Broadway - this is when, we can imagine, they feel they have a reason to be there. What would make people want to linger at other times of day? Broadway & 11th Weekday Lunch Hour Civic Commons Weekday Lunch Hour 84 pedestrians 68 .