Urbani izziv Volume 33, No. 2, December 2022
: 115-126
(Articles)
UDK: 316.334.56:711.523(680)
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2022-33-02-05
Author
Roussetos-Marios Stefanidis
School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
marios_stefanidis@hotmail.gr
Alexandros Bartzokas-Tsiompras
School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
abartzok@mail.ntua.gr
Title
Where to improve pedestrian streetscapes:
Prioritizing and mapping street-level walkability
interventions in Cape Town’s city centre
Abstract
Pedestrian interventions for healthier and more inclusive
streetscapes can be powerful mechanisms to increase the
safety and comfort of walking in African cities. This article proposes a multiscale walkability analysis approach
to identify both suitable streets for pedestrian travel and
problematic areas requiring small-scale improvements
(e.g., pavement repairs, building maintenance, streetlights, and public seating). We applied a GIS-based
framework to the central urban area of Cape Town, South
Africa, which presents complex social and environmental
challenges. For each street-and-crossing segment, a virtual
pedestrian streetscape audit tool was used to collect micro- and mesoscale environmental indicators and assess
the quality of public space. This composite street-level
assessment tool was weighted with a space syntax analysis
indicator (i.e., spatial integration) to detect the network’s
most interconnected and high-priority pathways. The
Jenks natural breaks classification algorithm was used to
classify scores for each segment, which ultimately found
that the highest-priority streets for redevelopment are
clustered in Bo-Kaap, a relatively disadvantaged, multicultural, and hilly district on Cape Town’s west side.
Policy recommendations are evaluated to increase the
quality of the urban environment and the city’s overall
attractiveness to pedestrians. The proposed methodology
facilitates more effective place management and classifies
the city’s needs in improvements, minimizing both time
and budget costs.
Key Words
walkability, pedestrian mobility, built environment, Google Street View, Cape Town