Reclaiming public spaces from the car

Streets ahead: Vulcan Lane is an example of a successful pedestrian-focused space, according to visiting Danish urban design expert Tom Nielsen.

From City Scene, published on 2 November, 2008

World-renowned urban quality expert Tom Nielsen of Danish firm Gehl Architects met with council staff and councillors in Auckland last week to investigate the quality of pedestrian life in the city.

Mr Nielsen and his colleague Sia Kirknaes were brought to Auckland to investigate pedestrian priority within Auckland's CBD on behalf of Auckland City Council.

Mr Nielsen specialises in transforming car-dominated cities into pedestrian-focused ones. The results of his study will be used to develop plans for the council to make the city more accessible to the needs of pedestrians.

"It's all about people finding places for themselves in the city - places they want to relax in, socialise and have fun in," says Mr Nielsen. "At the moment, the city seems to be a city of cars with large motorways. It's difficult to see where the pedestrian fits in."

City Development Committee chairperson, Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar says the study will look at how the council can reallocate space that has otherwise been used for cars, back to the public.

"Auckland has enormous potential and we want to know how to make the downtown area a more human area where the needs of pedestrians come first."

Possibilities include creating car-free zones and replacing them with pedestrian and bicycle spaces.

"Rather than having the CBD as somewhere that you move through, we want it to be an attractive place where you can come to sit, cycle, socialise and enjoy life in public spaces," says Mr Bhatnagar.

Pedestrian-focused streets have been found to bring economic and quality-of-life benefits to cities. Pedestrian-friendly retail areas draw large numbers of new shoppers and "traffic-calmed" streets bring higher property values, less crime and greater social cohesion.

Mr Nielsen says Auckland has made a successful start at reclaiming the city's public space with areas such as the Viaduct Harbour and Vulcan Lane.