The potential for the application of pedestrianisation and traffic calming to suburbanised commercial streets where pedestrians and vehicles are in conflict.

Abstract

In response to urban society 's disenchantment with the automobile and the conflict that has resulted between pedestrians and vehicles, came the development of pedestrian oriented streets. This involved a clear shift in priorities to redress the balance in the street in favour of the pedestrians with respect to motor vehicles - in a process called "Pedestrianisation". Much more common, however was to "Traffic Calm" those streets in which motor vehicle access was still necessary. This study examines the application of "Pedestrianisation" and "Traffic Calming" to larger suburbanised commercial streets as a potential solution in mitigating the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. In order to do this, the study evaluates the success/failure of the Umhlanga and Pietermaritzburg "Pedestrianisation" and "Traffic Calming" schemes. This evaluation proceeds by examining how each area caters/does not cater for the needs of its "users" (pedestrians and motorists) and tenants. The evaluation also includes obtaining the comments of the planners that were involved in each scheme, in order to determine if the initial objectives of each plan had been achieved or not. Findings and conclusions from the various data collection methods are presented. These are followed by recommendations that are important for the success of any "Pedestrianisation" and "Traffic Calming" scheme that may be implemented more specifically in larger suburbanised commercial streets.