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7Th

Traffic Safety Conference

Title:

Walking safe: what Amman is doing to improve walkability

By : Architect / Rula Khashman

Road Directorate/ GAM

Abstract

Walkability has become a growing focus in cities across the globe. More attention is given to the

planning and design of walkable communities for its multi advantages to public health,

sustainability, economy and social life. Walkability is considered as a key for sustainable and livable

cities, cities are meant to be designed for people not for cars.

‘Walkability’ in its simple definition describes the extent to which the built environment is walking-

friendly, it takes into consideration urban design elements, walking and pedestrian facilities, street

conditions, land use patterns, community participation and support. Well-designed walkability urban

elements of sidewalks and crossings contribute and guarantee pedestrian and traffic safety.

Amman, like other urban growing cities, is paying great attention to the issue of walkability as a

practical mode of mobility, and is beginning to take effective steps to develop the essential

infrastructure and urban elements to enhance the walkability environment and urban design.

This paper highlights the relation between the design of sidewalks and pedestrian urban elements

and their impact on traffic safety, Greater Amman Municipality role in the development of urban

environment for pedestrians, actions that have been taken in the field of sidewalks and related

urban elements to guarantee the safety of pedestrians and ambitious plans to enrich walkability in

the city.

The discussion will be conducted through a quick review to the existing condition, description and

analytical observations to some cases which support the purpose from this paper and illustration to

legislations and action plans adopted by GAM in the field of sidewalks.

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1- Introduction

Growing cities face critical urban challenges because of rapid increase in population, shortage

in fuel and the great expansion of urban area. Cities need to develop the quality of urban

context to face these challenges and to get more interaction between the humans and the city

to improve the quality of life. One of the main challenges affect directly the quality of life in

cities is related to the urban mobility, where designing livable, comfortable and sustainable

communities require good aspects of built environment, urban facilities and pedestrian

networks to control how people can move about, interact and manage their business. Thus,

Cities started to draw more attention to walkability as an urban tool for better livable cities.

1.1 Walkability

‘Walkability’ in its simple definition describes the extent to which the built environment is

walking-friendly, it takes into consideration urban design elements, walking and pedestrian

facilities, street conditions, land use patterns, community participation and support.

Walkability includes three key principles; physical facilities and infrastructure, places and

proximity. Physical access and infrastructure implies that people need to be able to get from

one place to another physically. This needs well designed sidewalks and crossing points, not

narrow or cracked nor exposed to speed traffic. Sidewalks suitable for all people to use either

they are able-bodied or handicapped. The second principle focuses on places, once the city

provide physical roots to walk on it needs a heading destination accordingly. A sensible Mix of

destinations makes the walkability process more useful. A neighborhood with adjacent

workplace, commercial center, school, leisure urban space and transit stops encourage its

residents to more walking to fulfill their needs rather than driving. The third principle stands

for the proximity which means how far the services is from home or in other words what is the

convenient distance for the human to walk. Standards set that a mix destinations within one

half kilometer or a 10-20 minutes’ walk from the doorstep is the most appropriate distance to

be considered as walkable community.

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1.2 Walkability and Cities

Cities recently go for the new urbanism approach in planning which raises the concept of

making communities more walkable. This great attention is given to the planning and design of

walkable environment for its multi advantages to public health, sustainability, economy and

social life in cities. Walkability returns urban communities to scale, pattern and good mix of

sustainability of resources either natural or economic. Cities go for walkability during their

striving to achieve sustainability, where the crucial task is to reduce the dependence of private

automobile and vehicles and to increase walkability and use of public transport; this will

preserve the consumption of energy, reduce gas emissions and sustain the environment.

Walkability nowadays is considered as a key principle for livable cities, because the real joy to

experience a city is through walking where the one can catch its sights, sounds and smell. A

city that doesn’t provide an appropriate pedestrian infrastructure to its residents is a city

lacking to social interaction either between its dwellers themselves or the interaction

experience between them and their city. Walkability contributes in the issues of health in

cities and has a significant role in improving the quality of life.

1.3 Walkability, Urban Design and Traffic Safety

Many urban factors and elements have a significant impact on the walkability process;

regulations, land use planning and pedestrian infrastructure. Urban Form affects walkability,

where its elements of pedestrian permeability, connections to destinations and strategic

planning play an important role in walkability. To design a walkable community, you should

provide at least convenient pedestrian infrastructure of sidewalks and crossing points, in

addition to bike lanes and well-designed parking lots to encourage people to park and walk to

their destination. This physical pedestrian network should take into account the issue of

pedestrian safety, where pedestrians in most times use part of the urban space of streets.

Well-designed sidewalks ensure safe mobility for pedestrians. Meanwhile, streets are the most

valuable assets in any city. Not only for mobility purposes but also as a place allowing people

to communicate, interact and having some fun. Good urban design of streets could make any

city more livable. Many cities struggle to compromise between the needs of mobility and

livability, especially with the tremendous increase in vehicles.

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2- Paper Objective

This paper highlights Greater Amman Municipality role in the development of urban

environment for pedestrians, actions that have been taken in the field of sidewalks and

related urban elements to guarantee the safety of pedestrians and ambitious plans to enrich

walkability in the city.

3- Methods

This paper adopts two main approaches; the first approach is through a critical review to

Greater Amman Municipality legislations, strategic plans and actions in the field of

walkability and pedestrian urban design, the other approach is a qualitative approach based

on researcher’s observations to find out the obstacles that affect the walkability process in

Amman and related to pedestrian safety.

3.1 Literature Review

This literature review deals with two main parts, the first part highlights GAM strategies and

legislations while the second part focuses on field observations.

3.1.1 Amman Comprehensive Plan

Greater Amman Municipality published in 2008 a comprehensive development plan for

Amman. This document presents an approach to metropolitan, urban, and community

planning in the city which supposed to be achieved by 2025.

One of Amman Master Plan main aspirations is to make

Amman a city for pedestrians. This aspiration requires a

network of sidewalks, pedestrian shopping streets, alleys,

souks, urban stairs, and hiking trails. Achieving this needs

a paradigm shift in thinking, initiatives, urban pedestrian

strategies and pioneer projects.

Some actions mentioned in Amman Master Plan as first

steps to enhance walkability in the city is through two

initiatives; the first “ Wakalat Pedestrian Promenade” in

2006 to be the first pedestrian shopping, car-free urban

public street in Amman. But unfortunately this project

Fig. 1 Wakalat Street

Source : Amman comprehensive

Plan

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have been rehabilitated in 2014 and opened for car services but s:ll can be men:oned as the

first multi-use street in Amman. [fig.1].

The second initiative was to start with “ Removing Pedestrian obstacles/ Olive Trees “, GAM

started to remove thousands of olive trees from sidewalks to provide more continuity and

safety for pedestrian movement in addition to maintining health to Amman citizens.

3.1.2 Transport and Mobility Master Plan for Amman (TMMP)

Transport and mobility strategy for Amman

issued in 2010 by Greater Amman Municipality

takes into consideration to develop an

integrated and comprehensive urban transport

strategies designed to discourage dependence

on private cars and to promote the

development and use of public transport,

together with securing safe and convenient

pedestrian movements; this means a great

focus on key principles including pedestrian

movement and road safety.

The Pedestrian Strategy included in this document states the need of walkability as an approach

to make Amman more walkable and livable. It also shows the main principles behind this

strategy, to encourage citizens for more walking, more dependence on public transportation

and less dependence on private cars. It has a key objective of increasing the number of trips

made by walking. The document also suggests how to deliver this strategy into action, illustrates

the issues of priority, network accessibility and infrastructure.

Pedestrian basic infrastructure is an essential requirement for delivering an accessible and safe

pedestrian network across Amman. This network of sidewalks and crossing points should also

be accompanied with well-designed streetscaping elements of shelters and vegetation. [fig.2]

Fig. 2 TMMP Strategy Plan

Source : TMMP document/ GAM

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3.1.3 Greater Amman Municipality ( GAM ) Sidewalks Legislations

Greater Amman Municipality constructs city sidewalks according to sidewalks regulation in

reference to the Law of Municipalities No. 13 of the year of 2011 / ar:cle No. 40.

The sidewalks regula:on No. 19 /2014 has been published in the official newspaper in 16th

of

February 2014. Its main focus is to regulate the construction of sidewalks in Amman with

special concentration to maintain the use of sidewalks only for pedestrian walkability. This

regulation illustrates the definition of terms, responsibilities related either for the

municipality or the citizens themselves.

GAM issued a set of sidewalks instructions in reference to the sidewalks regulation

mentioned above. It shows further illustrations to definitions, responsibilities and

accompanied with design tables and certificates that should be followed during obtaining the

building license. It also regulates the width of sidewalks with the width of street space, in

addition to typical design details for sidewalks construction, planters, materials and car

ramps.

3.1.4 Observa5ons

Field observations for this paper focus on sidewalks obstacles investigated from different

places in Amman; obstacles that affect pedestrian safety, photos were taken by the

researcher to document the existing situation of Amman sidewalks. Observations of

obstacles were on two levels:

- The physical environment which deals with physical elements and construction of

sidewalks.

- The social behavior which shows the behave of road users and citizens towards the

sidewalks and its street furniture.

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3.1.4.1 Physical Environment

Fig. 3 No sidewalks for pedestrians

Source : Researcher

Fig. 4 Absence of organiza:onal borders

between street and pedestrian movement

Source : Researcher

Fig. 5 No con:nuity for sidewalks because of

car ramps.

Source : Researcher

Fig. 6 No con:nuity for sidewalks because of

construction of stairs

Source : Researcher

Fig. 7,8 exis:ng trees interrupt the con:nuity of sidewalks.

Source : Researcher

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Fig. 9,10 bad condi:ons of sidewalks with split levels and no con:nuity for pedestrians

Source : Researcher

Fig. 11 No existence for safe crossing points

Source : Researcher

Fig. 12 the dominance of car traffic on

pedestrian movement

Source : Researcher

Fig. 13 bad condi:on and design for street

furniture

Source : Researcher

Fig. 14 bad condition of footbridges

Source :http://alarabalyawm.net/?p=35277

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3.1.4.2 Social behavior

Fig. 15 Using sidewalks for advertising

products

Source : Researcher

Fig.16 Using sidewalks as car parking

Source : Researcher

Fig.17 car parking on crossing paths

Source : Researcher

Fig.18 Using sidewalks for valet parking

Source : Researcher

Fig.19 plan:ng flower beds on sidewalks

Source : Researcher

Fig.20 blocking handicapped ramps by cars

Source : Researcher

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4- Results

- The existence of different modes of public transportation encourages more walkability.

- The dominance of private cars affects the process of walkability and people trips to reach

to different services.

- Activation of city strategies and legislations increase the chances to make the city more

walkable.

- Good implementation of sidewalks regulations and instruction guarantee more continuity

of sidewalks and more safety to pedestrians.

- The need of good separation between automobile traffic and pedestrian movement.

- Design of roads and sidewalks contributes in pedestrian safety.

- The need of safe crossing points to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

- Sidewalks should be well-designed and free of obstacles (trees, signs, poles,…) to ensure

the safety of pedestrians.

- The need to raise community awareness among citizens towards the issues of using

roads, crossing streets and social behavior.

5- Discussion

“What Amman is doing to improve walkability “

From all above mentioned literature review, observations and results, we should notice

that Greater Amman Municipality has taken pioneer steps to encourage walkability and to

be a pedestrian-friendly city. But still the city faces big challenges in this domain, especially

in the field of sidewalks construction and rehabilitation to be more walkable.

GAM geographical area expands over approximately 800 km2, and witnesses a rapid

growth in the urban area which makes of regulating the construction of sidewalks a top

priority.

One of the most important recent actions have been taken in the field of legislations is the

modification of regulations and instructions of sidewalks. The new sidewalks instructions

issued in 2014 , reregulating this process, it gives more detailed definitions to sidewalks

Fig.20,21 Bad use and behavior towards footbridges.

Source : www.khaberni.com

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terms and responsibilities either for the first construction or rehabilitation process,

commercial and residential sidewalks in addition to clarifying the design details to ensure

the sidewalks continuity, quality of constructions, design details and pedestrian safety.

The widths of sidewalks have been determined according to the organizational capacity of

the street. [fig.22,23,24].

It also shows the area assigned to planters and street furniture related to sidewalk width

according to the best international practices to ensure pedestrian safety.

Fig.22,23,24 widths of sidewalks related to street width.

Source : Sidewalks regula:ons 2014, GAM

The instructions show the requirements of

materials and trees used for sidewalks;

materials of non-slip finish such as exposed

aggregate, stamped concrete or interlock

tiles, types of trees suitable for sidewalks with

slim high trunk and wide canopy are the

preferable kinds. The instructions state the

required certificates that should be obtained

during the building license, such as sidewalk

certificate, infrastructure permissions to

regulate the sidewalk profile and quality

control.[fig. 25,26]

Fig. 25,26 examples of sidewalks cer:ficates

Source : Sidewalks regula:ons 2014, GAM

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Greater Amman Municipality annually constructs about 250000m2 of sidewalks with a

proximate budget of 800000 JD through different types of tenders. Sidewalks construction

serves several goals; sidewalks within residential neighborhoods and commercial districts to

provide a separation between car traffic and pedestrian movement and to establish a

suitable infrastructure network for walkability.[fig.27]

Sidewalks are established also to regulate traffic flow; intermediate medians, circles and

islands for light signals.[fig.28].

Besides the sidewalks, GAM constructs about 10 crossing bumps with a proximate budget of

10000 JD to calm car speed and to provide safe crossing for pedestrians.[fig.29]

Talking about safe crossing, we should mention the most important element of crossing

which is a pedestrian footbridge. GAM constructs annually approximately 6 footbridges with

a budget of 300000 JD either from iron or precast concrete with iron rail underneath along

the street to provide more safety.[fig.30]

Fig.27 sidewalks in neighborhoods

Source : Construction Dept./GAM

Fig.28 sidewalks to regulate traffic flow

Source : Construction Dept./GAM

Fig.29 crossing bumps

Source : Construction Dept./GAM Fig.30 Pedestrian footbridges

Source : Construction Dept./GAM

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In the field of community awareness, GAM launched a series of initiatives and forums to raise

the public awareness towards the right of roads and sidewalks use.

The first forum in 2010 under the :tle “Towards

Contemporary and Safe Roads” has a main theme to

share knowledge, raise public awareness and build

partnerships with different public, private and academic

sectors towards the issues of roads, sidewalks and

latest practices and technologies in this field.[fig.31].

This forum was followed by an ini:a:ve in 2012 under

the title “My Road…A Community Responsibility” to

activate the role of community and raise its

responsibility towards roads and street furniture.

The latest ini:a:ve launched by GAM was in June 2014 under the :tle

“Sidewalk…A pedestrian Right” to focus on the theme that is sidewalks are for and only for

pedestrians and to spread the new sidewalks regula:ons.[fig.32,33]

6- Recommendations

- Cities should draw more attention to walkability to make their environment more livable

and sustainable.

- Cities should work hard to reduce the dominance of cars and to increase number of trips

achieved by walkability.

- Amman should develop different modes of public transportation to encourage more

walkability.

- Amman needs to set actions to activate the implementation of modified sidewalks

regulations and instructions.

Fig.31 Forum brochure

Source : Construction Dept./GAM

Fig.32,33 ini:a:ve messages and brochure

Source : Construction Dept./GAM

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- Amman needs extra effort to rehabilitate the existing sidewalks to ensure pedestrian

safety and walkability.

- Amman needs to draw more attention and more construction of crossing points and foot

bridges to guarantee pedestrian safety.

- Amman should work on social campaigns to raise community awareness towards

different issues related to roads and pedestrian safety.

- References

- Speck, J. (2013), "Walkable City, How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time

", (1st ed.), New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

- Jacobs, J. (1961 ), "The Death and Life of Great American Cities ", (1st ed.), New York:

Random House

- Beatley, T. (2012), “Green Cities of Europe, Global Lessons on Green Urbanism ", (1st

ed.), Washington: Island Press.

- Gehl, J. (2013), “Cities for People ", (1st ed.), Washington: Island Press

- The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).(2011). Better Streets,

Better Cities.India

http://www.itdp.org/documents/BetterStreets111221.pdf

- Siu,k.Wan,P.( 2008 ). Roles of Street Furniture in a Constructed Environment. The

International Journal of the Constructed Environment, Volume 1, Issue 3, pp.183-204.

Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 2.549MB).

- Amman Master Plan,2008. Greater Amman Municipality.

- Greater Amman Municipality/ Road Directorate/ Construction Dept.

- Greater Amman Municipality/ Transport Directorate.