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Assessing grade separation pedestrian systems: Planning, design and operation

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Abstract

Grade separation pedestrian systems (GSPS), including skywalk systems and underground pedestrian systems (UPS), have been an emerging phenomenon in the city centres of megacities since early last century. Despite the examples of many successful GSPS in operation around the world, the application and performance of GSPS are not yet well understood by local authorities. This review discusses the functionality of GSPS through an examination of the performance of GSPS in terms of opening hours, facilities for vulnerable populations, signage systems, spatial structure, arrangement of entrances/exits, transportation, safety issues, comfort and amenities. Issues that have emerged from previous discussions in relation to their negative impacts on street life, social inequality of their usage and the privatisation of public spaces of GSPS are also discussed. The review concludes that GSPS have a diversity of functionality in varied urban settings. It also reveals shortcomings in the performance of GSPS. The literature review suggests research aspects that need to be updated, including the lack of empirically based studies, particularly studies from the perspective of the pedestrians using the systems, and a lack of investigation of the functionality of GSPS in cities other than North American cities, in particular, cities with UPS in developing countries.

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Notes

  1. Some figures have indicated that the development of GSPS yielded economic benefits. In Minneapolis’s city centre, the skywalk system increased city and retail sales, with city workers consuming twice as much as before (Daniels, 2005). The buildings that were connected with the skywalk were able to maintain a higher lease rate, compared with buildings not connected with the skywalk. In the 1980s, the lease rates increased in a stable manner and could be up to twice as much as those at street level (Kaufman, 1985). In many European cities with GSPS, retail trading also increased. After 30 years of GSPS development, many cities experienced an increase of as much as 300 per cent in retail trade (Gosling, 1992).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urban Research Program, Griffith University, Bldg N78, Room 3.10, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Qld 4111, Queensland, Australia

    Jianqiang Cui

  2. School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, City East Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, North Terrace, Australia

    Andrew Allan & Dong Lin

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  1. Jianqiang Cui
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  2. Andrew Allan
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Correspondence to Jianqiang Cui.

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Cui, J., Allan, A. & Lin, D. Assessing grade separation pedestrian systems: Planning, design and operation. Urban Des Int 20, 241–252 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1057/udi.2015.8

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