Progress
This measure aimed at supporting walking as a sustainable transport mode through the combination of existing and new promotion campaigns and small infrastructure works. This measure thus includes two aspects: (i) one aspect is to stimulate walking through promotion campaigns and the distribution of a walking map, and (ii) another aspect is an analysis of the current state of the roadwork with a focus on pedestrians. Based on this analysis actions were undertaken in the CIVITAS ELAN-corridor. Small infrastructure works have thus been implemented that increase the safety and comfort of the corridor for pedestrians.
There was a deviation from the original plan. Supplementary, a functional walking map was also developed to stimulate walking in Ghent.
Evaluation approach and key results
Evaluation of the familiarity with the walking promotion campaign and the functional walking map among different target groups (students and citizens) was easily accomplished. Data was collected through a survey on IP-level on how people perceive walking in Ghent. In the survey organized after the implementation of the walking promotion campaign and the functional walking map, respondents were asked to indicate whether (i) they use or participated in these initiatives, (ii) they know these initiatives but did not use or participated in them, or (iii) they do not know these initiatives at all. This provides information on how familiar people are with the existence of the walking promotion campaign and the functional walking map. This information can be considered as one aspect of the acceptance level of this measure.
Key result
Citizens are more familiar with the walking promotion campaign as well as with the functional waking map than students
Citizens (12,5%) are more familiar with the walking promotion campaign and the functional walking map than students in higher education (10,7%). Objectives of at least 25% familiarity are thus only partially achieved. The lower familiarity rates among students in higher education might be explained by the lower promotion effort towards this target group. Although Ghent is an important student city, promotion towards students is sometimes low mainly because this must be organized via the student officiary who already has to distribute too much information towards students.
Key result
Familiarity is higher with a specific tool compared to a general promotion campaign
The functional walking map is a specific tool which students and citizens can actually use whereas the walking promotion campaign is more general. This might explain the higher familiarity rates related to the functional walking map. 17,3% of the students and 27,2% of the citizens are familiar with the functional walking map.
We learned that continous promotion is needed. it cannot be a single event. Gent will look into the development of app's and online version for the walking map.
Outcomes
Ghent expects the measure will:
- Make the walking environment safer and more convenient;
- Encourage more citizens to take a daily walk;
- Make citizens aware of the health benefits of walking.
In order to make rational choices in selecting pedestrian zones and streets where the infrastructure should be improved in priority, it was advisable to collect good data first. From the beginning of the ELAN project up to the winter of 2009-2010 a lot of data were assembled throughout a variety of audits (Nov 2009; Jan 2010; Feb 2010). The engagement of different target groups was welcomed, including information from the Department of Citizen’s Engagement, a student’s investigation and reactions from citizens to a number of appeals.
In 2009 and 2010 several questionnaires on walking were organised to gather comments, suggestions and insight on mobility habits from students in higher education, citizens and commuters. These different inquiries have culminated into a priority list focusing on the accommodation and accessibility in the direct neighbourhood of unsafe cross points, bus or tram stops and in the neighbourhood of the railway station. It indicates clearly the status of the different problems and signals in the matter of walking infrastructure. In some cases solutions have been found and were implemented by the end of the CIVITAS project. In other cases further examination and investments are still necessary.
In the Pavement Action Plan the entire surface of the City of Gent is divided into 20 zones. All of them are analysed. Based on the functional needs and the current quality of pavements etc., for every zone a priority list is determined with a selection of (parts of) streets where the pedestrian infrastructure will be tackled.
Within this framework of consecutive city zones, priority was given to the zones that are part of the CIVITAS corridor. The most northern part of the corridor (zone 8) was first discussed at the end of November 2009, the most western part (zone 9) was treated at the end of January 2010, the zone between the main railway station (Gent-Sint-Pieters) and the heart of the city (zone 10) followed at the end of February 2011. Zone 12 at the southern side of this station followed immediately after that.
The actual implementation of the infrastructural measures within the CIVITAS corridor started in August 2011. In the summer of 2012, apart from a few exceptions, the planned measures have been implemented.
Recommendations
- Strong agreements with external partners – When small infrastructure works are included in a measure, a high dependency exists on external companies and other departments within the city council. Strong agreements must be made in advance so that all measure partners stick to the time plan/schedule.
- Valuable input from other departments within the city council – Various departments within the city council have expertise related to walking (e.g. the department “Gebiedsgerichte Werking” which is a department working on citizens engagement, the social services department which represent among others handicapped, …). This additional expertise (on accessibility, shopping, tourism, health, …) is valuable in the design of a functional walking map.
