Evaluating shared spaces: methodological framework and performance index

摘要

This paper presents a framework to thoroughly evaluate the performance of a public urban road in a shared space environment. Utilising road space as a place for activity is considered a key driver to transform a conventional street to a shared space in a city centre. This, coupled with an aim to improve the economic vitality of the abutting land use, forms the key objectives of implementing shared spaces. Conventional road design relies primarily on the two functions of 'Mobility & Access', which are principally related to motor vehicles. This is reflected in the conventional approach on how local authorities currently assess the performance of roadways along with the-associated data collection and monitoring schemes. With the concept of shared space, this paper holistically captures the necessary data, both quantitative and qualitative, to properly evaluate shared space schemes. A framework incorporating an Analytical Hierarchy Process is proposed to analyse the processed data in order to obtain a performance index that is universally applicable to evaluating shared spaces in different street environments. The framework will be tested using before and after data collected from the shared space implementation projects in Elliott, Lome and Fort Street areas in Auckland, New Zealand.