Evaluation of Shared Space Feasibility Based on Traffic-Engineering Data

Abstract

This article embarks on a detailed examination of the square Dolní Náměstí in the town of Odolená Voda, concentrating on the implications of implementing shared spaces from perspectives of safety and traffic management. In the study advanced surveillance technologies were employed to systematically document the movements of a variety of road users, serving to pinpoint potential conflict zones. This designation underscores the necessity to reassess urban design and traffic control strategies to meet modern safety standards. Efforts were directed towards aligning urban infrastructure with pedestrian movement patterns, aiming to diminish safety risks and augment accessibility. The study hypothesizes that certain strategic alterations in urban design, such as the realignment of pedestrian pathways and the imposition of vehicle speed controls, could considerably improve the quality of shared spaces. Central to this research is the ambition to forge a new methodological framework for assessing the capacity of shared spaces mathematically. This initiative seeks to fill a significant research gap by quantitatively evaluating the capacity of shared spaces to fulfil a varied set of urban mobility requirements. This framework aims to establish a foundation for the systematic appraisal and enhancement of shared spaces. Recommendations for urban planners and traffic engineers are presented, promoting a design strategy that merges pedestrian preferences with traffic management objectives to cultivate safer, more efficient, and universally accessible urban areas. These recommendations endeavor to steer the evolution of shared spaces towards a harmonious balance of user needs. This work aims to make a substantive contribution to urban planning, traffic management, and pedestrian safety domains, paving the way for future exploratory studies and practical deployments in shared space advancements. It emphasizes the critical need to integrate both vehicular and pedestrian considerations into urban design processes, striving to create urban spaces conducive to sustainable mobility and improved urban living standards.

Keywords

• shared space
• trajectories
• pedestrian safety
• road safety audit
• conflict points