Why is the quality of the pedestrian environment so important?
The quality of the pedestrian environment is very important in providing the overall impression of “City Quality”. It is a key element in leaving a unique impression on the visitor of having been in a city of excellence. It also engenders a feeling of pride in those living in the city. Many important activities are linked to people being able and feeling invited to walk in the city and use the public spaces. The recent designation of central Edinburgh as a World Heritage Site increases the importance of examining and improving this citys pedestrian routes and public spaces. One of the strongest trends in European city planning and urban regeneration over the past 20 years has been the extensive improvements to the pedestrian environment. Examples of this are the many pedestrian streets and pedestrian priority streets that have been introduced, pavements which are widened and the many squares cleared of parking and turned into spaces for recreational, social, cultural and shopping activ
