DESIGN GUIDELINES

 IMAGEABILITY IS THE QUALITY OF A PLACE THAT MAKES IT DISTINCT,

RECOGNIZABLE, AND MEMORABLE. A PLACE HAS HIGH IMAGEABILITY
WHEN SPECIFIC PHYSICAL ELEMENTS AND THEIR ARRANGEMENT
CAPTURE ATTENTION, EVOKE FEELINGS, AND CREATE A LASTING
IMPRESSION.
 ENCLOSURE REFERS TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH STREETS AND OTHER
PUBLIC SPACES ARE VISUALLY DEFINED BY BUILDINGS, WALLS, TREES,
AND OTHER VERTICAL ELEMENTS.
 HUMAN SCALE REFERS TO A SIZE, TEXTURE, AND ARTICULATION OF
PHYSICAL ELEMENTS THAT MATCH THE SIZE AND PROPORTIONS OF
HUMANS AND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT, CORRESPOND TO THE SPEED AT
WHICH HUMANS WALK.
 TRANSPARENCY REFERS TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE CAN SEE
OR PERCEIVE OBJECTS AND ACTIVITY—ESPECIALLY HUMAN ACTIVITY—
BEYOND THE EDGE OF A STREET.
 COMPLEXITY REFERS TO THE VISUAL RICHNESS OF A PLACE. THE
COMPLEXITY OF A PLACE DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY OF THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
 EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING CAN ALSO BE A KEY STRATEGY TO
ENSURING SAFE WALKING ENVIRONMENTS.

 PLANTS, VISTAS, AND PUBLIC ART ARE ALL IMPORTANT AESTHETIC

ELEMENTS. PEOPLE LOOK TO INTERESTING SIGHTS TO DRAW
THEIR ATTENTION, WHETHER IT IS A STATUE OR AN INVITING
VANTAGE. TEXTURE AND COLOR IN MURALS, GARDENS, TREES,
ARCHITECTURE, AND SITE FURNISHINGS ALSO MAKE AREAS
STAND OUT AND/OR COMPLEMENT THEIR SURROUNDINGS. GIVING
USERS PLENTY TO SEE—AND STRONG SIGHTLINES TO SEE
THEM—ARE CRUCIAL TO COMMUNICATING A SITE’S POSSIBILITIES.
  ARRANGEMENT CAN ALSO AFFECT EXPERIENCE. IT CAN MEAN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BREATH OF EXHAUST IN THE MIDST OF A
NOISY TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT AND A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
AMIDST A CANOPY OF SURROUNDING SHADE TREES

CREATE AN ENTICING DESTINATION

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO MAKE A LOCATION MORE ATTRACTIVE TO

VISITORS. ASIDE FROM PROXIMITY, BASIC AMENITIES SUCH AS WATER
FOUNTAINS, NEWS BOXES AND PUBLIC SEATING ENCOURAGE AND
ATTRACT VISITS. WHAT SORTS OF AMENITIES ARE PROVIDED OFTEN
HELPS DICTATE THE SPACE. LARGE FIXED TABLES IN A PARK CAN
ENCOURAGE PICNICS; SMALLER ONES MIGHT INVITE CHESS PLAYERS.
HAVING WASHROOMS AVAILABLE ENCOURAGES A LONGER STAY.
PLAYGROUNDS DRAW FAMILIES AND OFF-LEASH AREAS ENCOURAGE
DOG OWNERS TO DROP BY. A NEARBY PLACE TO BUY COFFEE OR ICE
CREAM CAN MAKE AN AREA A DESTINATION FOR BREAKFAST OR FOR
DESSERT IN THE EVENING. OPEN SPACES ARE ATTRACTIVE FOR
PEOPLE; THESE CAN BE AS WIDE AS A FIELD THAT ENCOURAGES
FRISBEE OR A GAME OF CATCH, OR AS SMALL AS A FEW FOLDING
TABLES NEAR A FOOD TRUCK. PEOPLE NEED SPACE TO RELAX AND
INTERACT.

PROVIDE OPTIONS

PROVIDING A CHOICE-RICH ENVIRONMENT CAN BE A MEANS FOR

CREATING A MORE DIVERSE STAGE FOR ACTIVITY AND INTERACTION.
STAIRS CAN PROVIDE MORE INTENSE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, BUT ON
THEIR OWN, CAN BE INTIMIDATING AND REPEL USERS. TO ENCOURAGE
STAIR USE, PROXIMITY AND CONNECTIVITY ARE KEY INCENTIVES. IF
STAIRS ARE THE QUICKEST, MOST CONVENIENT MEANS TO GETTING TO
A DESTINATION, PEOPLE WILL USE THEM.
 STAIRCASE DESIGN CAN ALSO AFFECT USABILITY. RISER AND TREAD
DIMENSIONS CAN LOOK LESS INVITING WHEN THEY PRESENT A STEEP
OBSTACLE TO CLIMB. MORE GRADUAL INCLINES WITH REGULAR
INTERMITTENT LANDINGS ARE MORE INVITING. TREAD TEXTURES AND
WELL-PLACED HANDRAILS ALSO HELP ENSURE SAFE ACCESS.

STAIRS MAY ALSO OFFER A VANTAGE POINT FOR USERS. THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A WELL-DESIGNED SITE FROM A HIGHER LEVEL
MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE USERS TO STEP UP ON THEIR OWN.

SUPPORT CYCLISTS

CYCLING IS BECOMING A MORE PROMINENT MEANS FOR ACTIVE

TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION, AND CITIES ARE MAKING AN
EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE RIDERS WITH IMPROVED
INFRASTRUCTURE.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT TO

ENCOURAGE NEW RIDERS IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. AAA OR “ALL
AGES AND ABILITIES” CYCLING ROUTES PROVIDE SAFETY TO
INEXPERIENCED RIDERS AND INCREASE THE RIDERSHIP IN A REGION.
THESE ROUTES ARE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE TRAFFIC THROUGH
SEPARATED BIKE LANES AND OFF-STREET OR DEDICATED PATHS.
SEPARATION CAN COME FROM PLANTERS, RAISED SIDEWALKS, OR
BOLLARDS—EITHER A DURABLE FLEXIBLE MODEL, OR OF A
MORE TRADITIONAL DESIGN.

IT IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE BICYCLES AND CARS. TO

CREATE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE MUST ALSO BE
SEPARATION BETWEEN CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. AGAIN, RAISED
OR CURBED LANES, BOLLARDS AND PLANTERS CAN BE USED TO HELP
CREATE COMFORT.
 AAA DESIGN FOR CYCLISTS ALSO SUGGESTS SMOOTH RIDING
SURFACES, GRADES LESS THAN 3% WHEN POSSIBLE, AND EXCELLENT
BIKE PARKING AVAILABLE AT ALL MAJOR DESTINATIONS, NOT JUST
TRANSIT HUBS. ALONG BIKE ROUTES, INCLUSION SUGGESTS
HAVING BIKE PARKING AT REGULAR INTERVALS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
STOP TO STRETCH OR REFUEL.

CREATE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

IN SOME CITIES, ESPECIALLY IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, PEOPLE MAY FEEL

VULNERABLE DUE TO LACK OF SIDEWALKS, SAFE CROSSWALKS, AND
POOR LIGHTING. HAVING SAFE DESTINATIONS WITHIN WALKING
DISTANCE IS ANOTHER FACTOR: A SMALL PARK, A PUBLIC POOL, OR A
CORNER COFFEE SHOP COULD SPARK MORE WALKING. WHEN CITIES
PAY ATTENTION TO SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING, AND ZONING THEY CAN
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LIFESTYLES EVEN IN LOW
DENSITY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN DENSE MIXED-USE NEIGHBORHOODS, WORRIES AROUND WALKING

SAFETY TEND TO BE ABOUT VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR ATTACK. IN THESE
CASES, DESIGN MAY NEED TO BE MORE DEFENSIVE, INCLUDING THE
USE OF BOLLARDS IN VEHICLE ZONES, GREAT LIGHTING, CLEAR
SIGNAGE, AND TRAFFIC CALMING.