2024 Volume 80 Issue 20 Article ID: 24-20101
In recent years, it is necessary to reorganize the automobile-centered road space into a people-centered public space in the city center to help revitalize the community. Especially in regional cities with a strong automobile-dependent society, one of the major issues is the reorganization of narrow roads in the city center. In this study, we conducted a social experiment to reorganize a narrow road into a people-centered public space on Omachi Street in Aizuwakamatsu City, and analyzed the effects of road surface decoration, installation of fixtures and plants on pedestrian safety and local revitalization. The results of the study confirmed that it is possible to create about seven times more bustle than usual, and that the installation of road surface decoration, fixtures, and plantings, slows down the speed of automobiles. It was found that even a temporary installation and/or temporary contents can create an environment that is comfortable and safe for pedestrians.
