DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITATIVE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR SIDEWALKS IN DELHI DR. PURNIMA PARIDA Scientist, TPE Division, CRRI, New Delhi DR. NAJAMUDDIN Professor Emeritus, Architecture and Planning Department, IIT Roorkee DR. M. PARIDA Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee ITPI JOURNAL www.itpi.org.in ITPI JOURNAL 4 : 3 (2007) 27 - 33 ABSTRACT Pedestrian level of services indicate the environmental qualities of a pedestrian space and serves as a guide for development of standards for pedestrian facilities, but these are based primarily on vehicular traffic flow theory and not on basic requirements of pedestrians like comfort, convenience, safety, security and attractiveness. This paper suggest an alternative planning technique which is more flexible and can be easily incorporated into design considerations. 1 INTRODUCTION Ancient and medieval planners provided extensive pedestrian facilities within their cities because the primary transportation mode available then was walking. Pedestrian comfort was also accommodated through galleries, canopies and other protective features used to shield pedestrians from the sun and inclement weather. In 1530, the Grand Trunk road from Calcutta to Peshawar, covering about 3,000 km, the longest highway, was planned and built with 3 meter sidewalks and shoulder on either side of the highway. Continuous row of evergreen trees was planted on both sides of the highway to provide shelter to pedestrians. The advent of motor vehicles and afterwards increasing volumes and speeds of the traffic has culminated in a complete though undesirable reversal of these planning objectives. Pedestrians have been thrust into background as ever increasing vehicular demand continues. The limited road space has to be shared between all road users. However, completely opposite is happening. Motor vehicles and population in the urban areas are rising, calling for a need to widen roads, construct flyovers, freeways etc., disregarding completely the needs of pedestrians. Competition on a common route by users of different type or with different purposes works to the disadvantage of the most vulnerable users i.e. pedestrians. 2 NEED FOR QUALITATIVE EVALUATION Pedestrian level of service indicates the environmental qualities of a pedestrian space and serves as a guide for development of standards for pedestrian facilities. Pedestrian spaces should be designed in consideration of human convenience and have to be qualitatively suitable to the needs of human beings. Planning and design methods for pedestrians suggested by many researchers are based primarily on vehicular traffic flow theory. Additional environmental factors that contribute to the walking experience and therefore to the perceived level of service, such as comfort, convenience, safety, security and attractiveness, should also be considered. This paper proposes an alternative planning technique that is more flexible and that will enable user needs to be better incorporated into design considerations. The qualitative method of developing level of service models incorporates the perception and need of the pedestrians directly. 3 SURVEY DESIGN AND FIELD STUDY For qualitative assessment of the sidewalk facilities a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The pedestrians using the sidewalk facility were asked a set of questions; with a view to ascertain the level of service the pedestrians are experiencing by using the particular sidewalk facility. Rating