Urban Space for Pedestrians

How do people walk in a city? This essentially is the subject of the classic book ​“Urban Space for Pedestrians,” first published in 1975. Written by Boris Pushkarev with Jeffrey Zupan, the book looks at how people navigate on a sidewalk or plaza, how much space they take up, and how much space they need. It looks at the habits and peculiarities of that exotic yet also familiar species, the pedestrian. In this it was and still is noteworthy, because so much analysis has been expended on examining the habits of the automobile.

The book is separated into four sections. Chapter One, ​“Urban Space: A Framework for Analysis,” looks at the context of New York City and the streets and legal regulations pedestrians are operating within. Chapter Two, ​“Pedestrian Travel Demand,” looks at how many pedestrians different environments generate. Chapter Three, ​“Pedestrian Space Requirements,” looks at how much space people need when walking. Chapter Four, ​“Implications for Design,” looks at how pedestrians could be accommodated better, so that they can walk more freely and easily and efficiently.