Since the early days of Pedestrian Space I’ve been thinking about pedestrianization and benefits to businesses. Through my ongoing coverage, I am always asking business owners on permanently or temporarily pedestrianized streets about the experience and effect on business.
I am also continuously asking municipal employees who work with pedestrianization projects, researchers and practitioners also working with these themes, about the challenges.
People nearly always report that businesses often object to pedestrianization plans, permanent or temporary, despite the data that shows it will likely benefit their business.
Important: It is not due to lack of data that business owners often object. The data is there- institutions, researchers, municipalities and organizations around the world have published multiple and diverse outputs on the benefits of pedestrianization for commerce. There is not a lack of data.
Really reaching business owners to gain their support will, in my opinion, not require emphasizing the need to produce more data. It is great that there is continuous research to examine how pedestrianization can benefit local economy but again, if business owners aren’t already persuaded by the wealth of research and data that exists, it likely won’t make a difference on that front.
I made the below mock magazine cover earlier this year after a lively and interesting exchange with a peer about the reality that businesses are often the most vocal opponents to pedestrianization plans, no matter how much data or how many research papers, or how many case studies are laid out to show how pedestrianization will likely bring increased footfall and business.
I thought, how great would it be to have a business-oriented magazine with accessible language and engaging articles on diverse themes of commerce, urbanism, walkability and public space.
A magazine is of course not the sole answer but I do think it could contribute greatly to the media ecosystem on topics of walkability, public space, urbanism and local economy.
📷 I snapped the above photo along Krakowskie Przedmieście here in Warsaw earlier this year. During the holidays, this street is fully pedestrianized. I remember going there right after the New Year and the stretch was absolutely buzzing with footfall, nearly all restaurants were packed with people waiting to get in and stores just flowing with business.
-Annika