Street environment
Design findings and recommendations
200 in-depth interviews with older people identified a series of preferences for different environmental features of the street environment, for example, preference for type of footway kerb when crossing the road, and the reasons for this preference. Each interview was followed by a detailed physical audit of the interviewee's street and their wider neighbourhood environment to assess the provision and quality of environmental features within a person's everyday environment. The results of these interviews and the physical audit survey are being incorporated into design guides on specific environmental features.
These design guides are being made available as an ongoing process. We would welcome comments on any aspect of the guides, please email Rita Newton r.newton@salford.ac.uk with your comments.
- Widths of footways and footpaths
- Adjacent and shared use (cyclists and pedestrians) of footways and footpaths
- Materials of footways and footpaths
- Changes in level of footways and footpaths
- Kerbs, including tactile dropped kerbs of footways and footpaths
- Pedestrian crossings
- Signage
- Bus stops and shelters
- Seating
- Street art
- Street greenery
- Public toilets
Widths of footways and footpaths
This design guide provides information on the most suitable widths of footways taking account of numbers of pedestrians and their safety when using the footpath; the effective positioning of permanent features such as trees and bus shelters; and the preferences and needs of older people who use the footway with a variety of mobility aids such as walking sticks and scooters. Widths of footways and footpaths design guide
Adjacent and shared use (cyclists and pedestrians)
of footways and footpaths
This design guide provides information on the experiences of older people in using adjacent use footways that are either formally or informally additionally used by non pedestrians such as cyclists and scooter users. Existing guidance is briefly discussed and additional recommendations are provided to address the issues raised by pedestrians and scooter users. Shared use of footways and footpaths design guide
Materials of footways and footpaths
This design guide provides information on the most suitable materials for pavement footways taking account of older people’s experiences of using footways in their everyday activities. Materials of footways and footpaths design guide
Changes in level of footways and footpaths
This design guide provides information on the preferences of older people in using flat and sloping footways, and in using ramps and steps. Changes in level of footways and footpaths design guide
Kerbs
This design guide provides information in the siting and use of kerbs to aid pedestrians in negotiating the street environment. Plain dropped kerbs and tactile dropped kerbs are discussed within different street settings. Kerbs of footways and footpaths design guide
Pedestrian crossings
This design guide examines a range of different types of crossing and explores older peoples preferences for particular types of crossing and the reasons for this. Pedestrian crossings design guide
Signage
This design guide provides recommendations on the design and siting of signage in the street environment. Signage design guide
Bus stops and shelters
This design guide provides on the design and siting of bus stops, shelters and seating. Bus stops and shelters design guide
Seating
This Design Guide provides information on the most suitable style and materials for seating; the positioning of seating within a footway or similar; the provision of seating within neighbourhood environments; and the preferences and requirements of older people using external public seating in their everyday activities. Seating design guide
Street art
This design guide explores older peoples preferences to different forms of street art, and suggests how these preferences may be taken into account when implementing street art. Street art design guide
Street greenery
This design guide provides information on older people’s preferences for different types of street greenery. Specifically our participants were asked to comment on choice of street lining (grass verges, trees) and to comment on more temporary planting features such as hanging baskets and planters. Street greenery design guide
Public toilets
This design guide provides information on the design, siting and maintenance of public toilets. Public toilets design guide
