Recent research has provided a clearer picture of the importance of adequate quantity and quality of interconnected public spaces in cities – that is, the connected systems of streets, plazas and parks, and the private-space systems that adjoin them. Following are key conclusions of the research:
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Economic benefits. The economic interactions of a city are dependent, to a surprising degree, on a well-connected, well-functioning public space system. To the extent this system is degraded or nonexistent, the city's economy will under-perform.
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Transport benefits. Well-designed streetscapes can increase walking and public transit use, and help to reduce vehicular traffic congestion (and the cost of building and maintaining expensive vehicular infrastructure). The corollary is that a degraded streetscape system will contribute to induced demand for automobile travel, resulting in greater congestion, infrastructure cost and other negative impacts.
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Social benefits. A comfortable, attractive public realm promotes social interaction and formation of social capital, which in turn promotes social resilience.
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Health benefits. A walkable public space system promotes activity, exercise and stress reduction.
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Environmental benefits. Cities with well-connected, quality public space systems reduce dependence on automobiles, and increase the ability to exploit compact, resource-efficient neighbourhood types that further reduce environmental impacts.
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Benefits for the elderly, children and vulnerable populations. A well-connected, safe public space system provides choice of mobility for those who are unable to drive automobiles, and also affords opportunity for exercise, recreation and social interaction.
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Benefits from tourism, and from company/employee relocation. A walkable public realm is more attractive to tourists who will more likely return, and are more likely to share their positive experiences with others. Walkable streets with shops provide the number one most popular activity for tourists – shopping – which in turn further benefits the local economy. In addition, companies considering relocation of offices are increasingly responding to preferences of employees who seek (among other amenities) attractive, walkable neighbourhoods to live and work.
Many of these benefits are systemic, that is, they are fully achieved only when these systems function well as a whole. In addition, there are other factors that contribute to each of these benefits, and it is often difficult to tease out the causative role of the different factors for a given locale.
For both reasons, it is often difficult to quantitatively measure the direct effects of specific local changes. Nonetheless it is possible to measure indicators of public space benefits, as we will discuss in the second part of this document.