The Role of Street Furniture in Creating Walkable Cities

Walkable cities are a key goal for many countries, particularly those that have a keen interest in tackling climate change. By making our cities walkable, we can cut down on car use and emissions in areas of high human density – and make these spaces much more desirable destinations for visitors and residents. A truly walkable city needs more than just pavements for pedestrians – it needs amenities and safety features that can make the space feel truly open and walkable. The role of street furniture in improving cities can’t be overstated and can make all the difference, service aesthetic and practical purposes.

The Connection Between Street Furniture and Walkability

For a city to be walkable, it needs to have all of the amenities that pedestrians need while exploring the city. Improving streets with furniture is key for this – things like benches for rest breaks and bollards for safety are vital. So too are bins to keep the streets clean and tidy and bike stands for cyclists. All of these street furniture staples work together to create an environment that is ideal for improving the walkability of a city. Even simple additions like extra bins can make a city more pedestrian friendly, removing small obstacles to walking over using other forms of transport. None of these solutions are revolutionary or even particularly expensive, but they make a massive difference to how people interact with the city around them.

Creating Comfortable Spaces with Street Furniture

If you want to make a city more walkable, you have to think about comfort. Every city resident is different – some will be able to walk for miles without a break, while others need regular places to sit and recharge. Rest spots are vital for all city residents, but particularly for older residents and children. Benches are a must and placing them at regular intervals can make a massive difference, especially in high foot traffic areas. You’ll also need to think about the weather – structures that provide respite from the sun or rain are essential, as our walled shelters that can give cover from the wind. Planners will need to think about the weather in their city and how best to offer shelter and seating to their residents all year round.

Street Furniture's Role in Promoting Safety and Visibility

Safety and visibility are another key consideration when creating a walkable city. Your city should ensure that there is ample and high-quality street lighting so that residents can walk safely no matter the time of day. All pedestrians should be able to see their way around the city clearly whether during the daytime or at night. Lighting should also extended to signs which should be well-lit to help pedestrians navigate the city on foot. Benches can also be used to provide natural surveillance, making walkers feel safer as they travel throughout the city. Bollards and other types of roadblocks should be used to keep vehicles separated from pedestrian spaces and avoid potential dangers.

Sustainable Street Furniture for Green Cities

For many cities, becoming more walkable is a central part of a holistic approach to becoming more sustainable. It follows, therefore, that you should also keep sustainability in mind when planning and installing street furniture that improves the walkability of your area. Utilising natural materials is crucial, ensuring sustainability while also improving street aesthetics. There are also ways to use natural materials for essential functions like vehicle barriers – large logs and boulders are increasingly being used to protect pedestrianised areas from vehicles. Multifunctional street furniture is also popular with improvements like green roofs on shelters and benches that incorporate flower beds.

How Street Furniture Enhances Urban Aesthetics and Wayfinding

Improving street aesthetics with quality street furniture is key for attracting visitors and instilling pride in your local area. It’s not enough to add functional furniture – they need to be visually appealing to ensure people use them. Improving streets with furniture is all about mixing functionality with aesthetic appeal. Make sure to choose visually pleasing items, particularly when it comes to benches, shelters and signage. Using multifunctional furniture such as planters and flower beds can be invaluable.

Improving walkability in a city can be deceptively tricky. Street furniture is a key tool in your kit to help you make the streets of your city a place that people want to enjoy. It is a simple but incredibly effective way to boost tourism and local uptake of amenities. At Speedy Street, we pride ourselves in offering quality furniture that will boost the aesthetic appeal of your city and provide the best in functionality for residents and visitors. Shop our ranges today to find out more!