Study of Pedestrian Zone According to Superblock Criteria in the Casco Antiguo of Panama

Haydee Caballero, Luis Hidalgo and Jorge Quijada-Alarcon
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Haydee Caballero: Grupo de Investigación del Transporte y Territorio, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Apdo 0819-07289, Panama
Luis Hidalgo: Grupo de Investigación del Transporte y Territorio, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Apdo 0819-07289, Panama
Jorge Quijada-Alarcon: Grupo de Investigación del Transporte y Territorio, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Apdo 0819-07289, Panama

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: The Casco Viejo of Panama is an area with great potential to develop a pedestrian zone, as it is an attractive area for travelers to visit. For this development to be carried out safely, it is recommended that the site is analyzed based on superblock criteria to ensure pedestrians can move through the streets in a free and accessible way regardless of their physical condition. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the current state of the road infrastructure, as we did in this research. The methodology consisted of field visits where information was gathered on the distribution of space so that ideal routes for pedestrian tourists could be ensured. We surveyed the state of the sidewalks, their physical condition, minimum widths, heights, their accessibility, and the presence of obstacles that block movement from one point to another. We also assessed the characteristics of the roads, safe crossings and signs, the current management of parking in illegal areas, and the system of public transport routes. The results describe the current problems, which are, firstly, the issue of poor pedestrian and cyclist mobility due to the lack of space available on public roads as a result of poorly parked cars and the placement of bollards. Secondly, free movement is impossible for the disabled due to the absence of ramps and railings, which prevents the integration of this group in the area.

Keywords: superblock; sustainable mobility; accessibility; pedestrian; private vehicle; urban mobility; pedestrian zones (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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