Humanization of Street Median Islands: Utilizing Pedestrian Quality Needs Indicators for Saudi Urban Transformation
Rasha A. Moussa ()
Additional contact information
Rasha A. Moussa: Architecture Department, College of Architecture and Design, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-30
Abstract:
Saudi Arabia has developed initiatives to transform wide street median islands into vibrant linear gardens that enhance city aesthetics, pedestrian safety, and social cohesion. Despite the significance of these spaces, urban designers often focus on physical aspects (Pedestrian Quality Needs) while ignoring social ones (Users’ Needs) which lead to the deterioration of these spaces, weakening their capability to create a positive user experience. This research aims to bridge the gap between the two aspects and highlight the potential of transforming street median islands into friendly linear spaces. The researcher conducts structured experts’ questionnaires to analyze the pedestrians’ needs and measure the impact of PQN attitudes on them to indicate the most effective indicator needed for each need. Additionally, a quantitative technique using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was employed to verify and weigh the importance of the PQN indicators that contribute to developing the suggested integrated framework. This framework is developed to be used for evaluating and improving the performance of these spaces. The study findings emphasize the importance of considering PQN and their impact on creating livable street median islands. Moreover, the results highlight the most effective design considerations to ensure the success of these spaces in generating social sustainability.
Keywords: street median islands; social sustainability; walkability; pedestrians’ quality needs; connectivity; conspicuous; convivial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:
Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/4/1661/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/4/1661/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX
RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan)
HTML/Text
Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:1661-:d:1593062
Access Statistics for this article
Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu
More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().