A complete street and its design approach

The quality of a city and urban development largely depends on the quality of its streets. The decrease in pedestrian safety and the increase in traffic accidents indicate that many urban planning schemes prioritize cars, neglecting the rights of cyclists, pedestrians, and simultaneous use by different modes of transportation. One strategy that can contribute to urban development and environmental attractiveness, while supporting social sustainability, is the concept of a complete street. In this design approach, by creating a safe space for movement and easy accessibility, all users can simultaneously travel within it. The concept of complete streets has been around for over two decades and is often referred to as healthy streets in London. The primary goal of a complete street is to promote a human-centric approach to city streets, where citizens can walk freely on wide sidewalks without any concerns. A complete street should provide a platform for both pedestrians and cyclists alongside public transportation, allowing for seamless mobility. The minimum width for pedestrian paths should be at least ۴ meters in a complete street. This research aims to introduce the concept of complete streets and highlight the differences between them and existing streets. Furthermore, it examines the impact of complete streets on sustainable urban development. Giving attention to the width of pedestrian paths in a complete street is of great importance. In a complete street, bicycle paths are either completely separated or integrated with pedestrian and vehicular paths. Ultimately, by creating a safe environment, reducing air pollution, and facilitating user movement, complete streets contribute to sustainable urban development.

Keywords:

complete street , sustainable development , urban development , air pollution