IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Chunggyeong-ro in Jeonju, South Korea, used to be a street centered around cars, but periodic car-free street events have been organized. In 2020, a street restructuring project to improve the pedestrian environment began and is now complete. As part of the project, the width of the existing lanes was reduced and the curbs on the sidewalk were removed. The entire street was given an integrated design and the asphalt was replaced with reinforced blocks to accommodate heavy vehicles. Additionally, improved street trees, planting beds, and streetlights were installed for pedestrian safety and convenience. Although plans to reduce the number of lanes from four to two or three were unsuccessful, the overall result is considered to be a more pedestrian-friendly environment. These changes seem to have significantly impacted citizens’ perceptions and behaviors toward the street. During spontaneous gatherings or political events in Jeonju, Chunggyeong-ro is closed to automobile traffic and serves as a temporary public square. These changes demonstrate that physical changes to roads not only improve safety and convenience for transportation, but also affect citizens’ perceptions of street space. This presentation will examine the major changes to the streets, analyze street user behavior, and conduct user interviews to demonstrate the project’s achievements and limitations in three dimensions.