Page 55 - HUDCO-SHELTER-APR21

POLICY REVIEW

shelters and shops to cultural uniqueness of role and activities such as walking for
supply/distribute the essential utilization of footpath leisure as well as si ing or
commodities or informal (Nasongkhla and Sintusingha sleeping on the street furniture
activities such as playing, 2013). Footpath space brings as a necessity. The usage also
cha ing, standing, eating etc. people closer as they get depends upon the
Formal and Informal functions involved in diverse social environmental condition. The
are categorized as per activities. The social high quality public spaces a ract
government's involvement or its characteristic of footpath is and engage more people to carry
absenteeism. represented through activities out different activities such as
The role and utilization of happening in the space. The playing, gossiping, si ing etc.
footpath, however, are diverse. It utilization of space is examined Social activities include both
reflects the complex social by studying the type of activities physical and passive contact.
comprehension of the citizens happening on footpaths. Gehl Physical contact includes the
towards the city's public (1987) classified the type of direct activities between one
facilities. Srilertchaipanij (2014) activities in public space into another such as talking, selling
examined the role and three categories, namely and buying goods on footpath
utilization of footpath by necessary activities, optional space etc. whereas passive
examining behavioural response activities and social activities. contact is simply observing other
of footpath users and to improve The activities range from low to people. According to the
the pedestrian condition on high level of social contact. features of the activities, Mehta
footpath in Victory Monument, Walking is footpath's (2006) categorizes human
Bangkok. The Study, using fundamental activity, which is activities in public spaces as
methods such as behavioural necessary in a city. People also follows:
observation and in-depth choose to use it for optional
interviews, reveals that the Figure 1: Example of Stationary Activity: Person sleeping on pathway at
physical se ing of the footpath is ITO near Ring Road, New Delhi
an important consideration to
accommodate the walkability.
The change in footpath
utilization during different time
periods reduces social
interaction as well as its
efficiency as walking space per
pedestrians gets reduced.
Activities on Footpath

Human activities on footpaths
are affected by social, economic,
cultural and climatic factors.
Such factors lead to emergent
characteristics of the space.
Contextualization of space is
also dependent upon the

Source: clicked by the Author

April 2021 Volume 22 No. 1- SHELTER 53