Fedor Novikovfedor.n@gmail.com

+1.917.285.4438

“Moscow Paths” Initiative “Paths” Network

• Brief overview of Moscow

• The case: spontaneous paths

• “Moscow path” initiative

• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A

Presentation plan

• Brief overview of Moscow

• The case: spontaneous paths

• “Moscow path” initiative

• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A

Presentation plan

Moscow

Low connectivity, concentration of activity in the center

Dense metropolis with suburban topology

• Brief overview of Moscow

• The case: spontaneous paths

• “Moscow path” initiative

• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A

The case: paths

The case: paths

Forget-me-not type

Sidewalk type

Connector type

Adjacent to parking type

Adjacent to parking type

Parked type

They say, in North Korea people only turn at straight angles

Recreational path

Spontaneous paths in free-layout neighborhoods: Vilnyus

Berlin

Warsaw

Brasilia :: paths as tribute to modernismsource: http://discoveringurbanism.blogspot.com/

“The smartest path”. Harvard

• Scale of the problem

• Ecology (paths contribute to dust in the air)

• Transport (people tend to walk less and use cars more due to poor sidewalks condition)

• Economic implications for local businesses and budget

• Symptom of poor pedestrian network design skills

• “Broken window” effect

• Could only be solved at a city-wide level

Why is that important?

1. Recultivated*

* photo was taken May 2009, by mid June the path was once again in place

How are paths dealt with in Moscow

Fenced

The very few examples of preservation

~ distance 300 feet

Typical mistakes: lack of systematic approach

Typical mistakes

<= width => poor pavement quality

Typical mistakes: corners

Turns out, paths are not a problem, but rather a hint to planners

Design case study

~ 30 feet~ 60 feet + turns

Crossing Crossing

50% increase in distance ~ design?

source: http://zyalt.livejournal.com/143040.html

“beautiful” vs functional

Designing paths: shortest routes

Designing paths: lowest costs

Entrance

I II III

How do we decide when to cut corners through grass?

overview of methodology developed by A. P. Romm, Phdsince 1960s

Real life example

Designing paths: optimized network

Designing optimized network

Designing paths: optimized network (example #1)

Designing paths: optimized network (example #2)

Designing network with barriers

Designing optimized neighborhood paths network

Now let’s compare it to a real case

• Brief overview of Moscow

• The case: spontaneous paths

• “Moscow path” initiative

• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A

Presentation plan

online petition (313 Moscovites)

paths map

info

Major problem to be solved:yet no system that would maintain online community

http://dorojki-msk.ru/English

Project & Dorojki-Msk.ru

Mass media attention

Officials responded: “No, thanks”

• Brief overview of Moscow

• The case: spontaneous paths

• “Moscow path” initiative

• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A

Presentation plan

Pedestrian infrastructure conditions

Sidewalks?

Public spaces

Public spaces

Access

Access for disabled

=

Preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes

Option: preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes

=

Preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes

Dense metropolis with suburban topology

Poor road connectivity ~ sparse hierarchy

Concentracion of business activity in the center +

Daily traffic

moscow car park ‘86-’06

Sidewalks?

Sidewalks?

Buildings are separated from street

Buildings are separated from the street

Poor accessibility transforms into lack of retail or street activities

- Create a system that would maintain online community

- Restructure inner organization to become more open-sourced

- Develop partnerships

- Integrate georeferenced photo bank

- Best practices & library project

- Publish methodology

- GPS tracking style app’s

- Path design software

Needed technical improvements

- too few Moscow streets are truly livable and vibrant

- many people supported the project and its expansion

- almost no web-sites in Russian discuss livable streets

From Toonly Moscow Network of cities (+english?)

only paths

+ Pedestrians networks+ Bike networks+ Disabled accessibility+ Public spaces quality+ TOD

livable streets

Reasons & decision: project should broaden its outlook

Scenario 2

just paths disabled education articles cycling cycling architecture

open source network for urban projects + blogs

Dorojki.msk@gmail.com

Fedor Novikov,

1.917.285.4438

Dorojki-Msk.ru/English *

Thank you!

* will be accessible by Jan, 1 2010

our partners