Edmonton's Wayfinding Journey (breakout presentation). (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hosler, Ian
• Is Part Of: Journal of transport & health. Volume 7(2017)Supplement
• Page Start: S83
• Page End: S84
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Transportation -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Noise, Transportation -- Periodicals; Air Pollutants -- Periodicals; 388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2017.11.135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-1405

Abstract

Abstract : Overview: The session will comprise a presentation by the City of Edmonton on why they decided to pursue the development of a coordinated City approach to wayfinding systems. We will cover the development of objectives, the value case that needed to be made, pilot project evaluation and their perspectives on how wayfinding helps people perceive and use their city on foot. Background: In 2012, the City of Edmonton embarked on a walking wayfinding project as one of the goals of our walkability strategy. Objectives included wanting to encourage people to walk in a northern city, to find ways to communicate the complex indoor Pedway network and to help reconnect neighbourhoods where driving dominates. Description of Intervention: The City of Edmonton engaged Applied Wayfinding to prepare strategies, a business case and pilot projects, and to design both an interim and permanent on-street signage system. We were fortunate to at the same time to design a system to update wayfinding within our Downtown Pedways that would coordinate with the on-street system and to begin to coordinate with our Parks and Transit systems. We are currently implementing the permanent system. Outcomes: The results of the pilot showed that people respond very similarly to information that helps them explore confidently on foot. This evidence of people's willingness to walk if they can orientate themselves, understand the proximity by walking and be engaged in the character of the place, helped the City to successfully adopt a wayfinding program that is growing to be a significant aspect of our work in active transportation. Implications: The session aims to provide insight and interest for the audience on how a technique with limited widespread understanding like wayfinding can become a supported initiative. The Edmonton project also reveal the difficulties in finding measurable programs to increase walking in the short-term as well as the interest and questions about the role of mobile technology, accessible information and managing design-based projects in transportation.