보행자 친화도로 활성화를 위한 뉴욕 6½ Avenue 사례 분석 연구

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Through industrialization and urbanization, South Korea has developed a car-centered transportation system, leading to reduced pedestrian spaces, increased safety and environmental issues, and a decline in public space vitality. Consequently, pedestrian-friendly streets have gained attention as a means to foster people-centered urban environments, and various improvement policies have been implemented since the 1990s. However, these initiatives have mainly focused on physical and design interventions, limiting the creation and activation of new pedestrian spaces. Enhancing urban pedestrian environments therefore requires strategies that strengthen connectivity with surrounding spaces. This study examines New York City’s ‘6½ Avenue’as a case study to explore new approaches for creating and revitalizing pedestrian-friendly streets. (Method) The research methodology is organized into three main stages. First, the theoretical background examines pedestrian-friendly streets by analyzing related policies and previous studies to assess the characteristics and limitations of current pedestrian environment improvement and activation strategies. Second, the case study analyzes‘6½ Avenue,’ focusing on its implementation background, development process, theoretical basis for spatial configuration, design features, and outcomes. Finally, based on these analyses, the study evaluates the urban and social impacts of the project and proposes strategies for revitalizing pedestrian-oriented streets. (Results) The analysis revealed that establishing pedestrian-friendly streets by linking underutilized Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) within the city can increase civic activity and local economic revitalization at relatively low cost and with broad social consensus. Following the development of‘6½ Avenue’, pedestrian volume and safety showed significant improvement, while vehicle speeds and traffic volumes on adjacent streets remained largely unchanged. The project also positively impacted local businesses and surrounding communities. Notably, 6½ Avenue was created through the collaboration of civic organizations, local communities, neighboring property owners, and municipal authorities, connecting previously inactive POPS, representing a distinct approach compared to traditional government-led pedestrian environment improvement initiatives. (Conclusions) This study reviewed South Korea’s policies and previous research on pedestrian-friendly street activation and analyzed the citizen-led pedestrian street‘6½ Avenue’ in Manhattan, New York, to derive new directions for pedestrian activation and relevant policy implications using Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS). Transitioning toward a pedestrian-friendly city requires the expansion of pedestrian spaces, and streets that connect underutilized or hidden public spaces, including POPS, should serve as a fundamental component in establishing an urban pedestrian network. This study reviewed pedestrian-friendly street policies and precedents in South Korea and analyzed the citizen-led‘6½ Avenue’in Manhattan, presenting the potential of utilizing POPS for creating and activating new pedestrian-friendly streets. The study concludes with three policy implications: (1)integrated utilization of latent urban spaces in connection with pedestrian networks, (2)establishment of local governance through collaboration between civil society and stakeholders, and (3)development of an information-based system for continuous management and monitoring.