Evaluating the Effect of Environmental-Physical Factors on the Livability and Quality of Urban Streets (Case Study: Nader and Enghelab Streets in Sari City)

Today, urban traffic management is known as the most important factor affecting the livability of urban streets. But along with that, other environmental-physical factors also have a great effect on the livability and quality of these kinds of public realms. This paper aims to identify and evaluate environmental and physical factors affecting the livability and quality of urban streets and its impact on perceptions of street users. An exploratory sequential mixed method was adopted as the methodology of this research. Besides, the required data are collected through library resources and field surveys. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation coefficient in SPSS software. Findings of the research indicate that there is a significant relationship between the livability of the studied streets and some physical-environmental problems like poor lighting, improper walkway paving, improper and inadequate vegetation, low width of sidewalks, inadequate facilities for disabled people, and improper access to public transportation, inadequate parking spaces, traffic congestion, inadequate public services and maintenance. In fact, the quality and livability of these streets are decreased with the increase of such problems. Moreover, the analysis of street users' perception of the livability and quality of the streets indicates a higher level of livability in Nader Street.
Extended Abstract
1- A "livable urban street" is an urban space in which the presence of a significant number of people and their diversity (in terms of age and gender) over a wide range of days, will be seen when their activities are mainly selective or social (khastoo,Rezvani,1389:66). According to the above definition, the street of the city is recognized as the main symbol of the social interactions that the streets of the world's prestigious cities have usually benefited from. However, our country, Iran has always faced difficulties and deep issues mostly due to over-physical development, lack of proper planning, and the application of some non-principled policies and procedures in facing urban streets and ignoring its central role in creating an environment for pause and social interactions. Lack of attention to urban furniture, lack of variety of activities during different hours of the day, lack of appropriate lighting and vegetation, lack of easy access to public transportation and parking space are a part of environmental problems which affect the active participation of the people, leading to the livability of the urban streets and the physical and mental health of citizens. Considering the above-mentioned cases, the importance of the studied arterial streets in terms of high daily traffic of citizens and their significant presence in these spaces, the presence of identity elements like HOLY SHRINE, the traditional market in the studied areas, the promotion of physical -environmental quality and its impact on the livability of the streets and perception of users are of great importance. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to identify the environmental and physical problems of the streets of the Nader and Enghelab of the city of Sari and assess their impact on the quality and livability of these streets.
2- An exploratory sequential mixed method was adopted as the methodology of this research. The quantitative and qualitative approaches were taken separately to answer the research questions. Studied streets’ environmental-physical features were considered as independent variables and their quality and livability were taken as dependent variables. Direct observation was accompanied by photographs and field notes to collect the qualitative data reaching an accurate visual appraisal of the studied streets’ physical-environmental problems. The studied streets were visited at different times, during the night, day, weekends, raining times and special events of the year to make sure that the quality of all attributes are examined and all problems are identified. At the second phase, questionnaires were designed specifically for each street. This questionnaire survey tended to uncover the users’ view point towards the identified physical-environmental problems of these spaces and their impact on streets’ livability. The analysis of physical-environmental impacts on the quality and livability of streets were analyzed by applying descriptive statistics and spearman coefficient correlation among the research streets’ quality and livability as the dependent variables and physical-environmental streets problems as the independent variable.
3- The related findings to the streets were evaluated in order to have a better understanding of the effects of environmental-physical factors on the livability and the quality of urban streets. The results of the correlation analysis in streets showed that the problems like improper walkway paving, poor lighting, improper and inadequate vegetation, low width of sidewalks, inadequate facilities for disabled people, improper access to public transportation, inadequate parking spaces, traffic congestion, inadequate public services and maintenance had negative correlation with the livability of both studied streetscapes. Research shows that traffic congestion and inadequate parking space, as two important factors, strongly affect the deterioration of livability in both studied streets. In terms of green space, insufficient vegetation in Enghelab Street has a negative effect on the livability of this street.
4- In connection with identified problems, four operational recommendations are presented to improve the environmental-physical quality of the streets which can be generalized to other arterial streets of Sari. The first action plan is the provision of facilities such as suitable street furniture and seating, adequate shelter, facilities for disabled people and adequate parking space. The second one is the quality enhancement of existing facilities and services like public transportation systems, public services, landscaping and planting. The third is the redesign, renovation, maintenance of some elements, like pavements, old and abandoned buildings and facades, and the reduction of the contrast between the architectural styles of new and old buildings. Besides, preserving and improvement of historical attractions and identification of the old fabric of Sari city as the center of the social life , utilization of valuable historical buildings and environments, maintaining and developing public services, open and green urban spaces, allocation of valuable urban environments(pathways and historical open spaces), allocation of pathways in the textures passing through the main historical passages and YAHYA holy shrine area and traditional market, in modern pattern combined with the existing structure of the city will play a significant role in enhancing the vitality and quality of the studied streets. Additionally, the government must educate people on urban maintenance and cleaning issues. Without people taking care, municipalities will not be able to keep the city livable and clean. Furthermore, education is needed to encourage the use of public transportation, although private vehicles and walkability promotion would be effective in preserving and restoring of urban streets livability. The supervision and law enforcement in city image field is another municipalities role which should be taken more seriously