The Impact of Congested Mobility on the Functions of Public Spaces in Cities, Ramses Square Case Study

Abstract

Public spaces play significant role in satisfying the needs of users in four levels: accessibility, environment and comfort, public utilization and sociability. The fulfillment relationship between needs and functions is affected by several aspects. The main aspect is mobility network in public spaces. In Ramses square, the existence of Ramses regional railway station as a hub of multi-layering transportation modes generates enormous flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Additionally, the congested street network and 6th October flyover cause high vehicle flow crosscutting pedestrian movements. This research investigates the effect of congested mobility on pedestrian usage. The methodology is to determine the users’ needs of Ramses and to analyze the existing situation of it then to compare them with the standards of public spaces. The research includes theoretical and empirical parts. For theoretical part, literature review explains the standards of public spaces’ elements. For empirical part, urban survey is used to determine the functions of Ramses and questionnaire to determine the needs of users. Finally, the research reaches its conclusion that the existence of congested mobility disconnects the mutual relation of needs’ satisfaction for users and minimizes it to the extent of being a traffic node used for vehicles-sometimes unsafe-regardless other dimensions.

Keywords: Public Spaces, Congested Mobility, Needs, Users, Fulfillment, Functions, Ramses