Question

The role of urban planners in pedestrian and slow moving traffic planning is

• A. Ignoring pedestrian needs
• B. Designing streets with minimal consideration for safety
• C. Incorporating features that encourage walking and cycling
• D. Focusing solely on accommodating vehicular traffic

Hint:

Urban planners play a key role in creating \textbf{pedestrian-friendly and cycle-friendly environments}.
This involves designing safe, accessible, and attractive infrastructure for non-motorized transport (NMT).
Key features include sidewalks, cycle tracks, pedestrian crossings, traffic calming, public spaces, and integration with public transport.
The aim is to promote sustainable mobility, public health, and livable communities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Modern urban planning emphasizes sustainable transportation and creating livable cities. This includes prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists (slow-moving traffic or non-motorized transport - NMT) alongside vehicular traffic. The role of urban planners in pedestrian and slow-moving traffic planning involves:
Creating safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure: This includes well-designed sidewalks, footpaths, pedestrian crossings (zebra crossings, signalized crossings, overpasses, underpasses), and ensuring accessibility for all users (e.g., ramps for wheelchairs, tactile paving for visually impaired).
Promoting cycling infrastructure: Dedicated cycle tracks, bicycle parking facilities, bike-sharing programs.
Traffic calming measures: Designing streets to reduce vehicular speeds and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists (e.g., speed bumps, chicanes, narrower carriageways).
Creating pedestrian-friendly environments: Public spaces, plazas, greenways, street furniture, lighting, and landscaping that make walking and cycling pleasant and attractive.
Integrating NMT with public transport: Ensuring good pedestrian/cycle access to bus stops, metro stations, etc.
Land use planning that supports walking and cycling: Mixed-use developments, compact urban forms, and locating amenities within walking/cycling distance. Essentially, planners aim to incorporate features that encourage walking and cycling and ensure the safety and convenience of these modes. Let's evaluate the options:
(a) Ignoring pedestrian needs: This is contrary to good urban planning principles.
(b) Designing streets with minimal consideration for safety: Safety for all road users, especially vulnerable ones like pedestrians and cyclists, is a primary concern.
(c) Incorporating features that encourage walking and cycling: This accurately describes the positive and proactive role of urban planners in promoting NMT.
(d) Focusing solely on accommodating vehicular traffic: This describes an outdated, car-centric approach to planning that modern urban planning seeks to move away from, towards more balanced and sustainable transportation systems. Therefore, the role of urban planners is to incorporate features that encourage and support walking and cycling. \[ \boxed{\text{Incorporating features that encourage walking and cycling}} \]