FAIR SPACE: for a "fair" use of roads

PRISMA planning tool reveals poorly used areas in public space

Over the decades, provision of sufficient space for motorized traffic has become a matter of course in today's traffic management. Especially in urban areas, where space is scarce, as a consequence the stipulated minimum widths are no longer available for other uses. New design options are required for a division of space, which does justice to all types of transport, taking into account the higher efficiency of pedestrian, bicycle and public transport.

In the recently completed FAIRSPACE project, the factor of time was included in the calculation of use of space for each type of transport: the "area / time" indicator, i.e. the area efficiency, was shown with its current occupancy and its maximum potential, as well as with an optimized, adapted profile.

The planning tool, for this purpose developed by PRISMA solutions, provides transport planners and the public sector with a tool to identify badly used areas in public space. Anamorphic maps - these show the index of the area time - enable “space eaters” to be identified at a glance. The example of Lange Gasse (1080 Vienna) impressively shows which resources a single parking space takes up over a day, if the areas are "inflated" in proportion to the index (area time).

Fig. (C) PRISMA solutions: difference made visible between the visible and time-weighted use of space.

Simulations of adapted street profiles show the great potential of a “fairer” distribution of space for sustainable, active forms of mobility. If FAIRSPACE is implemented in decision-making and implementation processes, this also enables improved arguing of transport policy decisions in a comprehensible manner.

Our innovative tool could therefore soon contribute to more fairness in the allocation of public areas and to an improved use of public space! Our partners in this BMK and FFG funded project were the Vienna University of Technology (Institute for Transport Science; Dept. Transport Planning and Transport Technology) and Besch + Partner Transport Engineers.