Alleys, The Future of Walkability in Suburbs: Insights for Planning Practice from Abu Dhabi

Abstract

Following the oil boom in the Gulf region post-1950s, urban development rapidly evolved to accommodate the increasing reliance on automobiles. This shift led to the emergence of car-dominated urban landscapes that continuously grow and spread into suburban areas, overlooking the requirements of pedestrian movement. The prevailing condition of suburban spaces does not prioritize or facilitate pedestrian accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the inadequacies of urban planning, showcasing the absence of sidewalks in the Public Right of Way that would promote active transportation modes like walking. The future urban design of suburban areas must pivot towards a more pedestrian-focused framework, enabling people to navigate more easily and maintain physical distancing when necessary.

Alleys have the potential to become the future of walkability in suburban areas. This research supports the integration of alleyways as fundamental components of pedestrian circulation systems to foster walkable environments in suburban settings. The study takes 15 samples of varying street and alley typologies selected form the suburban neighbourhoods of Abu Dhabi to examine the potential of alleys to act as an auxiliary network that supports the street system. This is achieved by examining the current physical conditions of Right of Ways (R.O.W.s) and alleyways, analysing their morphological attributes, and evaluating the networks’ Edge Betweenness. Utilizing the Edge Betweenness centrality metric, the research evaluates the influence of integrating alleys into the circulation network by comparing the results of two distinct scenarios: before and after the inclusion of alleys. The primary goal of this comparative analysis is to determine under what conditions alleys are considered complement or compensate for street systems. The findings indicate that the key factor determining whether alleyways can serve as enhancements or substitutes for traditional street networks is their density compared to that of streets. Additionally, several other characteristics of alleys, including their continuous layout, placement within the network, and orientation, have been shown to affect their role as main connectors within the network. These important observations provide crucial data that can shape urban planning and design strategies, aiding in the development of suburban regions with improved walkability.

Date of Award	1 May 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	KHALED ALAWADI (Supervisor)