Design for People Connected

Places that are connected physically and socially

• It is well connected to surrounding areas
• You can see where you are and where you are going
• There is a range of transport options, including public transport, walking and bicycling
• It is connected to places with jobs, schools, shops, facilities and services
• It is connected with the past – the heritage of a place – and with the community and its culture
• It feels connected with the natural environment

ATTRIBUTES

It is well connected to surrounding areas

1. Is it physically connected to surroundings areas?
   For example, you can walk, ride, catch public transport or drive to surrounding areas.
2. Will physical barriers be avoided or minimised?
   For example, train lines, motorways, hospital campuses and other major infrastructure can divide communities.
3. Will surrounding development encroach on, or prevent the future upgrade of, critical infrastructure?

You can see where you are and where you are going

1. Is it visually connected to surrounding areas?
   For example, significant landscape or built features can be seen from surrounding areas.
2. Is it easy to orient yourself and navigate from one place to another?
3. Is the layout of streets and pathways clear and logical, particularly for people walking or riding a bicycle?
4. Is there clear signage showing people where they are, and to help them find where they are going?

There is a range of transport options, including public transport, walking and bicycling

1. Is there a good range of transport options and routes available – including frequent and reliable public transport?
2. Are there direct and logical walking and bicycling routes connecting homes and workplaces to key destinations such as public transport, shops, schools and parks?
3. Will public transport be available from the first stages of the development?

It is connected to places with jobs, schools, shops, facilities and services

1. Is there good access to a range of employment and education opportunities?
2. Are there grocery stores and supermarkets within walking distance (500 metres) of residential and work areas?
3. Does it consider how businesses and facilities will be serviced? For example delivery of goods and disposal of waste.

It is connected with the past – the heritage of a place – and with the community and its culture

1. Is there a connection with the past (heritage buildings, structures and places)?
2. Have places of heritage, cultural, social or archaeological significance been protected or interpreted through restoration, installations, re-use or tourism?

It feels connected with the natural environment

1. Are landscape features connected to one another? For example, waterways, bushland and open spaces are connected to create continuous green networks and habitat corridors.
2. Are all homes and workplaces within walking distance (500m) of at least one public open space?

REFERENCES/LINKS

Complete Streets – Urban design guidelines

A comprehensive how-to-kit on urban street design, which is community focused and caters for a wide range of end-users (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Queensland Division, 2010).

Do Enhancements to the Urban Built Environment Improve Physical Activity Levels Among Socially Disadvantaged Populations?
A paper presenting the findings of a study on the effects of changes in the built environment on the physical activity-related health inequities in Maori and low-income New Zealand populations (Pearce, J & Maddison, R, 2011).

The Impact of Urban Form on Public Health
A report detailing the impacts of urban design and planning on the physical and mental health of communities (Giles-Corti, B, 2006, State of Environment Committee).