Two primary objectives of the Saudi QoL program are Improving individuals` lifestyles by developing new approaches that boost residents` participation in cultural, entertainment, and sports activities. The second is enhancing the quality of life by creating activities that contribute to diversifying economic activity and boosting the status of sustainable development plans of Saudi Arabian cities are.
Improving and adapting open public spaces and streets in the city of Riyadh into pedestrian-friendly ones and fewer cars' dependent can do much change and help accomplish the country's vision. In this regard, the main research goal is to investigate the reflections of the QoL program on the urban and social life in Riyadh neighborhoods with a focus on the quality of public spaces to promote social activities and walkability as the prime physical activity of neighborhoods residents.
The research follows mixed methods for its different parts. The research followed a qualitative approach is in the theoretical studies and literature review. The research involves a quantitative analysis for the research survey, which investigates factors affecting the community's tendency to use public spaces and practice walkability as a main physical activity in their daily lives within their neighborhoods.
The research significance is to link the national perspective of QoL and international best practices in placemaking and public spaces according to their global initiatives and the UN-Habitat Public Space program launched in 2020. On that track reducing the dependence on autos and encouraging physical activities and walkability among all community members. The research outcomes will help transform Riyadh Neighborhoods into more pedestrian-friendly urban public spaces by concluding the main parameters and their responsive design solutions to promote community tendency of using public spaces and practice walkability. The research provides recommendations for developing public spaces and pedestrian infrastructure to encourage the city planners to bear that in mind in the early stage in planning transportation infrastructure, an appropriate level of pedestrian service must be established and provided across the roading hierarchy and path network. In addition, the research results include proposing design guidelines for different members of the community, older people, children, and disabled people.
Scope of work and limitations: This research's main scope of implementation is the residential neighborhood Al-Falah in the City of Riyadh, yet the suggested strategies and design guidelines could be extended and applied to most cities of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Keywords: Quality of life, Public Space, Saudi Vision 2030, walkability, neighborhood design
eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i18.3024
Importance and planning of pedestrian streets in urban environment