Differentiating busking from begging: A psychological approach

Despite the research support that street performance is generally a beneficial element to public space, the legitimacy of street performance remains controversial. One critical issue is that busking is often confused with begging. With a psychological perspective, the present research examines the distinction of busking from begging. Two studies approached the problem from the viewpoints of street performers and passersby, respectively. Study 1 (N = 188) surveyed street performers on their reasons for street performance and reasons for why donations to street performance should be acceptable. The respondents could articulate various features of street performance along which busking could be similar to and yet distinguishable from begging. Study 2 (N = 189) experimentally compared busking and begging in how they could affect people’s perception of public space. Relative to public space with begging, public space with busking was perceived as significantly more comforting, more active, less prone to crimes, and overall more likeable. These descriptive (Study 1) and experimental (Study 2) findings help to clarify the difference between busking and begging: Street performance is not merely an act of soliciting donations in public space, but it also possesses artistic and entertaining qualities that can in turn make public space more favorable. The current findings can inform the policy making and regulations of street performance. Moreover, since the present research was conducted in Hong Kong, it contributes a cultural perspective to the literature on street performance.

Analisis Kinerja Jalan Tengkuruk Permai dengan Mikrosimulasi Pemindahan Terminal dan Parkir Badan Jalan

Tengkuruk Permai street is currently used for city transportation terminals, on street parking, access and exit to 16 Ilir market parking lot (off street parking), entrance to Ampera Bridge, passenger access to LRT stations and Skate Park. The various functions of this street caused the reduction in street service levels at certain hours and become a congestion point in Palembang city. This study aims to obtain the results of the analysis of Tengkuruk Permai’s street performance in the scenario conditions of terminal relocation and on street parking. The data were collected directly by measuring and enumeration then micro-simulated with the Vissim software. Vissim microsimulation modeling is carried out in existing conditions and scenarios by combining the 3 (three) floors parking building construction plans, city transport routes, Tengkuruk Permai street which has been cleared of on street parking and terminals, street networks around the research location and intersection arrangements concurrently. The street performance analysis uses the calculation of the V/C ratio, where the calculation of the street capacity uses the Vissim microsimulation output such as speed, density and volume obtained in the link of segment evaluation menu. Capacity determination is using the calculation of relation of flow (q), velocity (v) and density (k). The scenario of relocating the city transport terminal and street parking to the 3 (three) floors parking building plan at 16 Ilir market parking lot can increase the capacity of Tengkuruk Permai Street from 1087,88 pcu/hour/direction to 2295.15 pcu/hour/direction and improve the service level from level E to level A.

Effect of Street Performance (Busking) on the Environmental Perception of Public Space

This is the first experimental study testing the effect of street performance (aka busking) on the subjective environmental perception of public space. It is generally believed that street performance can enhance people’s experience of public space, but studies advocating such a view have not used a control group to explicitly verify the effect of street performance. In response to this methodological limitation, we conducted two studies using experimental design. Study 1 (N = 748) was an online computer-based study where research participants evaluated the extent to which the presence vs. absence of street performance could change their perception of public space. Study 2 (N = 162) was a between-group quasi-experiment in an actual public space where people physically present in the space evaluated the perception of the space with vs. without street performance. Overall, we found converging results that street performance could make public space more visitable, more restorative, and more preferable. The current findings not only fill in a gap in the literature on street performance, but they also inform the policy making and regulations of street performance.