The changing role of pedestrian bridges in everyday urban life : case study of pedestrian bridges in Hong Kong

Proceedingsof the International Journal of Arts and Sciences (IJAS) Conference, University of London Union, London, UK, November 5-8, 2013In the city, the pedestrian bridge is normally a form of infrastructure designed to segregate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. However, in many places pedestrian bridges have become urban stages on which vibrant communal life unfolds. Hong Kong, known as Asia’s world city, has a landmass of 1,104 km2 and a population of seven million people, and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Pedestrian bridges have been widely used in Hong Kong since the 1960s due to rapid development of the economy and the population. By 2008, there were 693 pedestrian bridges in Hong Kong, all of which play a critical role in people’s everyday urban life. Using case studies of pedestrian bridges in Hong Kong, this paper presents an empirical study that examines the changing role of pedestrian bridges in the city. By observing people’s everyday activities and their tactical uses of pedestrian bridges, the study investigates and summarises the diverse roles of pedestrian bridges in Hong Kong. The discussion and findings should provide inspiration for public place making and public infrastructure design and management.School of DesignRefereed conference pape