1. “Moscow Paths” Initiative “Paths” Network
Fedor Novikov
fedor.n@gmail.com
+1.917.285.4438

2. • Brief overview of Moscow
• The case: spontaneous paths
• “Moscow path” initiative
• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A
Presentation plan

3. • Brief overview of Moscow
• The case: spontaneous paths
• “Moscow path” initiative
• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A
Presentation plan

4. Moscow

5. Low connectivity, concentration of activity in the center

6. Dense metropolis with suburban topology

7. • Brief overview of Moscow
• The case: spontaneous paths
• “Moscow path” initiative
• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A
The case: paths

8. The case: paths

9. Forget-me-not type

10. Sidewalk type

11. Connector type

12. Adjacent to parking type

13. Adjacent to parking type
Parked type

14. They say, in North Korea people only turn at straight angles

15. Recreational path

16. Spontaneous paths in free-layout neighborhoods: Vilnyus

17. Berlin

18. Warsaw

19. Brasilia :: paths as tribute to modernism
source: http://discoveringurbanism.blogspot.com/

20. “The smartest path”. Harvard

21. • Scale of the problem
• Ecology (paths contribute to dust in the air)
• Transport (people tend to walk less and use cars more
due to poor sidewalks condition)
• Economic implications for local businesses and budget
• Symptom of poor pedestrian network design skills
• “Broken window” effect
• Could only be solved at a city-wide level
Why is that important?

22. 1. Recultivated*
* photo was taken
May 2009,
by mid June the path
was once again in place
How are paths dealt with in Moscow

23. Fenced

24. The very few examples of preservation

25. ~ distance 300 feet
Typical mistakes: lack of systematic approach

26. <= width => poor pavement quality
Typical mistakes

27. Typical mistakes: corners

28. Turns out, paths are not a problem, but rather a hint to planners

29. Design case study

30. Crossing Crossing
~ 60 feet + turns ~ 30 feet
50% increase in distance ~ design?

31. “beautiful” vs functional
source: http://zyalt.livejournal.com/143040.html

32. Designing paths: shortest routes

33. Designing paths: lowest costs

34. overview of methodology
developed by A. P. Romm, Phd
since 1960s
Entrance
I II III
How do we decide when to cut corners through grass?

35. Real life example

36. Designing paths: optimized network

37. Designing optimized network

38. Designing paths: optimized network (example #1)

39. Designing paths: optimized network (example #2)

40. Designing network with barriers

41. Designing optimized neighborhood paths network

42. Now let’s compare it to a real case

43. • Brief overview of Moscow
• The case: spontaneous paths
• “Moscow path” initiative
• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A
Presentation plan

44. http://dorojki-msk.ru/English
info
online petition (313 Moscovites)
paths map
Major problem to be solved:
yet no system that would maintain online community
Project & Dorojki-Msk.ru

45. Mass media attention

46. Officials responded: “No, thanks”

47. • Brief overview of Moscow
• The case: spontaneous paths
• “Moscow path” initiative
• Ideas for future development of the project + Q&A
Presentation plan

48. Pedestrian infrastructure conditions

49. Sidewalks?

50. Public spaces

51. Public spaces

52. Access

53. Access for disabled

54. =
Preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes

55. Option: preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes
=
Preserving paths + creating bicycle lanes

56. Dense metropolis with suburban topology

57. Concentracion of business activity in the center +
Poor road connectivity ~ sparse hierarchy

58. moscow car park ‘86-’06
Daily traffic

59. Sidewalks?

60. Sidewalks?

61. Buildings are separated from street

62. Buildings are separated from the street

63. Poor accessibility transforms into lack of retail or street activities

64. - Create a system that would maintain online community
- Restructure inner organization to become more open-sourced
- Develop partnerships
- Integrate georeferenced photo bank
- Best practices & library project
- Publish methodology
- GPS tracking style app’s
- Path design software
Needed technical improvements

65. - too few Moscow streets are truly livable and vibrant
- many people supported the project and its expansion
- almost no web-sites in Russian discuss livable streets
From To
only Moscow Network of cities (+english?)
livable streets
+ Pedestrians networks
+ Bike networks
only paths + Disabled accessibility
+ Public spaces quality
+ TOD
Reasons & decision: project should broaden its outlook

66. open source network for urban projects + blogs
just paths disabled education articles cycling cycling architecture
Scenario 2

67. Dorojki-Msk.ru/English *
* will be accessible by Jan, 1 2010
our partners
Dorojki.msk@gmail.com
Fedor Novikov,
1.917.285.4438
Thank you!