What aspect should be incorporated into sidewalks and streetscapes for better pedestrian experience?

Incorporating street furniture and amenities into sidewalks and streetscapes significantly enhances the pedestrian experience by creating a more inviting and comfortable environment. Street furniture includes benches, tables, trash receptacles, and bicycle racks, which provide places for rest, social interaction, and convenience. Amenities, such as greenery, art installations, and shade structures, contribute to the aesthetic appeal and usability of public spaces, encouraging more people to walk and engage with their surroundings. This focus on user comfort and enjoyment helps to promote walking as a viable and attractive mode of transportation, thereby supporting health and well-being within a community. Such thoughtful design fosters an environment conducive to foot traffic, ultimately enhancing the vibrancy of urban areas.

Other aspects, like improved lighting and crosswalk signals, contribute to safety but do not directly enhance the comfort or sociability of a pedestrian environment in the same way that street furniture and amenities do. Meanwhile, vehicle lanes primarily serve the needs of motorists rather than promoting a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.