City Know-hows
Based on permanent noise sensor data, we find that the pedestrianisation of four new “green axes” in Barcelona has resulted in a modest but significant reduction in street noise. This disproves concerns that noise from pedestrian activity may exceed previous traffic noise.
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Target audience
Municipal planners, street designers, neighbourhood associations.
The problem
Although pedestrianisation is generally thought to reduce street noise, there exist few before-and-after studies which empirically assess the impacts of pedestrianisation on noise levels. This is especially true in dense cities with a vibrant street life, where noise reductions from pedestrianisation may be counterbalanced by high levels of pedestrian activity and outdoor recreation.
What we did and why
To evaluate the impacts of pedestrianisation on street noise, we examined before-and-after data from seven permanent municipal noise sensors located on Barcelona’s new pedestrianised green axes. We also conducted a survey targeting residents of the new green axes and neighbouring streets regarding perceived street noise and its impacts on residents’ homes. Together, these provide evidence on both the objective and perceived impacts of pedestrianisation on street noise.
Our study’s contribution
Our study provides novel evidence of the role of pedestrianisation in reducing street noise in the context of Barcelona’s green axes and superblocks plan, which has been subject to extensive public scrutiny and debate. Our survey results also suggests that residents of the green axes make more frequent use of rooms and balconies facing the main street, providing insights on how street noise impacts residents’ use of their homes.
Impacts for city policy and practice
Our study confirms that pedestrianisation reduces street noise levels, but also shows that these often remain above recommended public health thresholds. This highlights the importance of ongoing noise monitoring strategies for pedestrian spaces, which risk becoming excessive during times of high outdoor activity (e.g. weekend evenings). Ideally, a noise strategy for pedestrianized spaces should go beyond noise abatement, and think about the street soundscape as a whole.
Further information
Full research article:
Quieter except on weekend evenings: changes in street-level noise following pedestrianisation by Samuel Nello-Deakin and Xavier Delclòs-Alió.
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