Walking is a primary means of transportation in developing countries, but poor pedestrian infrastructure poses a barrier to achieving urban sustainability. This research aims to assess the condition of sidewalks in Nablus through a field study of 1,418 randomly selected street segments analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The analysis addressed four main aspects of sidewalks: (1) sidewalk availability; (2) sidewalk width; (3) sidewalk surface quality; and (4) obstacles that limit their use. The results showed that 46% of the segments lack sidewalks at all, and that the vast majority of existing sidewalks are no more than 2 meters wide. It also revealed that 80% of surfaces are of average quality, and that 34% of the segments suffer from both permanent and temporary obstructions. These results reveal fundamental gaps that limit pedestrian safety and accessibility. The study recommends combining high-cost physical interventions to widen and improve sidewalks with low-cost legal and regulatory measures to remove obstacles and control violations, thus contributing to enhancing walkability and achieving more sustainable cities.

Conference Title

Engineering for Palestine Conference

Conference Country

Palestine

Conference Date

Sept. 29, 2025 - Sept. 30, 2025

Conference Sponsor

جامعة بولتيكنيك - فلسطين

Additional Info

Conference Website