Pedestrian-First Campus (11.4.6)

Prioritising pedestrian access and walkability within campus design and mobility planning.

Introduction:

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) adopts a holistic Pedestrian-First Campus approach that prioritizes safe, inclusive, and accessible walkability across university grounds.
This approach is grounded in the Pedestrian Access Priority Procedure and the Sustainable Building and Campus Planning Policy, which together ensure that campus mobility planning supports human-scale circulation, reduces vehicle dependency, enhances outdoor comfort, and promotes a healthy and sustainable campus environment.

AAU’s pedestrian-first philosophy includes:
• expanding walkable zones,
• providing shaded and accessible pathways,
• reducing internal vehicle movement,
• enhancing safety, landscaping, and wayfinding,
• designing learning and cultural spaces that integrate naturally with pedestrian flows.

This commitment directly supports SDG11 by improving environmental quality, reducing emissions, strengthening community belonging, and promoting an active campus lifestyle.

Centers and Departments:

January
01

1. General Supplies & Services Department

Oversees campus walkways, pathway maintenance, shading structures, lighting, accessibility upgrades, and safe pedestrian circulation routes.

January
01

2. Sustainability & International Ranking Center (SIRC)

Monitors pedestrian-access indicators, evaluates walkability improvements, and ensures alignment with SDG11 mobility standards.

January
01

3. Faculty of Architecture & Design

Develops pedestrian-friendly planning concepts through academic studios, urban design projects, and community-based walkability research.

January
01

4. Arena Complex

Supports public and student pedestrian flows by maintaining wide outdoor plazas, recreational walkways, and event areas accessible only by foot.

January
01

5. Hourani e-Learning Center (HEC)

Reduces reliance on on-campus commuting through hybrid learning models, indirectly supporting pedestrian-first mobility.

Activities:

January
01

1. Scientific Visit to the Southern Corniche Walkway – A Model of Pedestrian Urban Design

Students analyzed how pedestrian waterfronts enhance urban mobility, public life, and walkability.

January
01

2. Field Visits to Historic Walkable Urban Heritage Sites (Jerash, Jabal Al-Qala’a, Al-Muwaqqar)

Students explored pedestrian circulation in dense historical fabrics, studying human-scale mobility patterns.

January
01

3. “Women on the Green Path” – Walkability & Urban Mobility Awareness Workshop

Focused on sustainable urban planning, walkable neighborhoods, and community pedestrian empowerment.

January
01

4. AI-Based Urban Design Workshops – Modeling Pedestrian-Centric Cities

Students used AI tools to design walkable urban environments emphasizing human-centered mobility.

January
01

5. Public Design Review Sessions in Outdoor Pedestrian Areas

Outdoor exhibitions and design critiques held in campus plazas demonstrate the integration of public pedestrian zones into AAU’s educational culture.

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan

A. Performance Evaluation

Structured Assessment Tools

AAU uses walkability assessment tools, including:
• pathway accessibility audits,
• pedestrian comfort & shade index,
• movement-flow mapping,
• campus safety walk assessments,
• satisfaction surveys.

2. Annual Assessment Cycles

Each year, AAU reviews:
• pathway usage rates,
• pedestrian-traffic density,
• condition of sidewalks and shade systems,
• visibility and nighttime lighting levels,
• safety and accessibility improvements.

Quantitative & Qualitative Indicators

% of campus area designated as pedestrian-only,
• # of pedestrian infrastructure upgrades,
• reduction in internal vehicle movement,
• perception of safety & comfort,
• student reflections on walkability.

B. Integration with Curriculum Research

Pedestrian-first planning is reflected in:
• urban design studios,
• sustainable mobility research projects,
• architectural site analysis courses,
• community design workshops,
• AI-based smart mobility models.

C. Transparency & Public Reporting

All walkability data are published through:
• Sustainability Report 2024–2025
• SDG11 Executive Sustainability Report
• AAU Sustainability Portal

B. Development Actions

Action 1: Campus Walkability Enhancement Project

Expand shaded pedestrian routes and improve pavement quality.
Target: 30% increase in shaded walkways by 2027.

Action 2: Vehicle-Free Core Zones

Designate central campus areas as fully pedestrian-only.
Target: +20% expansion of car-free areas by 2026.

Action 3: Smart Pedestrian Lighting System

Install energy-efficient, sensor-based lighting in walkways.
Target: full coverage by 2026.

Action 4: Accessible Mobility Paths

Integrate universal access design (ramps, tactile tiles, widened paths).
Target: 100% accessibility compliance by 2027.

Action 5: Walkability Digital Mapping Tool

Create an online campus map indicating shaded routes, accessible paths, open plazas, and pedestrian shortcuts.
Target: operational by 2026.

C. Benchmarking & Best Practice

AAU benchmarks its pedestrian-first approach with global leaders:
University of British Columbia – Walkable Campus Blueprint
• University of Melbourne – Green Pedestrian Networks
• University of Cambridge – Human-Centered Campus Circulation
• University of Gothenburg – Sustainable Mobility Models
Best Practices Implemented:
walkability-first planning
• integrated green mobility
• universal access standards
• landscape-enhanced pedestrian routes
• human-centered circulation mapping
Localized to Jordan’s Context and aligned with:
Ministry of Public Works & Housing sustainable urban standards
• National Green Growth & Urban Mobility Framework
• AAU Sustainable Building and Campus Planning Policy
• Pedestrian Access Priority Procedure

Institutional Integration Summary

AAU’s pedestrian-first campus initiative is supported by a coordinated system involving the General Supplies Department, SIRC, Faculty of Architecture & Design, Arena Complex, and HEC.
Together, these units ensure safe, accessible, comfortable pedestrian environments that promote sustainable mobility, enhance campus life, and support SDG11 objectives.