Traffic Calming Frankfurt Mainkai

Research cooperation with the City of Frankfurt

The objective was to evaluate the before and after effects from a temporary traffic calming that took place in Frankfurt Mainkai (North Bank) from 1st of August 2019 to 31st of July in 2020. As a result, the research cooperation with the City of Frankfurt offered valid data on pedestrian movement, conclusions and recommendations for the re design of Mainkai with pedestrians an cyclists in mind.

Researchers

Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Knöll
Gladys Vásquez Fauggier, M.Sc.
Lakshya Pandit, M.Tech.
Lanqing Gu, M.Sc.


Research Student

Christa Yeung, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Guest student with IREP Program from TU Darmstadt.


In cooperation with

City of Frankfurt am Main
Prof. Dr. Martin Lanzendorf, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Prof. Dr. Kai Vöckler, HFG Offenbach


Duration

July 2019 – September 2020


Funding

The research cooperation is funded by the City of Frankfurt.

Recent Activities

Mainkai in July 2019 and in May 2020 – before and after videos online

Timelapse | Open space near Eiserner Steg

These time-lapse videos were taken during the pre-and post traffic calming scenarios on the northern Mainkai riverfront during the peak hours on weekdays and weekend.

Timelapse | Eiserner Steg East

The street shows a move towards active usage of public space attracting diverse age-groups on-site post traffic calming.

Timelapse | Eiserner Steg

The areas within the time lapse videos include spaces surrounding Eiserner Steg, i.e. the pedestrian bridge connecting the northern Mainkai riverfront to the southern part of Frankfurt city over river Main.

Step 2: Research outcomes focusing on pedestrian flows presented

The first phase of results from the research analysis utilizing space syntax theory was presented by Lakshya Pandit on Tag der Forschung at TU Darmstadt during the month of December in 2019. The outputs, through the axial and segment mapping of the Frankfurt Mainufer, focused on the local integration of pre-and post pedestrianization scenarios and the direct routes within 2.5 km around the city centre, i.e. Hauptwache, with Mainkai boulevard in close proximity.

Step 1: Counting, Observing, Mapping before Traffic Calming

From 2nd to 6th of July, 2019 UHG researchers and research students conducted four different methods on site along the Mainkai street in Frankfurt to determine

a) Pedestrian flows,
b) Urban qualities of the area,
c) Sound levels and
d) Walkable and child-friendly areas

before the traffic calming takes place.