Thresholds of MobilityUrban Connection by Integrated Public Transport
Course: Fall 2024 UD 742 Urban Design Thesis (UM)
Instructor: Kit McCullough
Location: New York, US
Prototype: Public Transportation System
Manhattan has diverse and comprehensive public
transportation systems, whereas the independently operating systems can’t promise accessibility for everyone.
This project envisions integrated public transport with the
aim of connecting the public and promising the individuals’
comfort at the same time through rideshare systems, which
further creates a lively and seamless transmobility urbanity.
Observation in NYC
Sacrificing some of your freedom is respect for others’ private zone.
People create their private bubble by using corners
and items spontaneously when moving in the city.
Mapping of NYC
The layered transportation systems service 900 thousand residents, 1.7 million people working in Manhattan, and an additional million tourists.
How does an individual seek comfort and maintain their private zones in such a
high-density city, especially Midtown?
According to research data, the most
common public transport system, the subway system, is inaccessible for
certain groups of people. Also,
the concerns about the safety
and sanitation in subway stations are the factors discouraging
people from using the
subway system.
Not to mention the
bus delay due to
traffic congestion,
which slows down
the time and
inefficiency.
Design Strategies:
A) A ride-sharing system can fulfill the needs of people who can’t afford to maintain personal cars and
desire privacy or safety when traveling.
The CapsuleRide
Provides two seats for people who need personal spaces in dense areas.
The
LoopRide
has a capacity of ten seats and serves low-density neighborhoods so that people can easily access it to transfer from one method to another.
B) Street-waiting Area & Ramped Plaza
If streets can be considered as a part
of the waiting area, there will be more
potential urban activities happening.
Also, the station entrance can be a direct
access to the platform, so passengers
can have an efficient route in the crowds.
If the spatial experience around the
station is a unified space rather
than
a sequence, the vertical connection
between the street and
the platform
creates a ramped plaza where people
can connect and engage with the
neighborhood, emphasizing the value of transmobility.
Penn Station
The CapsuleRide + Street-waiting Area
The storylines intertwine with each other when people are moving
around the city.
Pursuing efficiency in dense areas, people take the CapsuleRide to
offices, and the amenities and spaces around the station just meet
the temporary needs of some passengers and passersby.
8St - NYU Station
The LoopRide + Ramped Plaza
People living far from a 10-minute walk distance might find it hard to access reliable public transportation. The frequent LoopRide running between neighborhoods and subway stations can serve as a dollar van for certain neighborhoods, which is fully accessible for all kinds of people safely.