11-27-2018, 10:42 AM
How something is designed gives cues about how it should be used. If a door has a handle that looks like it should be pulled, people will pull on it, even if there is a sign that says push right above it. Red generally means stop, green generally means go - it's why newer standards encourage use of the green running man symbol instead of the red exit text. This same principle is true for our built environment. People rarely follow the speed limit posted on Westmount north of University because of the street is designed for speeds far in excess of the limit. Conversely, speeding is rarely a problem on King Street, as the street is designed for a low limit.
Similarly, if certain behaviour is desired, it is poor design to rely on rules or procedures to achieve the desired outcome. If a machine cannot safely operate in both Mode A and Mode B, it should have an interlock preventing that mode of operation, not rely on rules or signage. If you don't want people to walk on the grass, you either need to fence of the grass, or make the path follow the desire lines so people have no reason to go on the grass. If you don't want people to illegally download music, give them the option to obtain the music legally online.
Sure, we can point out that people are breaking rules and laws, and if only they would stop, our problem would be solved, but that's just hand wringing and doesn't do anything to address the actual problem. We also have the option of considering how people are going to use our infrastructure when we design it, and anticipate their behaviour and take steps to either accommodate their desired behaviour, or prevent it where it is problematic. This is where the LRT already has scores of deficiencies. When driving up King and the tracks switch from the outside of the lane to the inside and vice versa, the design is presently not sufficient to make it intuitively clear where drivers are intended to go, and in fact, there are several cues that point them in the wrong direction. Until this is addressed, we will continue to see drivers stuck on the LRT tracks in those areas. The design cues at the Frederick Station explicitly invite pedestrians to access the station from both sides; until the design is adjusted to correct these cues, there will be issues with people complying with signage.
This is not something that is unique to ION by the way, but is found throughout the public sector as well as industry.
Similarly, if certain behaviour is desired, it is poor design to rely on rules or procedures to achieve the desired outcome. If a machine cannot safely operate in both Mode A and Mode B, it should have an interlock preventing that mode of operation, not rely on rules or signage. If you don't want people to walk on the grass, you either need to fence of the grass, or make the path follow the desire lines so people have no reason to go on the grass. If you don't want people to illegally download music, give them the option to obtain the music legally online.
Sure, we can point out that people are breaking rules and laws, and if only they would stop, our problem would be solved, but that's just hand wringing and doesn't do anything to address the actual problem. We also have the option of considering how people are going to use our infrastructure when we design it, and anticipate their behaviour and take steps to either accommodate their desired behaviour, or prevent it where it is problematic. This is where the LRT already has scores of deficiencies. When driving up King and the tracks switch from the outside of the lane to the inside and vice versa, the design is presently not sufficient to make it intuitively clear where drivers are intended to go, and in fact, there are several cues that point them in the wrong direction. Until this is addressed, we will continue to see drivers stuck on the LRT tracks in those areas. The design cues at the Frederick Station explicitly invite pedestrians to access the station from both sides; until the design is adjusted to correct these cues, there will be issues with people complying with signage.
This is not something that is unique to ION by the way, but is found throughout the public sector as well as industry.