Pedestrian access to transit in evolution: unfolding the spatialization of rapid-transit planning

ABSTRACT

This article retraces the impact of evolving hegemonic rapid transit planning and design strategies on pedestrian integration between stations and neighbourhoods, using Hong Kong as a longitudinal case. Mixed-methods research, triangulating documentary analysis, spatial analysis, and in-depth interviews, identified six typologies across three historical phases. The findings demonstrate that pedestrian access to transit is spatially heterogeneous, shaping the evolution of the station area from a connecting structure into an interconnecting infrastructure. Unfolding the historical interplay of hegemonic forces in the production of pedestrian spaces, this study innovatively bridges the research gap between planning policies and fine-grained urban design features.

KEYWORDS:

• Station area
• pedestrian environment
• transit oriented development (TOD)
• walkability
• Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR)

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the City University of Hong Kong, grant number 7005771 and the PolyU Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (DPFS), grant number 1-YWBV. The authors thank the expert informants for their participation in this research. The first author wishes to thank Professor Michael Siu Kin Wai for his support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the City University of Hong Kong [7005771]; and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University [1-YWBV].