DOWNTOWN FULLERTON: PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST WAYFINDING
(Click on the PDF links for images of the analysis)
Map and photographic analysis of Downtown Fullerton will evaluate specific areas for consideration that may transform the core of the city into an ideal hub for pedestrian and bicycling activity. By strategically selecting areas to evaluate, one realizes that in the Downtown Core there is room for improvement where pedestrian and bicyclist activity is concerned. Furthermore, there is a need for a wayfinding map that is friendly for pedestrians and cyclists in the area to navigate that will highlight points of interests such as cafes, bike racks, bike-share stations, and local plazas.
From a regional perspective, one realizes that there are barriers that keep pedestrians from walking or cycling to the Downtown area from the local schools and residential areas, some of the barriers are canals, train tracks, and lack of bike lanes. Regional_Analysis is a color coded map that will highlight some of the barriers discussed. The illustration Transect highlights land use on a regional scale; whereas LandUse_Analysis points out specific areas such as boutiques and churches in the Downtown Core that generate pedestrian and cycling activity.
In the Downtown Core, there is only one bike lane (TYPE 3) servicing the new bike share station that was just installed, this bike lane runs east/west bound on Wilshire. A map of bike lanes in Downtown Fullerton shows how far off the other bike lanes are relative to the core area: Activity Map I
It was a surprise that an area as “walkable” as Downtown Fullerton wouldn’t have classified crosswalks, similar to bike lane types, a map analysis shows that there are more crosswalks without signage or a light signals than crosswalks with signage and light signals. Intersections are a particular concern, for that is where pedestrian and motorists accidents happen the most, which are also highlighted in the map: Activity_2.
Motorist and cyclist/pedestrian accidents have happened Fullerton, the following data graphs: PedestrianAccidents and Bicyclist Deaths show incidents that have occurred in Orange County, and other counties in southern California. Walkscore.com highly rates Downtown Fullerton as walkable, Scores, but the transit and walk scores are more indicative of coverage and commodities nearby, they do not grade safety.
Wayfinding signage would improve the walkability of Downtown Fullerton, for it would enable and encourage pedestrianism in an area that thrives and attracts activity. Photos of two key areas show that there are plenty of signs geared towards motorists, however very few and badly placed signs are intended for pedestrian use. A newly designed map posted by the new bike-share station, Elevation draws attention to the potential for such a map as there are no maps for users of the bikes to know where the nearest bike-share stations are, nor where bike racks or bike lanes are located as they are very limited. The photos also show that cyclists are resorting to securing their bikes to sign posts, as bike racks are difficult to navigate. Additionally, the Fullerton Transportation Center, where Amtrak, Metrolink, and OCTA pass through is also located in the Downtown Core; visitors to the area would also benefit of a wayfinding map.
The current wayfinding map Current Map, shows an outdated map, with restaurants and shops that no longer stand, and no information on the bike-stations that were installed. A map, with QR Codes implemented that lead to a wayfinding mobile application would be the best way to modernize the current wayfinding system. The modernized map, could be conceptualized so that it is much more simpler to understand and shows updated locations MAP POSTER.
Alexis Murillo-Félix 