Policy Briefing 5: Legible Networks

Policy Briefing 5: Legible Networks PDF (125Kb)

Legibility can be defined as finding your way around a town or city. The legibility of towns and cities is reduced in modern environments. Before the twentieth century, cities worked well in terms of legibility. Places that looked important were important and places of public relevance could easily be identified.

In the modern town or city, large office blocks and other developments often visually overwhelm publicly relevant places and facilities. Legibility is a particular problem for people on foot. Separation of pedestrian and vehicular routes often result in pedestrians being expected to follow ill-defined paths. Additionally, most towns and cities do not have a network of maps and signs to assist legibility for people on foot. This often leads people to places that they didn't want to go and/or where they may feel vulnerable to the possibility of street crime.

Please download the attached pdf file for the full policy briefing.