The use of emergent behaviour systems to optimise road networks for pedestrian and cycling

Traditional traffic control systems tend to use a top down, hierarchical approach that can be effective in controlling motor vehicle traffic, but such approaches can be somewhat deficient when it comes to the management of the comparatively unpredictable behaviour of pedestrians and to a lesser extent, cyclists. Few traffic control systems even attempt to measure traffic demand from pedestrians and cyclists in any kind of coordinated fashion, despite most road traffic networks having the capacity to do so through traffic signals in a road network. The concept of 'emergent behaviour systems' (Johnson, Steven, 2002) uses the collective intelligence of individual members of a system to provide an overall 'idealised' demand management response. This concept is explored as a means to optimise the management of an urban road network for pedestrians and cyclists in what is ostensibly an urban road network oriented towards cars. Using the City of Adelaide in Australia as a case study, the city centre for a modestly sized metropolis of 1.1 million people, this paper examines what changes to the local road system and local traffic monitoring would be needed to better provide for the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. Suggestions are provided detailing some of the means by which data on pedestrian and cycling activity can be gathered and the planning considerations involved in applying a network of pedestrian and cycling activity detection devices across the City of Adelaide's local road network. The use of such data would also be useful in determining where new facilities need to be provided for improving accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. Ultimately, the application of this new approach could be of substantial value to urban and transport planners in helping car dependent urban areas make the transition towards more environmentally sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling.