THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF NON-MOTORIZED LANE MANAGEMENT REGULATORY TOLERANCE IN CHENGDU, CHINA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i44.2261Keywords:
Non-Motorized Lane, Spatial Encoachment, Space Loss Index (Ls), Regulatory Tolerance, Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract
The expansion of Non-Motorized Lanes (NML) is a cornerstone of urban sustainable development. However, spatial encroachment often undermines the practical effectiveness of NMLs. This study examines how regulatory tolerance may interact with roadside obstruction and facility design to affect the spatial integrity of NMLs in Chengdu, China. Based on field data and secondary literature, the study conducted direct effective width assessments on four pre-selected road segments. The Space Loss Index (Ls) quantifies the proportion of designated NML space that is unusable under documented obstruction conditions. Research reveals contrasting combinations of facility design, observed roadside occupation, and implementation conditions. The physically separated segment on Jianshe Road retained its delineated travel space, whereas the other cases showed varing degrees of space loss with motor vehicle stopping or parking within the Non-Motorized space. These findings suggest that physical separation can offer more reliable protection of NML than administrative controls alone. They also indicate that the effects of roadside management should be assessed together with facility design and local access needs, rather than being attributed to single enforcement factor. The study therefore proposes differentiated spatial management that combines context-sensitive regulation with physical measures to safeguard Non-Motorized users.
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