FROM A CAR-CENTRIC TO A HUMAN-CENTRIC CITY: A DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE USING MULTI-CRITERIA ANALYSIS

Authors

B.S. Osmonov Institute of Machine Science, Automation and Geomechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic; Kyrgyz-German Institute of Applied Informatics
R.B. Kubanychova Kyrgyz-German Institute of Applied Informatics

Keywords:

walkability, pedestrian infrastructure, multi-criteria analysis, OpenStreetMap, sustainable urban planning, Freiburg model, spatial analysis, car-centric cities, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract

Many cities around the world were designed primarily around the needs of motor transport, resulting in fragmented and unsafe pedestrian infrastructure that impedes walking and reinforces dependence on private cars. This study develops a reproducible methodology for diagnosing pedestrian infrastructure in car-centric cities by comparing it with recognized walkability benchmarks, such as the Freiburg model (Germany). The proposed method is based on multi-criteria analysis covering three dimensions: connectivity (continuity of the sidewalk network, density of pedestrian crossings, completeness of the route network), safety (traffic intensity, protection at intersections, road-crash data), and comfort (pedestrian amenities, lighting). The methodology relies on open OpenStreetMap data and publicly available government sources, making it accessible without expensive proprietary data. To test the method, a pilot application was conducted in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Spatial analysis methods make it possible to generate heat maps that reveal critical infrastructure gaps, as well as “sidewalk deserts” and priority intervention areas. The paper's main contribution is a systematic, reproducible methodology that enables urban planners, researchers, and civic organizations to diagnose pedestrian-infrastructure deficits where data availability is limited.

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