9: ASSESSING SKYWALK SYSTEMS AS A RESPONSE TO HIGH DENSITY LIVING IN HONG KONG

Planners have sought to mitigate the adverse impacts of high density living through various ways of intervention. This research looks into one of the planning responses for this purpose, namely, the implementation of skywalk systems in Hong Kong. Through a three-pronged research process that combines qualitative and quantitative methods, the identified impacts of skywalk systems are validated by the community, stakeholders and experts. The effectiveness of skywalk systems as a strategic response to high density living is evaluated, and recommendations are put forward to planners and decision makers.

Skywalk systems have been used successfully in residential areas of Hong Kong. Being integrated with a trunk-and-feeder transportation network, skywalk systems have mitigated the traffic-pedestrian conflict of high density living in the case of Hong Kong, while contributing to persuade the public to use public transportation. The multiple planning benefits include a seamless integration with transport nodes, support for land use intensification, integration into the lifestyles of community users, and offering a diversity of activity options. They are well-accepted by the people and have improved connectivity, pedestrian convenience and safety. An immediately observable impact is that the ground level of purposefully designed skywalk systems is often very unfriendly for pedestrians. Furthermore, although the existing surroundings of skywalk systems in Hong Kong have not shown loss of street life, the risk of killing street life by diversion is significant and real. It also shows that skywalk systems do not function as good substitutes of public open space at ground level.