Access Control and Urbanism

For pedestrians and cyclists closing access points is undeniably a benefit. It reduces the number of potential conflict points where a vehicle can cross the sidewalk or bike lane. For the cyclist, this permits higher speeds and better safety. For the pedestrian, it permits greater attention to be devoted to the surrounding environment.

For pedestrian oriented retail, this is essential--no one can (safely) window shop and dodge cars at the same time. Ergo, to create a more pedestrian oriented environment, ensure the absolute minimum frequency of curb-cuts possible. The Gateway in SLC does this very well. In the entire complex, there are four access points--all leading to the parking garages, none of which are adjacent to shopping areas.