Observing Physical Traces

I got a copy of the Zeisel book, Inquiry by Design:Environment/Behavior/Neuroscience in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, and Planning and was drawn to the chapter on Observing Physical Traces—looking at clues regarding behavior based upon physical evidence left behind by people.

In taking a look at some of the out-takes from the parklet photos, I found some interesting things. Of course this is hardly systematic, but perhaps nevertheless telling...

I took this picture because of the pedestrian in the bike lane, but only this weekend after I happened to read the Physical Traces chapter of Zeisel, I noticed that there is a big pile of trash in the lane! 

Photography is so great for things like this!

It's also interesting that this seems to be an older bike lane symbol. A trace of an earlier effort.

When I was walking the parklets, I was impressed at how well maintained they were, including how nice and new all the furniture seemed. I challenged myself to find tables that did not look new. This table was the most beat up one I could find. What happens to the ones that get damaged and worn?

This guy was flat on the ground, looking rather vulnerable (and sad.(

These little images reinforce a sense that I have that the furniture in these parklets is disposable. I wonder how long it lasts.

Do we think that if we don't put the trash on the ground, it's not littering? I notice this kind of thing on campus at FIT regularly. What if you could catch people doing this and ask them if/why they think it's OK?

Remember when people talked to their plants? What if plants could talk to people? I wish these plants could talk. I wish they would say: "There's a trash can over there, knucklehead!"

Lastly, I want to share this image and invite explanation. Is the fat white band an accident? Does it mean something? I like that there are footprints through it. Speaking of footprints, it looks like the bike lane symbol in the crosswalk is fading away.

23rd Street: The Parklet is Over

My Journey that started at 59th Street ended at 23rd Street, where I found the chairs were neatly stacked and the tables huddled together for the night.

If you are looking at this parklet post first, please start with the 57th Street Columbus Circle post.

34 Street Parklets

The parklets  in the 34th Street shopping district of Broadway were quite active with folks sitting with bags from nearby stores. Although it is a cool afternoon in February, they seem happy to sit outdoors after spending time in the shops.

 Here at 34th Street I saw trash collection in process and the hard work that is behind the cleanliness of the common areas of Broadway.

The bags, the cans, and this man's uniform bear the name of the organization that oversees the cleaning of this particular area. I would venture that there are similar organizations for the other parklets. Please feel free to comment if you know more about this.

Near the 34th Street Parklets is historic looking Greeley Park, with its well defined stone border and its long list of rules. It occurs to me that the parklets seem to have no rules.

38th Street: An empty Parklet

Between 41st Street and 38th Street was another empty parklet, like the one north of Times Square.
Why is no one sitting here on a Sunday afternoon in February. Whatever else could they be doing?  

Is there no Parklet fun south of 42nd Street on Broadway?

Well of course there is! See 34th Street posting.

Oh, gosh it's so clean! How can it be so clean? I wish my kitchen was as clean as this parklet.

Times Square Parklet

Below 48th Street the seating in the Times Square Parklet was used by many people who sat and ate, drank, talked, read, looked at maps, talked on phones, and looked. Everyone seemed very relaxed. I felt relaxed. I do not associated Times Square with relaxation. Perhaps it's that Sunday afternoon in February effect again.

 It all looks so clean. I wonder how? See more text below.

Food was available in the center of the street (parklet)  at this location, but who cleans up the trash on the tables and everywhere else?
Who cleans the parklets? Is it the city? Is it the Parks Dept?

See the 34th Street Parklet post for a clue.

Between Parklets: The Whatever Lane

So after the lonely experience of the 57th Street Parklet, I continued southward, in the weird green dotted lane that I call the whatever lane, since it seems like a mix of pedestrians, cyclists, strollers, dog walkers, and rickshaws. I have to say that I was surprised that the woman with the baby in the stroller seemed so comfortable in this lane. Particularly after seeing the cyclist on the phone (see the 57th St. Parklet post). Do the green dots project a sense of security? I would stick to sidewalk with my kid. Of course this is a Sunday afternoon . . .

Really, what do the green dots mean?

57th Street Parklet and Columbus Circle Plaza

In response to an assignment for our Environmental  Behavior Research class,  I walked Broadway from 59^th Street Columbus Circle to 23^rd Street,  Union Square observing people in the environment and taking pictures. I did this one week ago on Sunday February 19th at around 3:30 - 4:30 in the afternoon.

I began the walk with a specific interest in whether  people were using sitting in what have been referred to as parklets. These are areas of the street formerly occupied by moving cars.

The question had been asked in class whether  anyone would sit in a spot that might feel like it was actually in the street. I wondered about this as well,  although my overriding question in on this Sunday afternoon in February was whether  it would be warm enough for people to be sitting outside at all.

I soon discovered that it was indeed warm enough as a number of people were sitting on stone benches and ledges in the plaza around the Columbus Circle monument.

So I'm glad I started where I did, because the first blocks of parklets were quite sad and empty, as were the nearby cafe tables outside a restaurant.

No one is sitting at the tables between 57th and 58th Street. A lone cyclist talks on his phone and rides through the parklet.