Evaluating Livability through Pedestrian Experience: A Case Study of Al Jamiya Street, Babylon, Iraq

الملخص

Urban livability is a very important aspect of sustainable urban development especially when it comes to historic cities that are being affected by climatic changes and extreme growth of urban areas. The research will assess the livability of Al Jamiya Street, a major commercial-recreational street in Babylon, Iraq, using a mixed-method which incorporates morphological and pedestrian survey (n = 50). Its results demonstrate a inherent contradiction namely the street is a well-developed economic tourism spot, but its livability is grossly limited by the environmental pressures (excess heat with poor shading, surface temperatures over 50 C°), infrastructure shortcomings (pedestrian-vehicle interactions, lack of crossings), and social restraints (lack of diversity among users). The study proves that the existing situations result in seasonally contingent livability, which puts commercial activities ahead of social equality and environmental comfort. Some of the recommendations can be immediate shading interventions, strategic greening, traffic calming, and public policy initiatives that can be implemented to ensure the city is more inclusive and resilient. This research adds to the literature on livability because it offers a contextual or framework of evaluating and enhancing urban streets in historic Middle Eastern cities through the requisite balance of economic healthiness and holistic quality of existence in hot arid climates.