Designathon 2019: Pepper Canyon Mobility Hub
What is a Designathon?
A Designathon is a two-day event created for teams to design solutions to relating to mobility and urbanization and planning issues on campus. Teams develop solutions to real-world problems through the spirit of collaboration and competition. Solutions are developed by analyzing mobility data and designing multiple test and iterations.
This Designathon focuses on designing a welcoming mobility hub for the under construction Pepper Canyon station at UC San Diego. Physical design solutions will propose various way finding, art making, short-term tactical, and long-term permanent interventions. This Designathon focuses on designing an exemplary mobility hub that is safe, welcoming, and intuitive for navigating.
“The goal of the Pepper Canyon Mobility Hub designathon projects is to increase mobility and access for all between the light rail trolley station and the broader UCSD campus.
— UC San Diego Campus Planning
Problem
The focused problem area on UC San Diego’s Campus was the under-construction Pepper Canyon Mobility Hub.
Problem Area
Pepper Canyon
UC San Diego Gilman Drive
Campus Neighborhoods
UC San Diego Ridge Walk
Identifying Users
Our target is everyone who will be using the Rupertus walk regularly, and our personas include pedestrians, bikers, and skaters as the plans for Rupertus Walk is to make it non-accessible to cars.
Since a large part of the general student body will be using Rupertus Walk, their safety is of utmost importance as the design should be about the people.
Data, Research, & Conducting Interviews
Data
Over 50% of the people living in our residence hall use modes of transportation besides walking to get around campus. Many of us, whether as pedestrians or using wheels, have nearly crashed into people.
Points Identified in Interviews
Main Point: Inconvenient to get around crowded campus areas
Insight: Cyclists and skaters do not like bumpy roads
Developing a Problem Statement
After user data, research, and conducting interviews, we developed a leading question of: How do we make Rupertus Walk accessible and safe for its users? This leading question allowed us to create a specific problem statement.
Problem Statement
People utilizing micro-mobility options on campus often conflict with foot traffic. Rupertus Walk must be designed in a way that promotes safety and accessibility for all parties, including those exiting the trolley station.
Solution
Multi-material Paths
Our solution is to change the materials of the path. Smooth concrete pavers will be divided into sections by strips of textured cobblestones, creating a designated center lane for people on wheels, and crosswalks that also function as speed bumps for cyclists and skateboarders.
Pedestrians are free to use any part of the path. People using micro-mobility options should stay in the center lane. The textured cobblestones serve as speed bumps to make sure cyclists and skateboarders control their speed, and also function as crosswalks for pedestrians.
Materials
Textured Cobblestones & Concrete Pavers
Feasibility
Bike lanes must be a minimum of 5 feet
Pedestrian walkways must be 10 feet
Speed control
Avoid tripping hazards (curbs)
Fire trucks need a 26-foot wide lane
Need sight lines around corners
