Walkability Palau: Koror

What is Walkability?

Walkability is a fairly new approach in city planning and urban design that focuses on pedestrians in lieu of an auto-centric approach — where cities are designed for cars. “Walkable” cities offer a myriad of benefits, including healthier residents (because it is easier and safer for people to walk), a more sustainable environment that encourages less driving and more walking and biking, and increased opportunities to socialize.

We took pictures around Koror, to demonstrate the concept of a “walkable” city. Why Koror?

Koror is the main center where most people live, work, and play. As the city has grown, it has changed dramatically to meet the growing needs of its residents. However, we’d like to consider whether Koror is a “walkable” city and what are the possibilities for incorporating sustainable design into its infrastructure. In this project, we are considering Koror’s walkability isolated from other states in Palau; we hope the knowledge gained from this project will inform sustainable community design and “walkability” in other states as they increase their public infrastructure.

We encourage you to think of a “walkable” city as a pedestrian-friendly city where people can safely walk, bike, and jog around their communities. Additionally, “walkable” cities encourage small businesses or local shop ownership, because pedestrians can easily and safely access the businesses and socialize in public places.   For more indepth definitions and discussions about “walkability”, check out CityLab interview with Jeff Speck, an urban planner and author of the book Walkable City, or visit the “Walkable and Livable Communities Institute” website for videos and other resources.

We’ve briefly established this concept of “walkability” and what a “walkable” city offers; now let’s look at some photos recently taken around Koror. Our approach is to slice out neighborhoods and areas that are in the center of the city and examine them with a fresh lens. We are starting with the area of Meketii-Dngeronger.

See the sidewalks, do you think they’re walkable?

Btelulachang right after Sure Save Mart as you drive towards T-Dock.

Btelulachang by the old Hooters.

Meketii, by Sure Save Mart.

How about this sidewalk by the ocean? Is it people-friendly?

Btelulachange didall.

And this chunk of area that has so much potential. What if we put a mini roundabout (see sample below), some benches, and a sand filled walk/jog path?

T-Dock.

T-Dock, as you look towards Airai.

Here’s what a roundabout looks like:

Okay, let’s look at this intersection where you turn right onto Dngeronger. As nice as it looks, it’s cerntainly not pedestrian-friendly (think about school kids walking along there after school let out or tourists walking to check out the nightlife at Sunset Park from Palasia).

Meketii-Dngeronger intersection. By old KR store.

You get the idea right?

Some more photos of Meketii area. See if you can identify these pictures.

Here’s Dngeronger. Contrary to what you might think, narrow streets are actually good for walkability design. It makes it so that cars don’t have much room to speed up. With this neighborhood of Dngeronger along Leebu St., instead of revamping everything, putting sidewalks in place, signs (visitors need signs for navigation), and maybe some benches where space allows. 

In all of the pictures, we see the possibilities for creating a walkable community. The questions to consider include:  Who is responsible for creating or maintaining a walkable community?  Who has the authority and ability to make the changes needed?

Our economy relies heavily on tourism.  The walkability of our communities impacts how tourists experience our country; we can begin to make some gradual and real changes that not only make Koror and Palau more tourist-friendly but also local people-centered — where our people can move safely and freely in a sustainable and healthier way.  Our country already has an adequate infrastructure in place that we can build on.  If we start thinking about the next steps, eventually we can pave the way for an even more successful and diversified economy, and a healthy and safe populace. We just need to think BIG!

We encourage you to look at the walkability of your community with a new perspective and join our discussion on this issue.  Post walkable or un-walkable pictures on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thinkbigpalau), or tweet them to @ThinkBigPalau with #WalkabilityPalau.

We appreciate your interest in our project, if you would like to get involved in the Walkability Palau Project, please contact us at thinkbigpalau@gmail.com, or send us a message on facebook.com/thinkbigpalau. Also check out our main website at www.thinkbigpalau.wix.com/alii for more information.

Walkability Palau Project Team:

Joleen Ngoriakl – Project Coordinator & Writer (@jngoriakl)

Lee Boo Gibbons – Photographer & Field Investigator (@leeboogibbons)

Mia Kuartei – Technology Advisor & Content Editor (@MiaKuartei)