URBAN AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF SIGNAL-FREE CORRIDORS: CASE STUDY OF LAHORE'S MAIN BOULEVARD AND JAIL ROAD

Abstract

Cities often prioritize traffic flow and enable this through signal-free corridors, this makes movement easier for vehicles but much harder for pedestrians, their safety and urban social life is often compromised. This study critically examines the urban and social impacts of signal-free corridors, with a specific focus on the Main Boulevard and Jail Road corridors in the Gulberg area in Lahore. These infrastructural interventions were originally aimed at reducing vehicular congestion; however, the study shows that they marginalize pedestrians and alter the urban fabric in ways that undermine inclusivity and accessibility. This study uses a mixed-method approach—including site observations, surveys with users, and interviews with urban planning professionals. The research evaluates how these corridors affect pedestrian mobility, neighborhood connectivity, and the broader urban experience of users. Findings reveal that such signal-free developments prioritize vehicular speed over pedestrian well-being, and ultimately contribute to unsafe conditions and social fragmentation in society. The study advocates for urban design policies that restore pedestrian agency and promote walkable public spaces and equity within Lahore’s evolving metropolitan landscape.