Gågater i Risør : En studie av hvordan gågater kan endre Risør sentrum for næringsliv, befolkningen og besøkende

Abstract

For several decades’ pedestrian streets in the center of Risør, where the shops are located, have been discussed. There has been disagreement about the significance of pedestrian streets for shoppers and shops. The trade stand believes that it is crucial for stores turnover that customers have good accessibility by car. The municipality, in turn, believes that the introduction of pedestrian streets will have a decisive influence on the urban environment. Initially, it will only be in the summer pedestrian streets will be relevant, because of the summer tourism which leads to a significantly greater car traffic in and through the center of Risør. Little research has been done on the connection between accessibility, trade and the urban environment in small Norwegian cities. It has therefore been very interesting to investigate how this theme is, in a small town like Risør. The purpose of this thesis has been to map how pedestrian streets can affect business, the population and visitors in the city center of Risør. In order to do this, I have looked more closely at how one can best facilitate pedestrians, and how this in turn can affect trade and the city life. Through a qualitative method, I have interviewed two businesspeople, seven citizens, four visitors, and a person who works with urban development in the city. I have been looking to hear these actors’ perceptions and experiences about new and former pedestrians’ streets. Non-participatory observation of the city’s shopping streets and a qualitative document analysis have also been carried out to obtain the empirical basis of the thesis.