Commercial activity and use of public space in urban centres: A cluster analysis

Abstract

The relationship between public space and commercial activity is essential in urban centres. Thus, establishments are concentrated in urban spaces of greater attraction (shopping streets, shopping centres and markets) and are also part of the socio-spatial processes of these environments. The objective of this article is to analyse the role of commercial activity in the use of public space based on the human dimension of the urban planner Jan Gehl (2010). For this, the variables of the census of commercial activity, pedestrian flows and the physical characterization of the streets of the seven urban centres studied are used. Thus, the results of the cluster analysis will be obtained to show the multiple relationships between the different commercial uses, the features of the streets and their public space and daily pedestrian flow, as well as the independent and explanatory nature that this last variable has shown in the analysis.