voetgangerste

Voetgangerste is a term that appears in some Dutch-language discussions about urban design, but it is not a standard term in official planning vocabulary. Definitions and usage vary, and the expression is not tied to a single, universally accepted concept.

In practice, it is used to denote either a pedestrian-first street concept or a policy approach that prioritizes pedestrians over motor traffic. Some sources treat it as a synonym for a voetgangerszone (pedestrian zone) or for shared-space ideas, while others view it as a neologism or misspelling. Because of these variations, the exact meaning tends to depend on the author or context.

Typical features associated with the idea are traffic calming measures, low or zero vehicle speeds, widened sidewalks or kerbside zones, safe crossing points, car-free times, and lively ground-floor uses that encourage walking and street life. The aim is to create environments where pedestrians feel safe, comfortable, and encouraged to move by foot, rather than by car.

The term appears most often in informal writing, blogs, or urban-design discussions rather than in official documents, and its precise definition is not standardized. As a result, it is advisable to interpret voetgangerste in the specific context in which it is used.

See also: voetganger, voetgangerszone, straatontwerp, verkeersveiligheid.