THE VISUAL IMPACT OF CARS PARKED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

Increased congestion in popular recreational areas over the past decade has resulted in more cars in previously remote areas of Britain and a concomitant increase in informal roadside parking. In a survey of the visual impact of parked cars on the rural landscape, a random sample of Windsor (England) residents were asked to rate color photographs of rural scenes. The photos included varying numbers of parked cars, and the interviewees used a seven-point scale ("extremely unpleasant" scoring one and "extremely pleasant" scoring seven). The rating values were found to decrease inversely with the number of cars or the percentage area of cars present. In the change from no cars to 15 cars, the ratings fell by 1 1/2 scale units, similar to the rating difference between a National Park landscape and a more commonplace rural scene.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory

  Access and Mobility Division, Old Wokingham Road
  Crowthorne RG11 6AU, Berkshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • Futers, C
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Automobiles; Parking; Rural areas; Traffic congestion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Visual intrusions
• Old TRIS Terms: Reaction; Subjective
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00371490
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRRL-SR-558, HS-030 590
• Files: HSL, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1983 12:00AM