Following are some of the common recommendations found in transit guidelines. Locate Retail and Office Buildings Near the Roadway Placing buildings up to the edge of the sidewalk helps minimize the distance pedestrians and transit users have to travel and provides direct access to buildings along a street. But it does much more than that. The San Diego guidelines explain that one of the factors that helps create a pleasant environment for the pedestrian is the formation of an outdoor space. Most people don't feel comfortable walking in a wide open area with busy traffic passing closely by.
Pedestrians are, instead, drawn to streets with a feeling of intimacy and enclosure.
This feeling can be created by locating buildings close to the sidewalk, by lining the street with trees, and by buffering the sidewalk with parked cars. This follows from the previous point. Locating shops along the roadway attracts people to the area and helps create a dynamic, exciting environment in which pedestrians feel comfortable. Store windows add interest to the street and draw pedestrians along its length. Retail destinations close to the bus or trolley stop are an added incentive for people to use transit.