[Summit] Traffic

[John Bazik]

On Sun, Sep 16, 2007 at 09:41:43PM -0400, Brian Sullivan wrote:
> I just found these two articles on "shared space", which is what this
> particular type of traffic engineering is called.

I believe that traffic calming and shared spaces are very different ideas.
The basic intent is the same - to slow traffic and make roadways safer
for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists by engineering the environment.
But shared spaces are a newer and more radical approach.

Traffic calming makes motorists less comfortable by creating real or
psychological obstacles: bumps, curves, narrowing of roadways, "vertical
friction" (trees, bollards, buildings, closing in from the sides).
The idea is to slow traffic naturally without stopping it.

As I understand it, shared spaces slow traffic and force drivers to
be more attentive by taking away the cues they rely on to navigate,
including traffic signs and signals, and road striping and boundaries.
Pedestrians, cyclists and autos share a continuous paved space and must
negotiate passage with one another.  With increased risk of accidents,
the theory goes, comes increased caution.

For more on traffic calming, visit trafficcalming.org.  Also, here's
a really excellent site with lots of pictures:

http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/casesforplaces/livememtraffic

To read about shared spaces, just google "Hans Monderman."

John