Shared space
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Shared space is a traffic engineering philosophy pioneered by the Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman.
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[edit] The philosophy
Safety, congestion, economic vitality and community severance can be effectively tackled in streets and other public spaces if they are designed and managed to allow traffic to be fully integrated with other human activity, not separated from it. A major characteristic of a street designed to this philosophy is the absence of traditional road markings, signs, traffic signals and the distinction between "road" and "pavement". User behaviour becomes influenced and controlled by natural human interactions rather than by artificial regulation.[1]
A reason for the apparent paradox that reduced regulation leads to safer roads may be found by studying the risk compensation effect.
[edit] Naked streets
Naked streets is a term used to describe a road safety initiative, following the shared space philosophy, coined by a newspaper journalist, reflecting the fact that roads are cleared of markings, signage and pedestrian barriers, reducing the normal implied priority given to motor traffic. It is a form of traffic calming. Trials have shown significant and sustained reductions in injuries in areas thus treated, for example the removal of barriers and most signage from London's Kensington High Street is reported to have resulted in a 16% reduction in injuries year-on-year.[citation needed]
[edit] Examples
- Drachten (pictures), the Netherlands.
- Haslach (pictures) and Wolfach (pictures), Germany.
- Seven Dials, London (pictures), UK.
[edit] Proponents
- Hans Monderman, The Netherlands.
- Ben Hamilton-Baillie, The United Kingdom.
- John Adams, The United Kingdom.
- David Engwicht, Australia.
[edit] See also
- Living street
- New Mobility Agenda
- Sustainable transportation
- Traffic calming
- Renaat Landuyt, Belgian Minister of Transport has ordered a study group to observe the consequences of the implementation of shared space in Belgium. [1]
[edit] References
- "The Naked Streets The naked streets", BBC, 2005-01-31. Retrieved on 2006-07-27.
- Shelley Emling. "British planners take to 'naked streets'", Times Argus, 2005-02-13. Retrieved on 2006-07-27.
- Sarah Lyall. "A Path to Road Safety With No Signposts", The Saturday Profile, New York Times, 2005-01-22. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
- Keith Conover. "Traffic Calming: A report to the Carnegie Borough Planning Commission". Retrieved on 2006-07-27.
- McNichol, Tom (December 2004). "Roads Gone Wild". Wired (12.12). Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
- Go slower to move quicker. In praise of Hans Monderman. The Art of Wealth blog. The Art of Wealth (2005). Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
[edit] External links
- Shared Space A European project with the purpose of developing new policies for the planning of public space.
- Creative Communities International An Australian based organisation dedicated to promoting social innovations.
- Exhibition Road, London Proposed Shared space scheme in the United Kingdom.
