Since the creation of the automobile, our streets have been designed for cars. Drivers expect to be able to move around quickly, often at the expense of other road users. Unfortunately, this means that safety of all road users is not a top priority in most street designs. To reclaim streets, especially neighborhood streets, a method of using paint and vertical elements has been adopted by towns and cities nationwide. This method, called traffic calming, aims to slow driver speeds and encourage compliance of stop signs and other traffic control devices. Every street is unique, which means that solutions for each street will look different from the next. Some common techniques in street calming include the following:
Narrowing corner radius
Image from Global Designing Cities Initiative
Narrowing the corner radius helps drivers to slow down around corners. It also helps reduce the distance that pedestrians need to cross.
Narrowing lane widths
Image from Global Designing Cities Initiative
Narrowing lanes reduces driver speeding and crashes by narrowing the field of view of the road.
Daylighting intersections
Image from Global Designing Cities Initiative
Creating space between the curb and the entrance to the intersection helps increase visibility for pedestrians and other road users.
These techniques can be replicated with the use of paint and vertical elements, making them a quick solution for communities looking to calm their streets sooner, rather than later. They can also include artistic elements, bringing color and creativity to otherwise grey spaces.
More detail and additional traffic calming techniques can be found at the Global Designing Cities Initiative website. These street calming techniques can be enhanced with planters, trees, benches, and other placemaking installations for a better user experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
Ready to add some street calming installations in your neighborhood?