Eight Traffic Calming “Easy Pieces” to Shape the Everyday Pedestrian Realm

Abstract

The need for safe pedestrian movement implies subtracting and modifying space dedicated to vehicles, especially in urban areas. Traffic control measures aim to reduce or modify the width of the carriageway and force the correct use of the space by pedestrians through two approaches: the former is hard and includes physical barriers and the latter is soft and induces psychological fashion effects on the drivers. This paper presents vertical and horizontal devices integrated by landscaping, planting, or other similar works to slow motor vehicle speed, narrow traffic lanes, and/or create smaller distances for pedestrian crossings. Mobility and boundary issues are considered to discuss their warrants and potential impacts. Indeed, the effects of speed or volume treatments should be investigated through a comprehensive multicriteria analysis without overlooking pedestrian level of service, access and connectivity to residents and emergency vehicles, drainage and snow issues, loss of on-street parking lots, and environmental goals in terms of noise and emissions to air reduction.

Evaluating Traffic-Calming-Based Urban Road Design Solutions Featuring Cooperative Driving Technologies in Energy Efficiency Transition for Smart Cities

“…Traffic-calming strategies have a central goal of reducing vehicle speeds and enhancing traffic safety, thereby contributing to the creation of more pedestrian-friendly and livable urban spaces [11][12][13]. When these measures are seamlessly integrated into…”

“…Traffic-calming strategies have a central goal of reducing vehicle speeds and enhancing traffic safety, thereby contributing to the creation of more pedestrian-friendly and livable urban spaces [11][12][13]. When these measures are seamlessly integrated into urban road design, cities can foster safer streets that discourage reckless driving while promoting a more considerate and energy-efficient approach to road use.…”

“…The benefits of TCMs are generally associated with the prevention of road traffic injuries, increased road safety, improved environmental quality, energy savings, aesthetic enhancements, and the functional optimization of public spaces [11,12]. Several studies have explored the effects of TCMs on speed reduction [3] and their impact on road safety at both the neighborhood and urban-wide scales [13][14][15][16].…”

“…The planned TCMs in the road network involved the installation of a new east roundabout, referred to as R1, the establishment of a Limited Traffic Zone (LTZ), and the completion of the existing roundabout, referred to as R2, which is located in the western part of the network between Del Mare Street and the Fata Morgana seafront (as shown in Figure 4). According to [49], both intersections designed here can be categorized as mini roundabouts; however, roundabouts employed as TCMs can take on various designs depending on the specific characteristics of the urban area where they are intended for speed moderation [12]. The single-lane four-legged roundabout, R1, has an outer diameter of 21 m and features one-way entry and exit lanes on each approach.…”

A Simulator Study on the Driving Impacts of Four Speed-Calming Measures at Unsignalized Intersections

“…Several speed-calming measures (such as rumble strips and modified signs) have been designed, and their effects on driving speed and lateral distance have been measured; all said measures were shown to significantly decrease the mean speed of traffic [14]. TCMs including landscaping, planting, and other similar methods are currently used to slow motor vehicle speed, narrow traffic lanes, and/or create smaller distances for pedestrian crossings [15]. Speed tables, which are midblock traffic-calming devices, have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing speed [16].…”