Improving traffic behaviour and safety through urban design

Abstract

Recent experiments in mainland Europe and more recently the UK have found that removing the traditional separation between traffic and people in urban areas can make streets safer and less congested. Removing standard kerbs, barriers, highway signs and road markings forces motorists to use eye contact with other road users and pedestrians, for which they need to be travelling at less than around 30 km/h. As this paper reports, the result is slower, more careful traffic, increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians and a more attractive urban environment overall—in which local architecture and culture prevails over standard traffic infrastructure.

Estimation of pedestrian walking speeds on footways

“…This need has become more urgent since the 1980s, particularly in the search for alternatives to the excessive use of motor vehicles, either for environmental reasons, health issues, economic sustainability, or preservation of public space quality (Barnett, 2006;Cleary, 2001;Fewster, 2004;Ishaque and Noland, 2008). Therefore, the planning and design of these infrastructures requires special care, and a deep knowledge of the characteristics, requirements and needs of pedestrian mobility (Al-Azzawi and Raeside, 2007;Parkin, 2011;Schoon, 2010;Timmermans, 2009) is indispensable for ensuring an attractive, safe and functional pedestrian mobility system (Hamilton-Baillie and Jones, 2005). One of the essential parameters for the design of walking infrastructure is the pedestrian walking speed in different situations and contexts.…”

How do shared-street design and traffic restriction improve urban soundscape and human experience? —An online survey with virtual reality

“…Shared-street design has been applied in busy urban areas in many cities (e.g., Jaffe, 2015;Shared Space, 2005;Vasisht & Karndacharuk, 2016). It has been shown that shared streets have higher levels of safety and comfort (Ruiz-Apilánez et al, 2017;Vasisht & Karndacharuk, 2016), yet efficiencies for mobility and access, even of motor vehicles, are still maintained (Hamilton-Baillie & Jones, 2005;Karndacharuk et al, 2015).…”

Streets ahead on safety: young people's participation in decision-making to address the European road injury ‘epidemic’

“…Young people were also shown a three‐dimensional (3‐D) graphic presentation of the options being considered. There were a range of potentially controversial options available including suggestions for elements of a shared‐space approach (Hamilton‐Baillie & Jones 2005), which took away prime street parking facilities outside shops and a ‘Park and Stride’ development to tackle poor parental parking behaviour and ease congestion at peak times.…”