"Virginia is taking aim at one of the most enduring symbols of suburbia: the cul-de-sac.
The state has decided that all new subdivisions must have through streets linking them with neighboring subdivisions, schools and shopping areas. State officials say the new regulations will improve safety and accessibility and save money: No more single entrances and exits onto clogged secondary roads. Quicker responses by emergency vehicles. Lower road maintenance costs for governments.
Although cul-de-sacs will remain part of the suburban landscape for years to come, the Virginia regulations attack what the cul-de-sac has come to represent: quasi-private standalone developments around the country that are missing only a fence and a sign that says 'Keep Out.'"
Thanks to Dan Reed
Comments
Not Just Banning Cul-De-Sacs
They are also dramatically narrowing streets:
The new requirements also call for roads that are dramatically narrower, 24 feet to 29 feet wide for local streets. Now subdivision streets can be 40 feet wide -- wider than three highway lanes.
Narrower streets will slow down traffic. I suggest that developers should also use speed humps to slow traffic to 15 mph or less. That would keep the connectivity of the grid but eliminate safety problems.
Charles Siegel
... or small traffic circles
... or small traffic circles at intersections.
speed bumps
Speed bumps don't work, people just speed up in between. Ultimately speed bumps causing noise, exhaust and breaking pollution as they acclerate and decelerate trying to maintain their fast pace. Narrow streets are the answer..we've heard of the italian "slow eating" phenom..now we should try the "slow driving". Photo radar in our cities has done this and its amazing how people have adjusted
Speed Humps, Not Bumps
I said speed humps, not speed bumps. Speed humps are much more gradual than speed bumps, and they can be designed to slow cars down to about 15 mph.
If you put them close enough together, they make cars drive at a steady, slow speed, without the acceleration and deceleration that you are talking about. In Berkeley, we converted a street into a "slow street" and we found that on short blocks with two speed humps, traffic stays at a steady, low speed.
Speed cushions work in a similar way.
I also support narrower streets, but the narrow street by itself does not slow traffic enough.
Charles Siegel
Proof-read much?
I dont know if people actually proof these posts but the highlighted-bold excerpt is probably the worst written quote I've seen. Two words: sentence - structure.