Naked is Better! On the Many Benefits of Shared Streets

Experiments with shared (also called "naked") streets in Auckland, New Zealand show that mixing motorized and non-motorized modes can be safe, friendly, and economically successful.

1 minute read

February 26, 2015, 6:00 AM PST

By Todd Litman


Shared Street

Michael Hicks / Flickr

Shared streets (also called "naked" or "woonerf") remove the distinction between footpath and traffic lanes, so vehicles and pedestrians can share roadspace. Auckland New Zealand has implemented this strategy in several downtown commercial streets, as discussed in this website. Each street is assessed and the most appropriate design goes through a public consultation stage before works begin.

The city conducted a detailed study on shared space performance. It found that:

• Peak hour foot traffic increased 50 percent (comparing pre-works in 2008 to post-works in 2011)
• There are noticeably fewer vehicles and they travel slower. Vehicle speeds declined more than 25 percent.
• 91 percent of stakeholders were highly complimentary about the new shared space, compared to 17 percent before. 
• 75 percent of property owners determined that it was valuable being sited near or adjacent to a shared space.
• Almost half of those surveyed (49 percent) would visit the area more often, as a destination in its own right.

Well done, Auckland!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in Shared Spaces Website

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.