It is commonly accepted that most U.S. cities couldn't support transit-only streets. But Wellington, New Zealand is a model any U.S. city could follow, writes Jarrett Walker.
Walker explains that Wellington (population 389,000) doesn't have the European density or small streets that naysayers claim are necessary for dedicated transit - but succeeds nonetheless.
He writes:
"Wellington's "Golden Mile," long the core business strip and highrise office district, is now a two-lane, largely bus-only facility, the last bit of which was finished last November. It features generous sidewalks, near-continuous awnings for shelter (a city requirement) and hardly any commercial vacancies."
The comments on Walker's blog debate whether Wellington's streets are wide or narrow, and whether Wellington is actually a small city at all.
Read the full story: can transit-only streets work in small cities?
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