It may seem counter-intuitive, but "shared space" advocates say cars and bikes will get in fewer accidents if barriers and traffic lane markets are removed. London's Exhibition Road will open next month using this design concept.
From the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website:
"The single surface design is kerb-free with the minimum of street furniture and barriers. By having a less distinct ‘track' for through traffic, motorists will drive more cautiously and slowly, with greater awareness and consideration for pedestrians. It will also provide greater flexibility in the way Exhibition Road can be used in the future."
GOOD notes that the project isn't out of the blue:
"Similar projects on other streets in London have decreased accidents involving pedestrians, showing that both walkers and drivers tend to pay better attention when they realize that they can't rely on barriers to guide them."
Read the full story: Goodbye, Sidewalks: London Planners Break Down Boundaries Between Cars and Pedestrians
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
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