1

Is there “enough room” for Is there “enough room” for Complete Streets?Complete Streets?

There’s room; it needs to be recapturedThere’s room; it needs to be recaptured

2

Are our streets wide enough?

150’?150’?

3

150’?150’?

4

Make optimal use of the right-of-way

Don’t ask “How much ROW do we need?” but“What’s the highest and best use of this valuable space?”

5

Streets don’t have to be wide to be great

6

7

Conventional design – from the inside out

16’16’ 12’12’ 16’16’ 16’16’ 12’12’

Add up (wide) travel lane, run out of ROWResult: one narrow curbside sidewalk

Proposed design – from the outside in

11’11’ 6’6’ 6’6’ 6’6’ 11’11’ 8’8’ 6’6’ 8’8’

Add up desirable elements, fit in ROW; result:nice sidewalks, bike lanes, adequate travel lanes

8

How much of the ROW should be dedicated to cars?

No more that 40%

9

How much of the ROW should be dedicated to cars?

10

About 30%About 30%

How much of the ROW should be dedicated to cars?

11

About 90%About 90%

12

Always start with the edges

Same principle for sidewalks: the Same principle for sidewalks: the Zone SystemZone SystemThe sidewalk corridor extends from the edge of roadway to The sidewalk corridor extends from the edge of roadway to the right-of-way and is divided into 4 zones:the right-of-way and is divided into 4 zones:

Curb zoneCurb zone Furniture zoneFurniture zone Pedestrian zonePedestrian zone Frontage zoneFrontage zone

13

Curb ZoneCurb Zone

14

Why the curb zone matters:Why the curb zone matters:

It’s where pedestrians transition from/to the streetIt’s where pedestrians transition from/to the street15

Furniture ZoneFurniture Zone

16

All the “stuff” goes in the furniture zoneAll the “stuff” goes in the furniture zone

All these things go here!

17

Sidewalk with furniture zone is pleasant to walk onSidewalk with furniture zone is pleasant to walk on

18

Furniture zone can be used for bus pads and sheltersFurniture zone can be used for bus pads and shelters

2-19Designing Streets for Pedestrians – Sidewalk Design

Pedestrian ZonePedestrian Zone

20

It’s where people walkIt’s where people walk

21

Frontage ZoneFrontage Zone

22

Pedestrians don’t like blank wallsPedestrians don’t like blank walls

23

An interesting façade makes people feel betterAn interesting façade makes people feel better

24

StreetStreet

ParkingParkingCurb Zone

Curb Zone

FurnitureFurnitureZoneZone

PedestrianPedestrianZoneZone

Frontage Zone

Frontage Zone

Washington DC

3rd example: commercial street

The Zone System - SummaryThe Zone System - Summary

2-25Designin

g Streets for

Pedestrians – Sidewalk Desi

gn

Street furniture arranged in zones leaves sidewalk clear

Washington DC

With Zone SystemWith Zone System

2-26Designin

g Streets for

Pedestrians – Sidewalk Desi

gn

Randomly placed street furniture clutters sidewalkRandomly placed street furniture clutters sidewalk

Silverton OR

Without Zone SystemWithout Zone System

2-27Designin

g Streets for

Pedestrians – Sidewalk Desi

gn

Textured Surfaces

Bricks, cobblestones, textured pavement create:

Increased rolling resistance

Tripping hazards

Maintenance hassles

Painful vibrations to peoplewith brittle bones or spinalcord injuries in wheelchairs

2-28Designing Streets for Pedestrians – Sidewalk Design

Concrete in the pedestrian zone,Concrete in the pedestrian zone,textured surface in furniture and frontage zonestextured surface in furniture and frontage zones

Philadelphia PA 2-29

"Before the American city could be physically reconstructed to "Before the American city could be physically reconstructed to accommodate automobiles, its streets had to be socially accommodate automobiles, its streets had to be socially

reconstructed as places where cars belong. Until then, streets were reconstructed as places where cars belong. Until then, streets were regarded as public spaces, where practices that endangered or regarded as public spaces, where practices that endangered or obstructed others (including pedestrians) were disreputable..."obstructed others (including pedestrians) were disreputable..."

-- Peter D. Norton, PhD, professor of Science, Technology, & Society, Univ. of Virginiafrom "Street Rivals: Jaywalking and the Invention of the Motor Age Street"

Let’s establish the Green hierarchy:Let’s establish the Green hierarchy:

1.1. People on footPeople on foot

2.2. People on bikesPeople on bikes

3.3. People on transitPeople on transit

4.4. People delivering goodsPeople delivering goods

5.5. People driving carsPeople driving cars