[RP TownTalk] Shared Streets - A Way to Calm Traffic in RP?

[Dwight Holmes]

IRob, the more I think about this idea ("shared streets") the more
intrigued I am...  say, for example, we created shared street space on
Lafayette on both sides of Queensbury -- from Dumms' to the tracks on
the south side; incorporating all of Mabel Munch park, Lafayette and
Natoli Pl on the north side, say, up as far as the E-W Hwy overpass...
 also Rhode Island Ave., as it traverses Town Center's parking lot
(also creating public/greenspace around the area where the clock tower
is -- you could capture a lot of greenspace there while losing only
*3* parking places --, and maybe on the S&Js side as well.  Reroute
the buses off of Riverdale onto Queensbury (you could allow buses to
enter Queensbury by the fire station while keeping it "Do not enter"
for all other traffic).  We gain public/community space, make it safer
for pedestrians, and (i'm guessing) discourage quite a bit of the
cut-through traffic, all without a single speed bump or additional
"one way" or "do not enter" sign.

BTW, re the Riverdale Park Community Wiki (http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com)
-- you'll find that anyone can read it -- no login required -- and
anyone can write "comments" on the wiki; to join in on the fun of
creating and editing pages -- which is what we really hope everyone
willl do -- you'll need to create an account for yourself with
wetpaint -- it's their software that runs the site (and, yes, gives
you the free ads on the margins of the page)...  It's a great place to
discuss all kinds of things, including stuff like "shared streets",
what Town Center could and should be, etc. I see the Riverdale Park
Community Wiki as a combination bulletin board, Welcome Wagon, soap
box, scratch pad, photo album, scrap book, file cabinet, encyclopedia,
yellow pages, Rolodex, 'Whole Earth Catalog,' entertainment guide and
community center. This is not, "Build it and they will come." This is
"Build it -- and let's use it!"

(Have you seen the Hyattsville wiki?  It's at: http://www.hyattsvillewiki.com/
They've done some great things over there -- much good information
that is useful to anyone, certainly anyone in our area.)


On 9/25/07, Rob Oppenheim <rob.oppenheim at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>  Shared Streets - A Way to Calm Traffic in RP?
>
>  Shared streets are designed to be streets full of life,
>  used by pedestrians, bicyclists, and low-speed motor vehicles;
>  becoming a public place for people
>  instead of a single-purpose conduit for cars.
>  Vehicles may not impede pedestrians, who in turn
>  may not unreasonably hinder the progress of drivers.
>
>  People and bikes are encouraged to use the street.
>
>  On shared streets, vehicles are slowed by making their
>  path wind thru trees, planters, parked cars, benches etc.
>  The drivers goal becomes finding the way thru the path instead
>  of shooting down the straight-a-way to the next corner as fast
>  as possible.
>
>  Recently, Jim Coleman posted a pdf about shared streets (aka woonerfs)
>  to TownTalk. I found it interesting and did some further research and
>  wrote an article about it on the Riverdale Park Wiki. It has lots more info
>  and a diagram and pictures. You can read it here:
>
>   http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com/page/Streets+For+Living
>
>  Please take a look at it, and add your edits and comments to it.
>
>  Do you think shared streets would be good for RP?
>  What streets in RP do you think might work well as a shared street?
>
>  Speed humps may be right for some streets, but they are not the only solution.
>
>  A look ahead...traffic calming
>
>  Mary Donaldson and the traffic committee scored a great opportunity for us.
>  They invited a renowned professional traffic engineer firm to give the town a
>  brief presentation on traffic: opportunities, costs and successes.
>
>  The event is scheduled for Tues, Nov 6, 2007 at 7 pm, Town Hall.
>  More information will be posted when we get closer to the event.
>
>  I hope that everyone will come out for that! The presentation will look at
>  several traditional traffic calming techniques (not shared streets).
>
>  -Rob
>