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

[Marc Molino]

I'm also intrigued by the shared streets idea, but Krista (my wife) asked me: What about emergency vehicles? It's all new to me, so I had no answer for her.
 
How does this impact emergency vehicles, snow emergency routes, etc?
-Marc M.
 
> Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:51:54 -0400> From: dwightrholmes at gmail.com> To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Shared Streets - A Way to Calm Traffic in RP?> > 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> >> _______________________________________________> TownTalk mailing list> To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org> TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk> > For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us
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