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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.<BR>
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How does this impact emergency vehicles, snow emergency routes, etc?<BR>
-Marc M.<BR>
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<BR>> Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:51:54 -0400<BR>> From: dwightrholmes@gmail.com<BR>> To: towntalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Shared Streets - A Way to Calm Traffic in RP?<BR>> <BR>> IRob, the more I think about this idea ("shared streets") the more<BR>> intrigued I am... say, for example, we created shared street space on<BR>> Lafayette on both sides of Queensbury -- from Dumms' to the tracks on<BR>> the south side; incorporating all of Mabel Munch park, Lafayette and<BR>> Natoli Pl on the north side, say, up as far as the E-W Hwy overpass...<BR>> also Rhode Island Ave., as it traverses Town Center's parking lot<BR>> (also creating public/greenspace around the area where the clock tower<BR>> is -- you could capture a lot of greenspace there while losing only<BR>> *3* parking places --, and maybe on the S&Js side as well. Reroute<BR>> the buses off of Riverdale onto Queensbury (you could allow buses to<BR>> enter Queensbury by the fire station while keeping it "Do not enter"<BR>> for all other traffic). We gain public/community space, make it safer<BR>> for pedestrians, and (i'm guessing) discourage quite a bit of the<BR>> cut-through traffic, all without a single speed bump or additional<BR>> "one way" or "do not enter" sign.<BR>> <BR>> BTW, re the Riverdale Park Community Wiki (http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com)<BR>> -- you'll find that anyone can read it -- no login required -- and<BR>> anyone can write "comments" on the wiki; to join in on the fun of<BR>> creating and editing pages -- which is what we really hope everyone<BR>> willl do -- you'll need to create an account for yourself with<BR>> wetpaint -- it's their software that runs the site (and, yes, gives<BR>> you the free ads on the margins of the page)... It's a great place to<BR>> discuss all kinds of things, including stuff like "shared streets",<BR>> what Town Center could and should be, etc. I see the Riverdale Park<BR>> Community Wiki as a combination bulletin board, Welcome Wagon, soap<BR>> box, scratch pad, photo album, scrap book, file cabinet, encyclopedia,<BR>> yellow pages, Rolodex, 'Whole Earth Catalog,' entertainment guide and<BR>> community center. This is not, "Build it and they will come." This is<BR>> "Build it -- and let's use it!"<BR>> <BR>> (Have you seen the Hyattsville wiki? It's at: http://www.hyattsvillewiki.com/<BR>> They've done some great things over there -- much good information<BR>> that is useful to anyone, certainly anyone in our area.)<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> On 9/25/07, Rob Oppenheim <rob.oppenheim@comcast.net> wrote:<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Shared Streets - A Way to Calm Traffic in RP?<BR>> ><BR>> > Shared streets are designed to be streets full of life,<BR>> > used by pedestrians, bicyclists, and low-speed motor vehicles;<BR>> > becoming a public place for people<BR>> > instead of a single-purpose conduit for cars.<BR>> > Vehicles may not impede pedestrians, who in turn<BR>> > may not unreasonably hinder the progress of drivers.<BR>> ><BR>> > People and bikes are encouraged to use the street.<BR>> ><BR>> > On shared streets, vehicles are slowed by making their<BR>> > path wind thru trees, planters, parked cars, benches etc.<BR>> > The drivers goal becomes finding the way thru the path instead<BR>> > of shooting down the straight-a-way to the next corner as fast<BR>> > as possible.<BR>> ><BR>> > Recently, Jim Coleman posted a pdf about shared streets (aka woonerfs)<BR>> > to TownTalk. I found it interesting and did some further research and<BR>> > wrote an article about it on the Riverdale Park Wiki. It has lots more info<BR>> > and a diagram and pictures. You can read it here:<BR>> ><BR>> > http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com/page/Streets+For+Living<BR>> ><BR>> > Please take a look at it, and add your edits and comments to it.<BR>> ><BR>> > Do you think shared streets would be good for RP?<BR>> > What streets in RP do you think might work well as a shared street?<BR>> ><BR>> > Speed humps may be right for some streets, but they are not the only solution.<BR>> ><BR>> > A look ahead...traffic calming<BR>> ><BR>> > Mary Donaldson and the traffic committee scored a great opportunity for us.<BR>> > They invited a renowned professional traffic engineer firm to give the town a<BR>> > brief presentation on traffic: opportunities, costs and successes.<BR>> ><BR>> > The event is scheduled for Tues, Nov 6, 2007 at 7 pm, Town Hall.<BR>> > More information will be posted when we get closer to the event.<BR>> ><BR>> > I hope that everyone will come out for that! The presentation will look at<BR>> > several traditional traffic calming techniques (not shared streets).<BR>> ><BR>> > -Rob<BR>> ><BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> TownTalk mailing list<BR>> To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>> TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only<BR>> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<BR>> <BR>> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us<BR><BR><br /><hr />Discover the new Windows Vista <a href='http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE' target='_new'>Learn more!</a></body>
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