Comments on: LA.Streetsblog: The Joy of Poor Circulation http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Ian Bicking http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32153 Ian Bicking Thu, 31 May 2007 17:24:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32153 I don't entirely understand the problem with one way streets. In Chicago most side streets are one way, and I rather like it -- it keeps the street width down, while giving enough room so that bikes and cars can share the road easily (including bikes going the wrong way), people can double park, and the kind of flexibility you need for a multiuse road. And multiuse roads seem like at least part of the positive aspect of congestion -- roads that aren't just for moving through, but for loading and unloading, for pedestrians and bikes and the occasional motorized wheelchair or a homeless guy with a shopping cart. Larger one-way roads help people moving through the community and punish people traveling short distances inside the community. But on small roads I don't think the logic applies. I don't entirely understand the problem with one way streets. In Chicago most side streets are one way, and I rather like it -- it keeps the street width down, while giving enough room so that bikes and cars can share the road easily (including bikes going the wrong way), people can double park, and the kind of flexibility you need for a multiuse road. And multiuse roads seem like at least part of the positive aspect of congestion -- roads that aren't just for moving through, but for loading and unloading, for pedestrians and bikes and the occasional motorized wheelchair or a homeless guy with a shopping cart.

Larger one-way roads help people moving through the community and punish people traveling short distances inside the community. But on small roads I don't think the logic applies.

]]> By: LisaB http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32142 LisaB Thu, 31 May 2007 16:00:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32142 Interestingly, this is Vancouver's approach too - embracing congestion as part of vibrant streets. Good article on it here: http://www.vanmag.com/articles/07jun/Drivinglessons.shtml Interestingly, this is Vancouver's approach too - embracing congestion as part of vibrant streets. Good article on it here: http://www.vanmag.com/articles/07jun/Drivinglessons.shtml

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32118 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 31 May 2007 04:37:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32118 D, I was also concerned by the phrase "increased speeds." But the current speeds are so low that I don't think the increase would make things that much less safe. For example, once (back in '95 or '97, I think) I rented a truck in Chelsea to move some stuff in Brooklyn, and it took me half an hour to get from 16th and Ninth to 16th and Third. Still, I'd like to see some data. In areas where the speeds are projected to increase too much, the streets could be calmed by widening sidewalks, installing bus lanes or making the streets two-way. The timing could be adjusted too: West End Avenue is a disaster, for example. D, I was also concerned by the phrase "increased speeds." But the current speeds are so low that I don't think the increase would make things that much less safe. For example, once (back in '95 or '97, I think) I rented a truck in Chelsea to move some stuff in Brooklyn, and it took me half an hour to get from 16th and Ninth to 16th and Third.

Still, I'd like to see some data. In areas where the speeds are projected to increase too much, the streets could be calmed by widening sidewalks, installing bus lanes or making the streets two-way. The timing could be adjusted too: West End Avenue is a disaster, for example.

]]> By: Greg Raisman http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32112 Greg Raisman Thu, 31 May 2007 01:00:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32112 Here is an inspiring video about Houten, The Netherlands where the entire city is designed with the type of circulation the Urban Man seems to be getting at. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QT5rvnfS0 Enjoy. Greg Here is an inspiring video about Houten, The Netherlands where the entire city is designed with the type of circulation the Urban Man seems to be getting at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QT5rvnfS0

Enjoy.
Greg

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32111 ddartley Thu, 31 May 2007 00:31:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32111 "Urbanists have known for decades that the increased traffic speed of one-way streets makes walking less appealing. And they know that whenever circulation improves, people shop further, work further, and slowly abandon the love of neighborhood." THESE are some reasons I have always been hesitant about congestion pricing! Beware! Seriously, if NYC adopts pricing, we must also do more, like reduce the speed limit on the books, or seriously physically calm our streets. One of the big selling points of congestion pricing is that it increases the overall speed of traffic. Hello, collisions and death? WTF! "Urbanists have known for decades that the increased traffic speed of one-way streets makes walking less appealing. And they know that whenever circulation improves, people shop further, work further, and slowly abandon the love of neighborhood."

THESE are some reasons I have always been hesitant about congestion pricing! Beware! Seriously, if NYC adopts pricing, we must also do more, like reduce the speed limit on the books, or seriously physically calm our streets. One of the big selling points of congestion pricing is that it increases the overall speed of traffic. Hello, collisions and death? WTF!

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/comment-page-1/#comment-32108 ubrayj02 Wed, 30 May 2007 22:17:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/30/lastreetsblog-the-joy-of-poor-circulation/#comment-32108 As a fellow Angeleno, I can only dream that one day we'll de-emphasize the automobile enough to let our old commercial corridors thrive once again. As a fellow Angeleno, I can only dream that one day we'll de-emphasize the automobile enough to let our old commercial corridors thrive once again.

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