ABSTRACT
Streets operate differently when designed for high volume, fast traffic or for slow moving, low volumes. When embarking on a street redesign, consider these five guiding principles and the design principles that follow: design for humans; right size; and provide multiple benefits. Street benches do not need to be hard, flat plastic. Wood, art, trees, lights and details attract the eye and humanize the environment. Streets are one part of a larger jigsaw puzzle; what happens on one street affects other streets around it. Some streets clearly need to function as arterials that keep cars moving; others can focus more on pedestrian and bicyclist shared space. The physical design of a street should be safe enough that, for example, parents don’t feel they must cling to a child’s hand at all times. Street design should connect the two sides of the street, so people walking on one side can relate to and easily cross over to the other side.
