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Title: DESIGNING FUNCTIONAL STREETS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Accession Number: 00812396
Record Type: Component
Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: Traffic engineers are encouraged to design local streets that accommodate modal choices. This can be accomplished through understanding the safety in speed differentials between modes and using a design speed equal to the desired speed. As engineers, we are inspired to help form a high quality of life. As traffic engineers, we translate that quality of life into safety and efficiency. However, our focus on safety and efficiency has become clouded. We need to refocus on modal choices: pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, and transit. Traffic engineers continuously analyze safety and efficiency. Safety focuses on reducing the number of conflict points, which has led to segregation of modal choices. We design roadways without room for bicycles, and intersections that restrict access movements. The public has forgotten how to share the road. Efficiency is measured in terms of speed and delay. Signal systems are designed for continuous flow. Access is managed by limiting the number of driveways and left turn movements. The roadway is designed for the safe and efficient movement of automobiles only. This preoccupation has distracted us from our original goal to help form a high quality of life. The segregation has taken away our choices and made us dependent upon the automobile. If we can provide safe, efficient roadways for the public making modal choices, then we are meeting the commitment to a high quality of life. Traffic engineers should create streetscapes that do not force people to drive to parks, the grocery store, school, and work.
Supplemental Notes: Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
Monograph Accession #: 00812391
Report/Paper Numbers: E-C019,
Paper A-1 Paper A-2 Language: English
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: Kubilins, M APagination: 5 p.
Publication Date: 2000-12
Serial: Features: Figures
(1)
TRT Terms: Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Jun 4 2001 12:00AM
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