Does Making Streets into Commons "Irk" Drivers--or Enliven Cities?

[marmar]

from OnTheCommons.org:



Does Making Streets into Commons "Irk" Drivers--or Enliven Cities?
Zurich--famous for its conservatism--shows how to create a city for everyone

By Jay Walljasper


The New York Times this week ran an intriguing article about efforts in European cities like Zurich, Barcelona, Paris, London, Munich and Stockholm to level the playing field between motorists and everyone else on city streets. It appeared on page one with the inflammatory headline: “Across Europe, Irking Drivers is Urban Policy.”

The message is clear: Looking upon the streets as commons to be shared by all threatens our God-given right to drive wherever we want, as often as want, as fast as we can. Yet if you read the article all the way through, reporter Elisabeth Rosenthal uncovers many reasons why reducing auto use has been a positive step in these cities: safer streets, cleaner air, less noise, more urban vitality, less dependence on foreign oil, and reduced global warming emissions.

She describes Limmatquai, a street in Zurich, as “a riverside pedestrian zone lined by cafes that used to be two lanes of gridlock.”

Indeed, these policies are remarkably popular with the people. In Zurich, the focus of this article, no street can be closed to traffic without being approved by voters in a referendum. Even the shopkeepers, who vigorously opposed the creation of pedestrian streets and reduction in parking spots, have seen no drop in business. That’s because pedestrian traffic rises 30-40 percent on Zurich streets with no cars or trucks. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://onthecommons.org/does-making-streets-commons-irk-drivers-or-enliven-cities

[saras]

1. Both sides are right - if someone self-identifies as a DRIVER, walking is low-status

See, you're overlooking the little detail that this sort of stuff is popular with progressives and sensible folks, but is NOT popular with the wealthy.

Cities in America discover this on a regular basis, then abandon it for pressure from the transportation industry. Everyone knows what a sidewalk sale is, and what they do for business. A pedestrian commons is a permanent sidewalk sale.

But it all gets in the way of the rich getting their cars where they want to go without having to actually interact with the common people.

[the_real_38]

2. Bike paths, walking lanes ...

... the revolution is LOCAL. It's the GOP that wants us enslaved to the gas pump. There needs to be a fight for alternate access to routes of travel. I live in South Carolina, and there is basically a contempt for people who don't drive cars using the streets. Suburban commuter culture is doomed - the mathematics of Peak Oil dictate that truth. If people spend less on gas and patronize local businesses (as opposed to Wal Mart and McDonalds) they'll be wealthier and healthier, too.

I made the commitment this year to make all grocery trips on my bicycle (yes, I own a car). Installed two (Wald 582) baskets on the bike. The result - at age 47, I weigh less than I have in 10 years. Not only that, I'm getting better gas mileage in the car from not making (relatively) short stop-and-go rides. A virtuous circle.

P.S. That includes beer trips, btw. :)

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Or you can turn lakes into village greens

A 50-acre lake at Llanfaelog on Anglesey has been given the unusual status of a 'village green'.
...
"It goes back a few years when the council looked at improving facilities, for locals and visitors, popular for sailing, boating, fishing as well as wildlife," he said.

"We found there was no registered owner, so the way forward was to register it as a village green."

From an earlier story:

"There is a village green act which would mean that if it recognised as such it can never be changed, nothing can be built on it, and it can never be sold - and even if it was the new owners would not be allowed to do anything," Mr Evans added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-12815622

[JHB]

4. They couldn't check just a block away?

The making some of the streets and lanes in Time Square into pedestrian areas aeems to have worked out quite well.