Comments on: “Shared Space” in Boston; Weird One-Way Signs in D.C. http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/08/01/shared-space-in-boston-weird-one-way-signs-in-dc/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 17 May 2012 03:37:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: S. Butler http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/08/01/shared-space-in-boston-weird-one-way-signs-in-dc/#comment-157 S. Butler Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:22:11 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=152#comment-157 An interesting article from The Boston Globe Magazine from Sunday, Aug. 10, "The Future of Crossing the Street", sheds some light on this idea of Shared Space (as well as some other motorist vs. pedestrian issues). Basically, the idea is to eliminate curbs as a way of promoting a sharing of the entire street area by motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. In doing so, all individuals using the street must pay closer attention to their surroundings. As the article says, "Shared Space gets the street naked, removes all physical and psychological barriers, and forces cars and pedestrians to share. The concept makes the street safe by making it dangerous to proceed without paying attention." Link to article: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/08/10/the_future_of_crossing_the_street/ An interesting article from The Boston Globe Magazine from Sunday, Aug. 10, “The Future of Crossing the Street”, sheds some light on this idea of Shared Space (as well as some other motorist vs. pedestrian issues). Basically, the idea is to eliminate curbs as a way of promoting a sharing of the entire street area by motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. In doing so, all individuals using the street must pay closer attention to their surroundings. As the article says, “Shared Space gets the street naked, removes all physical and psychological barriers, and forces cars and pedestrians to share. The concept makes the street safe by making it dangerous to proceed without paying attention.”

Link to article:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/08/10/the_future_of_crossing_the_street/

]]> By: Charlie D. http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/08/01/shared-space-in-boston-weird-one-way-signs-in-dc/#comment-99 Charlie D. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:30:07 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=152#comment-99 I'm guessing you saw either Palmer St or Winthrop St in Cambridge, MA. They were both recently reconstructed as "shared streets" bu the City of Cambridge. In the past they have basically acted as such, but previously there were very narrow sidewalks and awkward curbs. My understanding is that these designs came out of a very extensive public process, along with a city government that has a very progressive view on street design. Here is the city's site with the details and history of the larger Harvard Square improvements now underway: http://www.cambridgema.gov/~CDD/et/infra/hsq/hsq.html I’m guessing you saw either Palmer St or Winthrop St in Cambridge, MA. They were both recently reconstructed as “shared streets” bu the City of Cambridge. In the past they have basically acted as such, but previously there were very narrow sidewalks and awkward curbs. My understanding is that these designs came out of a very extensive public process, along with a city government that has a very progressive view on street design.

Here is the city’s site with the details and history of the larger Harvard Square improvements now underway:

http://www.cambridgema.gov/~CDD/et/infra/hsq/hsq.html

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