LET US DESIGN STREETS FOR THE FUTURE WE WANT

Abstract

This article will call attention to the role of street design in inviting and prioritizing certain uses and highlight efforts made by cities across the globe to move away from caroriented and toward people-oriented streets. There are many low-technology solutions available to create better cities, and yet, we are in an era where the vision for the future of streets is clouded by the advent of autonomous vehicles. This article will emphasize that urgent action is needed to change the prevailing approach to street design and shift the measure of success away from car-oriented metrics and toward metrics that address access, safety, equitable distribution of space, environmental quality, public health, and overall quality of life. Practitioners and decision-makers should not assume that technology will solve the challenges cities are facing today and should focus first on designing streets that prioritize the most efficient modes of transport and create people-friendly cities.

Keywords

Street Design / Equitable Cities / Community Engagement / Public Life / Road Safety

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2018 Higher Education Press