Dear Steve,
Wish I could make it!
By any chance will you be discussing alternatives to the dominant
asphalt-based construction of streets, as well as their configuration? I
have been concerned for some time that the current paradigm must change
substantially, in part due to cost.
Some ideas for a new approach to paving *residential* streets:
a. Smooth paving for cycling only (supports traffic calming, allows
traditional/permeable/rough roadways)
b. No paving for parking areas (gravel/stones/permeable concrete squares or
even just dirt instead)
c. Mechanisms for residents to convert roadway to green space
d. Ban heavy vehicles from local streets, they do much damage
e. Creek restoration, street closures, carfree zones.
This in part because I saw recently the San Francisco, CA MPO is spending
1/3 of the budget on streets and admits it can't even maintain current
streets at current investments. Some rural areas have already begun
grinding asphalt up to make instant gravel, rather than repave. I broached
this topic at a major conference ("New Partners for Smart Growth" USA) and
industry folks wouldn't hear of it, and instead emphasized "green asphalt"
which may last longer, but costs more too, and doesn't address the
fundamental issue. Meanwhile, folks might wait even decades for repaving of
streets and they're immediately ripped up for construction, resulting in
bumps and lumps that particularly affect cyclists.
The good news perhaps is the roadway network is shrinking (in the USA, at
least). The bad news is the cycling environment is declining while we
needlessly misallocate resources.
My thought: change the paradigm!
This begets the exciting inquiry of a comparison between choices: cost,
lifespan, effects on users, mechanisms for implementation and financing.
E.g., is it cheaper and healthier to convert a street to a park, or to
repave it?
Anyone game?
Jason
===
Jason N. Meggs
University of Bologna
DICAM - Transportation Engineering Group
Viale Risorgimento, 2
40136 Bologna, Italy
Office: +39 051 209 3338
Fax: +39 051 209 3337
Mobile: +39 333 1565 787
Email: [log in to unmask]
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Web: http://jasonmeggs.com/
Skype: jasonmeggs
USA Phone: +1 510-725-9991
On Fri, May 4, 2012 at 8:04 PM, Steven Melia <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Apologies for cross-postings. Some of you will have already received this;
> I am putting it here because cycling issues will come into this debate and
> it would be useful if people with a cycling interest could participate. WE
> ARE ALREADY CLOSE TO THE CAPACITY (154) SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE
> REGISTER STRAIGHT AWAY. We will be starting a reserve list and emailing
> those who have already registered to see if anyone has changed their mind.
> Sharing or Separation: Which Way for Streets of the Future? Tuesday 22 May
> 2012 A debate with Ben Hamilton-Baillie and Steve Melia and chaired by
> Prof. Graham Parkhurst What questions will the debate explore? Is sharing
> space in streets better than separating modes? Under what circumstances is
> it better to share, or better to separate? How can street design best
> influence transport behaviour and the quality of the urban environment? The
> debate will begin with short presentations from Steve and Ben, and will
> then open up to contributions from the audience. This debate will be of
> particular interest to transport planners, spatial planners, urban
> designers and anyone interested in the future of our streets and our towns
> and cities. Background The ‘shared space’ approach to street design has
> become very influential in the UK in recent years, with the Department for
> Transport recently issuing guidance to local authorities on how to apply
> the principles (Local Transport Note 1/11). The basic idea is that
> emphasising place qualities and avoiding highway elements and demarcations
> between vehicles and pedestrians can improve the street environment, lower
> speeds and reduce the dominance of motor traffic. Recent research published
> by UWE has called into question some of the claims made for shared space,
> provoking a lively debate in the planning, transport and general media.
> Moderators Ben Hamilton-Baillie is generally regarded as the leading
> proponent of shared space, whose work has increased the influence of these
> ideas in the UK and elsewhere. His design consultancy, Hamilton-Baillie
> Associates specialises in reconciling traffic movement with quality public
> spaces in cities, towns and villages. It has designed many shared space
> schemes around the country. Dr Steve Melia is a Senior Lecturer in
> Transport and Planning at UWE’s Centre for Transport and Society. He was
> co-author of the research paper, which called into question the recent
> guidance from the Department for Transport. He also initiated the Living
> Heart for Bristol campaign, which aims to remove through traffic from the
> centre of Bristol. Debate Chair Prof Graham Parkhurst is the Director of
> UWE’s Centre for Transport and Society. Please register online:
> http://www.formstack.com/forms/uwe-sharing_or_separation
