Some Auckland streets to mingle cars and pedestrians

[samgab]

Does this seem like a good idea to you:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10578461

If I read it correctly, some of the busy Auckland city streets are going to lose the footpaths, making the entire street a road without signs, markings, or parking, and then cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians are all supposed to just make their way through the mess.
I can sure see that working out well.

"The concept is all around the psychology of space, understanding that personal responsibility is something we all need to have," urban design group manager Ludo Campbell-Reid told the committee. "It is pro-pedestrians but not anti-cars. It is innovative and very much an idea around democracy - it will be a good fit with the New Zealand psyche, so we'll all grow to love it."

What planet is this guy from?

[p.dath]

Sounds a bit risky to me. I wonder how long we'll it will take before someone dies.

Anyone from another city on here that has done it?

[MIXONE]

Sounds like the Wellington CBD to me.

[p.dath]

What street has no footpaths in Wellington CBD?

[Badjelly]

It sounds to me they are applying the ideas of Hans Monderman

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=462572

There was quite a favourable reaction to this article when Forest linked to it in January:


...Basically it presents the idea that traffic engineers are treating people like idiots by over-simplifying the roading system, and this causes drivers to drive idiotically (since their brains are becoming disengaged)...

However some of the enthusiasts may be unaware that one of the main advantages cited by Mr Monderman for his idea of removing signs and obstacles is that it lowers vehicle speeds.

[Slyer]

Isn't this usually applied to tightly packed cities because there is no room for footpaths?

[balans]

...Basically it presents the idea that traffic engineers are treating people like idiots by over-simplifying the roading system, and this causes drivers to drive idiotically (since their brains are becoming disengaged)...

People are idiots, that is why they drive idiotically.

Some people even have trouble walking, just look at your typical crowded mall.

[xwhatsit]

What planet is this guy from?
Dunno, maybe Earth... sounds like Vietnam to me.

Of course they're mainly riding Cubs, less cars. Don't see why it wouldn't work?

I don't know if there's a video on Youtube of a busy Vietnamese street, but there's no real road rules. Don't have to ride on one side of the road or whatever. No danger... everybody's moving slowly, calmly, just keep moving in one direction and don't suddenly do a wild zig-zag and confuse the riders coming towards you. Want to cross the road on foot... same deal... just walk across the road confidently, in a straight line, don't stop or speed up.

It's quite possible. Many of the inner-city streets don't really get over 15-20kph anyway. I like the idea.

[PirateJafa]

Just wait for people to start parking like morons, wherever they want to. Sigh.

[MIXONE]

What street has no footpaths in Wellington CBD?

No by that I mean that pedastrians in Welly tend to treat the road like it is a giant footpath.

[klingon]

The funny thing is, a lot of Asian pedestrians seem to act like this is already the case. I constantly see streets in Auckland where there are perfectly good footpaths but pedestrians are strolling slowly down the roadway (often with their backs to the traffic). I see this being done by Koreans, Japanese, ethnic Chinese (not sure what country of origin) and Indians.

I can only assume they come from home countries where traffic moves a lot slower and/or makes room for pedestrians on the road. In NZ the most common response from drivers seems to be to drive as fast as possible, as close as possible - probably to "give them a fright" or "teach them a lesson".

It's a horrible cross-cultural mismatch and I'm amazed there aren't more serious accidents as a result.

[peasea]

What street has no footpaths in Wellington CBD?

Ha, if you have a 4WD....all of them.

[TOTO]

i actually like the idea. will be more Italy looking ...


ahhhhhhh Italia :love:

[Brett]

Works bloody nicely in : London, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Florence, Malta (ok, not as much as the others....) and many other parts of Europe. I am excited to see how this pans out. The atmosphere and culture that one experiences in many parts of Europe is top notch, hopefully we can replicate something similar.

[pzkpfw]

It'll be OK if they let us prepare.

[3L4NS1R]

It's another example of smart people thinking an great overseas idea will work just as greatly in New Zealand. Auckland drivers aren't patient enough, and Auckland pedestrians aren't considerate enough for it to work as well as it does on paper.

And can anyone explain why it will cost 70 million to complete? Give me a jack hammer and a road team and I'll do it for 69 mil.

[nosebleed]

pffft. it'll never cost $70m. and I'm sure if you approach the council and offer them a fixed contract for $69m you'll be in with a good chance.

[CookMySock]

Good on them for thinking outside the square.

Steve

[NDORFN]

For fucks sake Auckland(ers)! Get your focus 100% on mass-transit and don't do ANYTHING else till you've got that sorted. Idiots.

[The Pastor]

its about bloodly time.

parking wardens will be stuffed!

[Ixion]

Fuck that. How can I park on the footpath when there is no footpath ? And if there is no footpath, how are we to get past traffic jams ?

[Magua]

Sounds good to me, Fort, O'Connell and Lorne Streets are hardly busy thoroughfares.

[Ixion]

Hang on. Hold hard. Wait. What ?

Lorne St, outside the library, is one of the few major bike parking spots in Auckland. the article says that parking is to be removed in the selected streets.

So do we lose the bike park outside the library? Are they goiojg to do another Alfred St on us ?

Email to Mr Tomlinson on its way.

[xwhatsit]

Lorne St, outside the library, is one of the few major bike parking spots in Auckland. the article says that parking is to be removed in the selected streets.
Does Lorne St extend that far? What I pictured (actually it was the example I first pictured in my head before I read the article... it's very suitable) was the extent of Lorne St between Wellesley St and Victoria St.

Actually after consulting a map I see Lorne St does extend that far. However considering you can't drive the length of it (it's blocked off by Wellesley St), and the Library side is much wider and busier, then they may only touch the Victoria St side of Lorne St.

Lorne St works pretty much like what's described in the article anyway. Cars travelling not much higher than walking speed and pedestrians walking every-which-way.

[cambridgedan]

sounds like room for incident

[Ixion]

Does Lorne St extend that far? What I pictured (actually it was the example I first pictured in my head before I read the article... it's very suitable) was the extent of Lorne St between Wellesley St and Victoria St.

Actually after consulting a map I see Lorne St does extend that far. However considering you can't drive the length of it (it's blocked off by Wellesley St), and the Library side is much wider and busier, then they may only touch the Victoria St side of Lorne St.

Lorne St works pretty much like what's described in the article anyway. Cars travelling not much higher than walking speed and pedestrians walking every-which-way.

Dunno how far they're thinking of extending it. But after the University debacle , I don't trust 'em.

The actual idea doesn't bother me (bikes can easily dodge round pedestrians anyway); just the parking. the article says no parking

[Swoop]

sounds like room for incident
With Aucklander's [lack of] driving skills, it will be very entertaining seeing the results. I hope they will have considered easy ambulance access, as a planning priority.:shifty:

[Mschvs]

Does this seem like a good idea to you:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10578461

If I read it correctly, some of the busy Auckland city streets are going to lose the footpaths, making the entire street a road without signs, markings, or parking, and then cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians are all supposed to just make their way through the mess.
I can sure see that working out well.

"The concept is all around the psychology of space, understanding that personal responsibility is something we all need to have," urban design group manager Ludo Campbell-Reid told the committee. "It is pro-pedestrians but not anti-cars. It is innovative and very much an idea around democracy - it will be a good fit with the New Zealand psyche, so we'll all grow to love it."

What planet is this guy from?


Looking forward to the culling of pedestrian foot traffic in Auckland ... lol! Scary for Motorcyclists though ... then again, just don't ride there!

[Mschvs]

For fucks sake Auckland(ers)! Get your focus 100% on mass-transit and don't do ANYTHING else till you've got that sorted. Idiots.

I second that one!!