Shared spaces

[MessiahAndrw]

My dream is to make Adelaide a great place to live, which means making the CBD a pleasant place for people.

I'm a huge fan of shared spaces. If you're unfamiliar with shared spaces, here are some examples;





A shared space is one where the realm of cars, cyclists, and pedestrians is not segregated, but shared - each with equal right of way. The benefits of shared spaces are;

• They accommodate relatively high levels of vehicular traffic as it is slow but free flowing.
• The roadway is naturally 'dangerous' and takes motorists out of their comfort zone, which encourages them to drive drive slowly and cautiously, expecting pedestrians, vehicles, and other obstacles at any moment. This makes them very safe, specially for children and people with disabilities which may have trouble with segregated streets.
• They are much more humane and relaxing than segregated streets, and even the smallest towns that have implemented them have seen their pedestrian traffic increase, and the towns have become safer and more attractive.
• They're relatively cheap to build and uncluttered - a simple textured/coloured surface compared to all of the traffic control devices (crossings, lights), poles, signage, etc.

If you'd like some more information about them, Ben Hamilton-Baillie have an excellent presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKvLvEs2VJc (He starts around 17 minutes in.)

I wonder where would be the best places to introduce them into Adelaide.

One idea I've thought about is extending Rundle Mall, turning the eastern end into a shared space, and extending the western end into a shared space halfway down Hindley Street. Also King William Street for a block above/below:

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Another idea is to turn North Terrace into a shared space in front of the Casino and run it all the way through to the University of Adelaide.

What are your thoughts or suggestions? Do you like shared spaces? Do you think they will work?

[[Shuz]]

For Hindley and Rundle Streets, yes. Elsewhere, no.

[MessiahAndrw]

For Hindley and Rundle Streets, yes. Elsewhere, no.

I agree. They are my first choices - because they're relatively narrow and most traffic is secondary rather than using it as a thoroughfare, and it would feel like a natural extension to Rundle Mall, without explicitly blocking vehicular traffic (which is especially important for deliveries and taxis along those streets). North Terrace was my backup idea.

[Llessur2002]

I love shared spaces - have seen some great examples in Europe and a really good example in my hometown of Brighton, UK:

http://landezine.com/index.php/2011/04/ ... rchitects/

Since it has been implemented the whole area has changed - what was once a fairly dull through-road has become a bustling destination in itself. Bars and cafes along the road have all opened outdoor seating areas which, combined with the additional public seating area along one length of the road, creates a really nice European atmosphere.

Street performers and buskers feature regularly and, during events and festivals, the whole road can be closed off providing a nice level surface for stalls, events, attractions etc. Adelaide's food vans would love it!

Traffic still exists but, due to the nature of the shared space, travels at a much lower speed and causes the driver to pay full attention to everything that's happening around them - which sadly many fail to do on 'standard' roads. Overall it seems obvious that traffic levels have reduced - it is mainly access traffic, taxis and delivery vehicles that use this route.

I think this would work extremely well in Adelaide - Rundle Street is crying out for something like this. Imagine how the overall atmosphere would be changed if cafes and bars had bigger outdoor seating areas and shoppers could gently meander down the street without worrying about having to dart across the road in between cars or wait for ages at pedestrian crossings. At Fringe time this area would be a real bonus.

I understand that the nature of car use is different in Australia vs Europe but it does feel that certain spaces in the CBD need re-balancing in favour of the pedestrian. Hindley Street, Rundle Street, Gouger Street all immediately spring to mind as possible candidates. Obviously this would require a re-evaluation of how traffic can best be directed through the various north-south and east-west routes through the CBD or, better still, around it. It is a shame that that some of the busiest streets from a pedestrian standpoint also seem to have some of the heaviest vehicular traffic too.

[SRW]

I'd love to see more shared spaces, particularly in places that they can act as a stepping stone to full pedestrianisation. The obvious candidates are Rundle/Hindley, but I'd add to the mix the full length of Gawler Place/Kintore Ave. The idea of a parklands-parklands as well as a city-river pedestrian connection through the heart of business district seems like an attractive way to activate those outer areas. The Bank/Leigh/Topham/Bentham/Pitt route should also be pedestrianised, but I believe this is already on the agenda.

[rhino]

As well as Rundle/Hindley, Gawler Place, and Gouger St, I think Pirie/Waymouth between Pulteney St and Morphett St would be a contender.
King William St is too important as a thoroughfare for any of it to be considered a shared space, IMO. So are Pulteney St and North Tce, and Grote/Wakefield.

[monotonehell]

I think one of my first posts way back on SensationalAdelaide was a video on shared spaces. One of the challenges to complete pedestrianisation of many streets is the existence of carpark entries. For example Rundle Street. Not to mention other vehicle access points. Shared spaces might be a solution to this.

I can't find the original post, but here's a post I made about a year later with the video and others in it...
http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/for ... 02&p=34910