Comments on: “Soured economy” offers another reason to rethink one-way streets

By: Places That Please, December 19, 2008 « The Art of Placemaking

Places That Please, December 19, 2008 « The Art of Placemaking — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:39:05 +0000

[...] “Soured Economy” Offers Another Reason to Rethink One-Way Streets – I’ve never been a big fan of one-way streets. They cause people to drive faster, since [...]

By: John McMasters

John McMasters — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:00:34 +0000

Tell us more…. Derenne one way.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:50:13 +0000

what does anyone think about DeRenne being a one-way street, west to east?

By: pcl

pcl — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:36:19 +0000

The idea that the direction of auto traffic flow on the street creates creates ghettos, are less livable, and “constitute a kind of ‘environmental racism,’” is laughable. One-way streets can provide trees, attractive streetscape, on-street parking, bike lanes, bus stops, and all the other things that makes streets multimodal and livable. Livable streets aren’t exclusive to one-way traffic. Streets with 3 or more lanes in each direction with no parking, wide lanes, and an absence of any character contribute to being less livable… not one-way or two-way traffic flow. I know arguments can be made about the impact of one-way vs. two-way circulation patterns for vehicles related to visibility and relative success for businesses, but it would seem to me that business that rely on visibility from auto driving customers are generally auto-centric and wouldn’t benefit from locations where the streets are considered more livable and cater equally to all modes. I would be interested in seeing an economic study that looks at business performance before and after the conversion of a street’s directional flow… maybe there’s one out there already? I would guess that improved streetscape, bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and other amenities would contribute to improved business performance, but I’m skeptical on one-way streets in and of themselves negatively impacting business as popular belief suggests.

By: John McMasters

John McMasters — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:01:26 +0000

You could achieve the two way street goal through petition. You have the constitutional right/power to pursue this. Start one, I’ll sign it so will my wife and all our friends.