Applying the Road Diet for Livable Communities

摘要

A “road diet” consists of converting a four-lane undivided roadway to a two-lane roadway plusrntwo-way left turn lane by removing a travel lane in each direction. The remaining roadway widthrncan be converted to bike lanes, on-street parking or sidewalks. In cities throughout the world,rnroadways have been put on “road diets,” generating benefits to all modes of transportationrnincluding transit, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. These benefits include reduced vehiclernspeeds, improved mobility and access, reduced collisions and injuries, and improved livabilityrnand quality of life.rnThis paper will explore and evaluate the livability impacts of road diet projects. These livabilityrnimpacts have not been previously evaluated in any research effort or manner. The impacts of thernroad diet projects evaluated include improved quality of life, street character, and comfort andrnsafety for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit.rnThe content, application, and results of a public opinion livability survey will be presented. Thernsurvey was administered along four-lane undivided and three-lane streets with comparable width,rncharacter, and traffic flow. The livability survey solicited information from people living andrnworking adjacent to the streets with factors directly related to its livability. Five sites werernchosen for the survey and data collection in Washington, Iowa, and Georgia, and in Canada andrnNew Zealand. The focus of the paper will be on the impacts of road diet projects on livabilityrnand context sensitivity.