Page 61 - TrafficInfratech Magazine Feb - Mar 2020

MAKING A POINT

Germany’s walking policy framework lighting, and other measures that make transport and destinations; more traffic
proposes seven targets and five walking safer. The idea is to change crashes make it more dangerous; the
strategies to make streets friendlier to road systems, as well as road users. romantic allure of the car is still alive
pedestrians. These address many of the and well, especially in fast-growing
systemic issues that have made today’s Avoid, Shift, Improve economies; and urban policies and
cities hostile to walkers, including safety Germany’s goals and strategies apply investments often favor more affluent
problems (over 300,000 pedestrians critical components of the “Avoid, Shift, and politically powerful drivers over
killed every year, representing 23% of Improve” approach to planning, such poorer pedestrians.
all road traffic deaths worldwide) and as targeting changes in land use and But many cities are recognizing the
rising car ownership that is making cities urban form to shorten trips (avoid), wisdom of a more active, multi-modal
more congested and less accessible to disincentivizing the use of cars and approach to mobility that can lead to
non-motorized road users. encouraging more walking (shift). major economic dividends, safer streets
The framework sets the goals of and more equitable cities. Low-carbon
A Safe System Approach reducing car ownership to 150 cars per urban development could generate
The goals and strategies proposed 1,000 inhabitants in all cities with over more than $24 trillion in value by 2050,
in the policy framework embody 100,000 inhabitants. It also proposes according to research from the Coalition
a “Safe System” approach to road reducing the average parking space for Urban Transitions.
safety. They are designed to improve area per person from 4.5 square meters National governments have a critical
the systemic issues affecting walking to 3 in urban areas. role to play in supporting more walkable
rather than focusing on user behavior The framework aims to achieve these cities, and Germany’s policy framework
as the problem. For example, one of the ambitious objectives through promoting is perhaps the most ambitious attempt
proposed national goals is increasing coordinated efforts between city yet to pull together the various land use,
the share of people walking in Germany planning and transport departments. infrastructure, financial, legal and other
from 27% to 41% in urban areas while Changes to land use and zoning instruments that national governments
cutting the number of pedestrian traffic criteria will encourage more accessible, can bring to bear on the problem.
deaths 20% by 2030. In order to achieve compact, mixed-use developments, Development of a strategic policy
this, the policy framework proposes with restricted parking that incentivizes document based on this framework
introducing a 30-kilometer-per-hour more walking and less driving. will soon start with a legislative process.
standard speed limit in all urban areas There are many barriers to walking in Hopefully, the final policy will reflect the
and new minimum design standards for cities today. Increased travel distances precedent set here, which is already a
infrastructure elements, such as at least make it seem unfeasible; lack of strong starting point for any national
2.5-meter-wide sidewalks, shorter and connectivity means you can’t easily planning effort to get more people on
safer pedestrian crossings, better street string together different modes of their feet.

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