I have read that on Handford Road in Ipswich, England there are no posted speed limits, no lane lines, no posted speed limits, and very few traffic lights. Even so, drivers politely move aside to make room for other drivers, they slow down, and they yield for bikers and pedestrians.
Ipswich has joined several other European cities in testing the theory that traffic sins can actually cause accidents by giving drivers a false sense of security. Novel idea!
By taking the signs away, the theory continues, people will act more responsibly. In other words, instead of chaos, the results have been quite surprising. Speed dropped by more than half. And accident rates fell as well.
The idea is that old fashioned values have been reintroduced. With no instructions to rely on, drivers made eye contact with other drivers and with bicyclists and pedestrians.
The concept, called “Shared Space” has been introduced in over a dozen Dutch towns as well as various towns and cities across Europe.
Wide sidewalks, nearly invisible curbs, and no lane lines have increased the number of things a driver on Handford Road needs to be alert to and gives bicyclists and pedestrians a larger share of the road.
I guess this strategy is not a cure-all and importing the idea to American Suburbs is probably a lost cause. “If you design a street like a gun barrel, drivers will drive like a bullet”, according to Ian Lockwooed, a traffic engineer in Orlando, Florida.
The experiment is still quite young so solid data is not yet available, but it does get us to thinking about our responsibilities to “Share the Road” The same laws that apply to motorists apply to cyclists. Drivers need to recognize hazards cyclists may face and give them space; Motorists must follow the new state law that requires a minimum of three feet passing clearance when passing cyclists on the road.