An overall review is given of traffic calming measures in the city of Darmstadt, as an illustrative example of traffic calming measures in West Germany, which evolved in three stages. From the 1960s on, pedestrian areas were developed in urban shopping centres and business districts. From the 1970s on, traffic calming measures were applied in residential areas. From the 1980s on, area-wide precincts with 30kph speed limits were developed. Darmstadt has about 140,000 inhabitants. Its pedestrian area covers an approximate square with sides about 500m long, and allows cycling; buses and trams also drive through it. Darmstadt has nine traffic-calmed residential streets, but their main problem is lack of car parking facilities. From 1984 to 1876, Darmstadt tested various measures for area-wide speed reduction in two residential areas. In the first area, signs indicated a 30kph speed limit, and white stripes marked parking spaces in traffic lanes. In the second area, a voluntary 30kph speed limit was introduced through an intensive public awareness campaign. These areas achieved speed reductions of about 15% and about 10%, respectively. In 1987, Darmstadt City Council resolved to extend the 30kph speed limit to its whole road network, except for its priority roads and industrial zones.
Abstract