This paper discusses some German research on traffic and environmental aspects of traffic calming. In Germany, rapid improvements have been achieved with traffic calming, which has had three successive generations: (1) from 1976 on, traffic calming in residential areas; (2) from 1980 on, traffic calming in larger city districts; (3) city-wide traffic calming, now emerging. Area-wide traffic calming has been implemented on an experimental basis in Berlin and Mainz, also in three medium-sized cities and a village. In the traffic calming methodology developed by three research institutes in the 1980's, an intergrated approach is to be used, to handle problems of traffic safety, traffic flow, urban development, and environment. Not only residential streets are to be reconstructed, but various other roads. All people affected are to be involved in the planning, including business executives as well as residents. Traffic calming should not place public transport at a disadvantage, and it should create incentives for cyclists. The paper also discusses: (1) 30kph speed limits as the first stage in traffic calming; (2) the Berlin model of traffic calming, using a speed limit below 30kph; (3) problems with major roads, including speeds that are still too high and inappropriate reconstructions; (4) expenses involved in traffic calming, which are sometimes very great.
Abstract