This paper presents some new design principles for integrating urban arterial roads with the other parts of a city, with nine illustrative examples of how they are applied in German cities. The concept of concentrating traffic in main streets needs to be supplemented by compensatory measures, such as improving streetscapes by planting trees and reducing speeds. The author states the following guidelines, as illustrated by the nine examples: (1) pedestrians belong to the normal level, the natural ground of the city; (2) a pedestrian zone should cross an arterial street instead of an arterial street crossing a pedestrian zone; (3) centre strips ease pedestrians' crossings and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries; (4) "almost four lane carriageways", which can handle cars in two lanes in each direction but trucks in only one lane, provides space for centre strips, cycle lanes, and trees; (5) a T-junction, built according to 1960s guidelines, has extensive spare space; (6) the functions and characters of streets are closely connected; (7) after a long and heavy dispute, the Beusselstrasse arterial road in Berlin will be rebuilt; (8) a two-way left turn, combined with trees, gives character to a car-dominated street; (9) "soft separation" of different street parts is easier to integrate into historical situations. The author concludes that no further separation but more integration of different street usages is needed.
Samenvatting