Walkable streets (Evaluation of streets in the context of urban theory, life and form)

Abstract

This study aims; to detennine evolving process of urban street and street design approaches through history, to examine general street design considerations and the pedestrian friendly street design policies, to introduce traffic calming measures as an effective new method in the revitalization of the urban streets; and to offer traffic calming techniques and policies as a new alternative in the restructuring of Turkish cities' streets. The case study focused on the application of the traffic calming measures in an intensively urbanized central area in izmir. Pragmatic approach indicated that the implementation of traffic calming techniques may work efficiently in Turkish cities if the wide range neighborhood traffic improvement programs can be applied. These programs may include following approaches in a wider sense: establishment of traffic safety education for children and adults, encouragement of city and neighborhood streets as community space rather than car space, implementation of new urban design methods for enhancing safety and livability, improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of traffic laws and legislate changes in funding and our traffic laws to provide safe and accessible conditions for non-car users. On the other hand, the promotion of traffic calming measures throughout the country can only be provided with the construction of the model projects and the preparation of the traffic calming design guidelines by the significant municipalities.No doubt that, the application of the area-wide traffic calming schemes will have the major role in the creating of walkable streets in our cities and towns.