Comments on: Revisiting Donald Appleyard’s Livable Streets http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/ Documenting Livable Streets Worldwide Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:21:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carljluc http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-265462 Carljluc Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-265462 Voici un bel exemple français, dans le val de Loire. http://bougezautrementablois.over-blog.com/article-blois-une-nouvelle-association-chambourdine-115374643.html Voici un bel exemple français, dans le val de Loire.
http://bougezautrementablois.over-blog.com/article-blois-une-nouvelle-association-chambourdine-115374643.html

]]> By: Cullen Carter http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-265084 Cullen Carter Sat, 10 Nov 2012 23:48:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-265084 When you take the cost paid by mental health and general well-being into consideration, the cost of an automobile is expensive beyond comprehension. Bike's are a great panacea. When you take the cost paid by mental health and general well-being into consideration, the cost of an automobile is expensive beyond comprehension.

Bike's are a great panacea.

]]> By: Tom Norris http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-264264 Tom Norris Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-264264 I can identify with your post.  I've been honked at for stopping at stop signs and for pedestrians in cross-walks.  I once lived in a neighborhood where people ran a particular stop sign so frequently that those on the crossing street who had the right of way would routinely stop because they knew fewer than half approaching the stop sign would bring their cars to a halt.   As you observe, despite it all, we must carry on. I can identify with your post.  I've been honked at for stopping at stop signs and for pedestrians in cross-walks.  I once lived in a neighborhood where people ran a particular stop sign so frequently that those on the crossing street who had the right of way would routinely stop because they knew fewer than half approaching the stop sign would bring their cars to a halt.   As you observe, despite it all, we must carry on.

]]> By: Tom Norris http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-264263 Tom Norris Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:05:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-264263 This video  brings back many memories.  First, in 1965, I heard Donald Appleyard speak at Clark University in Massachusetts where he participated in an urban planning seminar at a colloquium generally entitled, "The New Conservation."  Later, while in graduate school at the University of Oregon School of Architecture, I read a paper in the then AIP journal based on his work on traffic and streets, as shown here.  I even recall some of the quotes  from people who participated in the survey shown in the video. At the time, it struck me that his work was a standard to which the planning profession should aspire.  It's a joy to see his work live on here.  This video  brings back many memories.  First, in 1965, I heard Donald Appleyard speak at Clark University in Massachusetts where he participated in an urban planning seminar at a colloquium generally entitled, "The New Conservation."  Later, while in graduate school at the University of Oregon School of Architecture, I read a paper in the then AIP journal based on his work on traffic and streets, as shown here.  I even recall some of the quotes  from people who participated in the survey shown in the video. At the time, it struck me that his work was a standard to which the planning profession should aspire.  It's a joy to see his work live on here. 

]]> By: Chi-Bus http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-237854 Chi-Bus Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:59:56 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-237854 Mark T: I would say that the response to your concern is that these are actual comments from the residents. It does not preclude what you are saying from being reality. Whether or not the bubble is true reality, it is one of the quotes that Mr. Appleyard meant to convey in his research in the book. Mark T: I would say that the response to your concern is that these are actual comments from the residents. It does not preclude what you are saying from being reality.

Whether or not the bubble is true reality, it is one of the quotes that Mr. Appleyard meant to convey in his research in the book.

]]> By: Chris http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-236534 Chris Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:45:28 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-236534 ubrayj02, Kaid is not "confounding" the issue, cul-de-sacs are preferable to high speed roadways when raising a family. I dare you to ask anyone who answers in the contrary. The point being the reduction in speed, cars and traffic in general is preferable to families with children and we all know families with children move to the burbs en masse every year from more dense environments. what does that tell you? Kaid is not saying that he (she?) supports such situations, simply that such situations are held to be safer than others. ubrayj02, Kaid is not "confounding" the issue, cul-de-sacs are preferable to high speed roadways when raising a family. I dare you to ask anyone who answers in the contrary. The point being the reduction in speed, cars and traffic in general is preferable to families with children and we all know families with children move to the burbs en masse every year from more dense environments. what does that tell you?

Kaid is not saying that he (she?) supports such situations, simply that such situations are held to be safer than others.

]]> By: Mark T http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-236248 Mark T Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:42:41 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-236248 I really like this video, and I think goes to show the importance of creating livable streets. There is one aspect to this video, however, that I do not like, and it is the speech bubble commentary. At 5:25, for instance, the speech bubble says, "Charming houses, nice people," in regards to residents' environmental awareness of the light-traffic street, while at 5:03, the speech bubble says, "Traffic comes to mind, just traffic," regarding high-traffic streets. It is meant to appeal to the viewer's pathos by portraying light- and heavy-traffic streets in a simplistic good vs. bad framework, and it is not based in reality. A high-traffic street could have charming houses and nice people, while a light-traffic street could have derelict buildings and the worst people imaginable living in them. If we want people to understand the social benefits of livable streets, I feel that we need to simply stick to the facts since they speak for themselves, or use alternative speech bubble commentary that is truly reflective of reality. Other than that, go Donald Appleyard! I really like this video, and I think goes to show the importance of creating livable streets. There is one aspect to this video, however, that I do not like, and it is the speech bubble commentary. At 5:25, for instance, the speech bubble says, "Charming houses, nice people," in regards to residents' environmental awareness of the light-traffic street, while at 5:03, the speech bubble says, "Traffic comes to mind, just traffic," regarding high-traffic streets. It is meant to appeal to the viewer's pathos by portraying light- and heavy-traffic streets in a simplistic good vs. bad framework, and it is not based in reality. A high-traffic street could have charming houses and nice people, while a light-traffic street could have derelict buildings and the worst people imaginable living in them. If we want people to understand the social benefits of livable streets, I feel that we need to simply stick to the facts since they speak for themselves, or use alternative speech bubble commentary that is truly reflective of reality. Other than that, go Donald Appleyard!

]]> By: Mark http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-216471 Mark Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:59:36 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-216471 It's great to have this study and these videos to back up my complete streets arguments. It's great to have this study and these videos to back up my complete streets arguments.

]]> By: antibozo http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-213082 antibozo Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:16:07 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-213082 This video seems to be corrupted. There are two jumps at 0:02 and 0:14, and it won't play past 4:04. This video seems to be corrupted. There are two jumps at 0:02 and 0:14, and it won't play past 4:04.

]]> By: Clarence Eckerson, Jr. http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-211770 Clarence Eckerson, Jr. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:33:41 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-211770 This post is from Bruce Appleyard appleyard1@gmail.com *************************** Hello! First, I want to thank you all for your interest in my father's research and in the need to continue working to recapture and complete our streets for all! Second, as I am being asked for related articles I wanted to direct you to the following website where you can gain immediate access to them (just click on my name/picture) http://www.activeliving.org/profiles/toptenprofilesOf particular interest may be an article presenting a study looking specifically at the street livability needs of schoolchildren, using related but original methods to those used in Livable Streets.Finally, as I am in the midst of finishing the Second Edition of Livable Streets, I am interested in your thoughts. (For more information, here is the link to the relevant  Routledge Press website:  http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415610643)  Livable Streets was a powerful, paradigm shifting work, which lives on in spite of the fact my father was killed by a speeding drunk driver in 1982, a year after it was last published.  And while Livable Streets provided the foundational arguments for recapturing and completing our streets for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, as well as residents, much work still needs to be done. Here are some questions to consider: What can the 2nd edition of Livable Street help you with?What are the major barriers to our creating livable streets (institutional, financial, legal, etc.)?Please share with me a story outlining how these or other barriers stopped a project that would have improved street livability, please outline the issues that got in the way.Or, alternatively,  please share with me a story about how you or others overcame barriers like these to improve street livability.What do you see as the newly emerging threats to street livability?For example, many are touting driver-less cars for their ability to dramatically increase capacity on freeways (3-4 times, by some estimates) , but few seem to be thinking about what happens when you pour all that extra traffic onto community streets.  I look forward to hearing from you and to being in touch! Best regards,Bruceappleyard1@gmail.com This post is from Bruce Appleyard appleyard1@gmail.com
***************************

Hello!
First, I want to thank you all for your interest in my father's research and in the need to continue working to recapture and complete our streets for all!

Second, as I am being asked for related articles I wanted to direct you to the following website where you can gain immediate access to them (just click on my name/picture) http://www.activeliving.org/profiles/toptenprofilesOf particular interest may be an article presenting a study looking specifically at the street livability needs of schoolchildren, using related but original methods to those used in Livable Streets.Finally, as I am in the midst of finishing the Second Edition of Livable Streets, I am interested in your thoughts. (For more information, here is the link to the relevant  Routledge Press website:  http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415610643) 

Livable Streets was a powerful, paradigm shifting work, which lives on in spite of the fact my father was killed by a speeding drunk driver in 1982, a year after it was last published. 

And while Livable Streets provided the foundational arguments for recapturing and completing our streets for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, as well as residents, much work still needs to be done. Here are some questions to consider: What can the 2nd edition of Livable Street help you with?What are the major barriers to our creating livable streets (institutional, financial, legal, etc.)?Please share with me a story outlining how these or other barriers stopped a project that would have improved street livability, please outline the issues that got in the way.Or, alternatively,  please share with me a story about how you or others overcame barriers like these to improve street livability.What do you see as the newly emerging threats to street livability?For example, many are touting driver-less cars for their ability to dramatically increase capacity on freeways (3-4 times, by some estimates) , but few seem to be thinking about what happens when you pour all that extra traffic onto community streets. 

I look forward to hearing from you and to being in touch!

Best regards,Bruceappleyard1@gmail.com

]]> By: Nick Grossman http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-211188 Nick Grossman Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:56:22 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-211188 Beautiful video, guys. Beautiful video, guys.

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210679 Clarence Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:21:47 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210679 Transity Cyclist:  I think the best answer to your question is you need to pick up a copy of Livable Streets.  I think the answer to your first question can be assumed to be car traffic, but Appleyard's work has all the deets published in it. If you can't find a copy, know that in 2011 the Second Edition will be published next year. Transity Cyclist:  I think the best answer to your question is you need to pick up a copy of Livable Streets.  I think the answer to your first question can be assumed to be car traffic, but Appleyard's work has all the deets published in it.

If you can't find a copy, know that in 2011 the Second Edition will be published next year.

]]> By: Transity Cyclist http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210668 Transity Cyclist Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:00:37 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210668 I understand that this video is showing the detrimental effects heavy traffic has on neighbourhoods, but I want some clarification: -Harmful heavy traffic is car traffic? -Is heavy traffic harmful if it's predominantly transit traffic? What's the difference in effect if the heavy transit traffic is: fossil fuel buses, electric buses, or trams? -Is heavy traffic harmful if it's bicycle traffic? How about pedestrian traffic? I understand that this video is showing the detrimental effects heavy traffic has on neighbourhoods, but I want some clarification:

-Harmful heavy traffic is car traffic?

-Is heavy traffic harmful if it's predominantly transit traffic? What's the difference in effect if the heavy transit traffic is: fossil fuel buses, electric buses, or trams?

-Is heavy traffic harmful if it's bicycle traffic? How about pedestrian traffic?

]]> By: Bryant Turnage http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210607 Bryant Turnage Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:39:19 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210607 What a great video. It's always fascinating to see actual studies and evidence backing up what seems so obvious to us now: Whatever their convenience, cars impact and often damage our lives in ways we don't even consider. Thanks for sharing! What a great video. It's always fascinating to see actual studies and evidence backing up what seems so obvious to us now: Whatever their convenience, cars impact and often damage our lives in ways we don't even consider. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Clarence Eckerson, Jr. http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210456 Clarence Eckerson, Jr. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:42:39 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210456 Folks, Please see some great feedback we got regarding our video below. If you would like to contact Josh, please do so at: joshuanoahhart@googlemail.com ********* Thank you for covering Donald Appleyard's groundbreaking 1969 study. My 2008 thesis, 'Driven to Excess' at the University of the West of England replicated his study for the first time in Donald's native UK. I found the same erosive effect of motor traffic was still very much alive nearly forty years later. The new research is scheduled to be published in the Winter edition of the international World Transport Policy and Practice Journal. People everywhere are frustrated and impacted by their poor residential environments, often brought about or exacerbated by heavy motor traffic flows. Is it any surprise that people don't want to spend time meeting their neighbors in the street if its noisy, the air is polluted, and you run the risk of being killed? Activities like street car washing and gardening that can provide an opportunity for interaction and bring people together- we saw significant reductions on the medium and heavy motor traffic streets in Bristol. When's the last time you saw these activities on Fell St. (in SF) or any high capacity urban street? Cars demonstrably damage neighborhood social capital. It's time our transportation policies took that into account. Also, the point about cul-de-sacs is well taken. The 'light' street in my Bristol study was a cul-de-sac. My personal opinion is that New Urbanism has unfairly criticized cul de sacs, and promoted free flowing auto traffic dispersed through an open gridiron street network. Placing barriers to motor traffic- as Berkeley has done- results in a more livable street and provides greater transport options. The solution is 'filtered permeability' where non motorized traffic is allowed total flexibility while motor traffic is limited. You don't have to have suburban sprawl to have high quality streets- you just have to protect them from high car volumes and high speeds. There is more info and you can download a copy of the Bristol study here: http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/news/uk/-/driven-to-excess Also, links to press coverage of the study can be found here: http://onthelevelblog.com/driven-to-excess-press-coverage/ Folks,

Please see some great feedback we got regarding our video below. If you would like to contact Josh, please do so at: joshuanoahhart@googlemail.com

*********

Thank you for covering Donald Appleyard's groundbreaking 1969 study. My 2008 thesis, 'Driven to Excess' at the University of the West of England replicated his study for the first time in Donald's native UK. I found the same erosive effect of motor traffic was still very much alive nearly forty years later. The new research is scheduled to be published in the Winter edition of the international World Transport Policy and Practice Journal.

People everywhere are frustrated and impacted by their poor residential environments, often brought about or exacerbated by heavy motor traffic flows.

Is it any surprise that people don't want to spend time meeting their neighbors in the street if its noisy, the air is polluted, and you run the risk of being killed? Activities like street car washing and gardening that can provide an opportunity for interaction and bring people together- we saw significant reductions on the medium and heavy motor traffic streets in Bristol.

When's the last time you saw these activities on Fell St. (in SF) or any high capacity urban street?

Cars demonstrably damage neighborhood social capital. It's time our transportation policies took that into account.

Also, the point about cul-de-sacs is well taken. The 'light' street in my Bristol study was a cul-de-sac. My personal opinion is that New Urbanism has unfairly criticized cul de sacs, and promoted free flowing auto traffic dispersed through an open gridiron street network. Placing barriers to motor traffic- as Berkeley has done- results in a more livable street and provides greater transport options. The solution is 'filtered permeability' where non motorized traffic is allowed total flexibility while motor traffic is limited. You don't have to have suburban sprawl to have high quality streets- you just have to protect them from high car volumes and high speeds.

There is more info and you can download a copy of the Bristol study here: http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/news/uk/-/driven-to-excess

Also, links to press coverage of the study can be found here: http://onthelevelblog.com/driven-to-excess-press-coverage/

]]> By: Jeremy Trieloff http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210432 Jeremy Trieloff Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:02:55 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210432 Good research design. Also inspiring for a guy like myself living in the second most densely populated neighborhood in Chicago and who was once honked at for making a complete stop at a stop sign on his own block. It's always good to point out problems of past urban planning such as this to improve our communities. Carry on my "friends". Good research design. Also inspiring for a guy like myself living in the second most densely populated neighborhood in Chicago and who was once honked at for making a complete stop at a stop sign on his own block.

It's always good to point out problems of past urban planning such as this to improve our communities. Carry on my "friends".

]]> By: ZA http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210309 ZA Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:44:01 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210309 Very nice visualization! Thanks! Kaid - IMHE, the typical suburban cul-de-sac is still massively alienating & monotonous, because of other variables such as: poor diversity of visual stimuli (avoided somewhat by individualized tree plantings), and the physical distance between possible destinations. That's before you take into account fences and gates. The great exception is when suburban neighborhoods cut vehicle traffic for a Block Party or a shared fireworks display. Very nice visualization! Thanks!

Kaid - IMHE, the typical suburban cul-de-sac is still massively alienating & monotonous, because of other variables such as: poor diversity of visual stimuli (avoided somewhat by individualized tree plantings), and the physical distance between possible destinations. That's before you take into account fences and gates.

The great exception is when suburban neighborhoods cut vehicle traffic for a Block Party or a shared fireworks display.

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210296 ubrayj02 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:20:53 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210296 Kaid, this is precisely why people prefer streets with less through traffic over those with more through traffic. You are confounding the issue. Kaid, this is precisely why people prefer streets with less through traffic over those with more through traffic. You are confounding the issue.

]]> By: Ruth Smith http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210293 Ruth Smith Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:59:27 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210293 Great video and very compelling with Appleyard's vision interpreted with the graphics, video and commentary! Kudos to Streetfilms nd Elizabeth! Ruth Smith Great video and very compelling with
Appleyard's vision interpreted with the graphics, video and commentary! Kudos to Streetfilms nd Elizabeth!

Ruth Smith

]]> By: Appleyard Love http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-210281 Appleyard Love Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:25:36 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48630#comment-210281 Love this presentation. The graphics are bountiful and beautiful. Love this presentation. The graphics are bountiful and beautiful.

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