If you’ve spent any time scrolling through social media, you might have noticed a surprising number of self-proclaimed traffic engineering experts among us.
The common refrain is heavily car-centric: “I want to get my vehicle from A to B as fast as possible, and I want plenty of parking when I arrive.”
Having recently returned from travel in Western Europe, I had the opportunity to do a lot of walking, and I have some observations that we might do well to consider if proposed by the actual experts in road engineering and community planning.
In Europe, the pedestrian experience is markedly different. One key design feature is that crosswalks are often offset from intersections, allowing pedestrians to avoid entering a crosswalk while potentially in the blind spot of turning vehicles.
Crosswalk signals are also designed to facilitate crossing in one direction of traffic at a time, creating refuge islands in the centre median before crossing the other direction. These features, which align with Delta’s Vision Zero road safety strategy, enhance pedestrian safety by simplifying the crossing process for both pedestrians and drivers.
However, the differences extend beyond road engineering.
In many European cities, mixed-use zoning is the standard, integrating residential areas with everyday shops and services within easy walking distance. While we are beginning to see some success in blending zoning in newer projects, introducing mixed zoning into established areas can often be met with apprehension. We don’t even have to travel to Europe to experience the benefits of mixed-use zoning; we can see it in the mixed-density retail and commercial areas of Oak Bay or James Bay in Victoria and in several neighbourhoods in the Metro area.
Ironically, by moving away from transportation planning as an exercise in maximising vehicle throughput and, instead, emphasising planning for pedestrians, we can reduce road congestion and decrease delays for drivers—a win-win scenario. It’s time to rethink any assumptions that mixing shops and services with residential areas or adding housing into existing towns leads to increased traffic problems. When done thoughtfully, this approach could foster more liveable communities, reduce the number of vehicles on the roads, and enhance the overall quality of life for our communities.
