Comment 72885

By Brian C (anonymous) | Posted January 09, 2012 at 23:53:15

In the last few months I have visited Manhattan, Memphis and New Orleans. In NYC 99% of the streets are one way. The other two cities are predominately one way in the downtown cores. They are very pedestrian friendly. Although I personally find one way streets much easier and safer to navigate, the key however is not the direction of traffic but that there is lots of curbside parking. If you look at any of the busy commercial / retail areas of Hamilton the secret is curbside parking. Pedestrians and store owners feel safe when there is a buffer between them and traffic. The two way conversion of Wilson on the other hand has created an "expressway" through the James North area. Any street without curbside parking is by my definition an expressway. That stretch west of James St. is much less friendly to pedestrians than before. Did any market stall holders ever set up street side stalls along that street as originally envisioned? Just imagine Main and King Streets along their entire lengths with curbside parking, right through the core. Automatic traffic calming and pedestrians would feel protected! NYC has free unlimited street parking (with some limitations) almost everywhere! One way streets that are great for walking. James St. North started its recovery long before the conversion, when people like Bryce at YouMe Gallery, Glenn at HIStory and HERitage and Dave at Mixed Media put their money and their heart and energy into their business district. They led the way. One way or two makes no difference. Let curbside parking accomplish naturally what all the badly designed new intersections and bumpouts can't.

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