Woonerf

File:Rijnsweerd - Esther de Boer van Rijklaan.jpg

lang}} in east Utrecht

A {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a living street, as originally implemented in the Netherlands and subsequently in Flanders (Belgium). Techniques include shared space, traffic calming, and low speed limits.

The term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} has been adopted directly by some English-language publications. In the United Kingdom, these areas are called home zones.

Etymology

The word, of Dutch origin, literally translates as Template:Gloss<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or Template:Gloss.<ref name=Oxford>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

File:Dutch woonerf.jpg

lang}}

Since the invention of automobiles, cities have been predominantly constructed to accommodate the use of automobiles.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The woonerf was created by residents of Delft who tore up pavement late at night to make it so cars had to drive slower to avoid the obstacles.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> The woonerven (plural) was incorporated into the national street design standards in 1976.<ref name=":0" />

The entire locality of Emmen in the Netherlands was designed as a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in the 1970s.<ref name=revisited/>

In 1999 the Netherlands had over 6000 {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}<ref>Home Zones briefing sheet, Robert Huxford, Proceedings, Institution of Civil Engineers, Transport, 135, 45-46, February, 1999</ref> and today around 2 million Dutch people are living in woonerven.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> The benefits of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} are promoted by {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a network of professionals and residents.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In 2006 it was reported that people in Hesselterbrink, a neighborhood of Emmen, were disillusioned about how the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} principle had become another traffic engineering measure that "entailed precious little more than signs and uniform standards". They have now adopted the shared space principles as a way of rethinking the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. They are reported to "now know that car drivers should become residents. Eye contact and human interaction are more effective means to achieve and maintain attractive and safe areas than signs and rules".<ref name=revisited>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name=newsletter>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Regulation

Belgium

File:Belgian road sign F12a.svg

lang}} (and of the more generic erf)

Belgian traffic regulation (art. 2.32)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> defines the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and the generic erf, and their traffic sign. The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} has a residential focus; the erf can have other primary uses like “crafts, trade, tourism, education and recreation”.

In art. 22bis,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Belgian traffic regulation describes what is and what isn’t allowed in a (woon)erf:

Within erven and woonerven:

1. Pedestrians can use the full width of the public road; and playing is also allowed.
2. Drivers may not endanger pedestrians or hinder them; if necessary they must stop. Furthermore they need to be twice as careful regarding children. Pedestrians may not obstruct traffic unnecessarily.
3. Speed is limited to 20 km per hour.
4. Parking is forbidden, except where there are visual markings like different surface colors, a letter P or traffic signs allowing parking.{{#if:|{{#if:yes|}}

— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries

}}

{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

Netherlands

Under Article 44 of the Dutch traffic code, motorised traffic in a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or "recreation area" is restricted to 15 km/h in the Netherlands.<ref>Road Traffic Signs and Regulations in the Netherlands Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, June 2006 Accessed 7 February 2007.</ref>

Further reading

• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation (about a Batavia, Illinois, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})

External links

• Case Studies: Woonerf at California Active Transportation Safety Information Pages (UC Berkeley)
• What in the World is a Woonerf? (Canin Associates)