Shared Space

Many towns and villages have an informal shared space at their centre. Within these shared spaces road users of all types give courtesy & due care to one another. We can be travelling through by car, bicycle or on foot from one side of the square to the other.
It’s the unmanaged nature of these informal spaces that can introduce a mild sense of trepidation (what’s happening around us?). By treating shared spaces with care they become inherently safe. With low traffic speeds, speed limits become largely irrelevant with no need for enforcement. If the 30mph limit was removed would anyone notice?

Formal shared spaces can have specified paving types, specific street furniture or a 20mph limit. Safety can become someone else’s problem. ‘it’s a shared space it must be safe’  ‘there’s a 20mph limit, traffic will be able to stop’ . Careful design and assessment of risk compensation ensures they’re safe.

Some controversial shared space schemes:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17038711
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24035862-man-hit-by-lorry-in-first-crash-on-shared-space-of-exhibition-road.do
http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/9269546.Southend_seafront_shared_space_is__confusing_/

Other examples of shared spaces are supermarkets, car-parks, filling stations.
C
ountry lanes where there is no pavement are also shared spaces.

Shared Space