Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
A Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) creates quieter, calmer, safer and cleaner streets for people. An LTN can be achieved through a combination of mechanisms including:
- Modal filters (restricting access to certain vehicles)
- Closing roads to motor vehicles
- Reducing the speed limit
The Little Streets program in Melbourne created pedestrian prioritised, 20 km/h zones in their laneways (link for more info), to provide more space for people walking and riding a bike. They still maintained 24 hour access for services. The use of planter boxes to reduce access, speed humps with gaps for people on bikes to filter through and fun on street markings to emphasise pedestrian priority.
Photo credit: @reroy
Centennial Parklands closed the internal roads and created car free zones.
Residential streets can slow down traffic by installing chicanes that force traffic to give way to each other.
Photo take at Belmont St, Alexandria NSW link.
Photo take at Belmont St, Alexandria NSW link.
Links
- Guardian - (2 March 2021) - Low traffic schemes benefits most deprived Londoners
- Aldred, R., Verlinghieri, E., Sharkey, M., Itova, I., & Goodman, A. (2021, February 26). Equity in new active travel infrastructure: a spatial analysis of London’s new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
- Guardian (16 Nov 2020 ) - I got it wrong. Since the changes it's become more vibrant: life in an LTN
- Aldred, R. (April 2021) - Low traffic neighbourhoods: Making fairer, safer cities
- Living streets London guide to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - link