b'COMPLETE STREETSTHE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL STREET DESIGNincorporating enhanced safety measures, increased shade For decades, street design has primarily focused on trafficfrom tree canopies and innovative stormwater management congestion, accommodating vehicles and infrastructure,solutions to help address these growingissues.while the requirements for pedestrians and cyclists wereMore than ever, streets in our urban areas are becoming given limited consideration. Streets are much more thanincreasingly complex. Greater demands are being placed corridors for transportation and infrastructure. They areon them to accommodate a wider range of users and uses, great public spaces that link our communities, homes,including outdoor cafes and increased seating. Competing parks, businesses and institutions together, providingdemands within the road right of way must be carefully places for social gathering, entertainment and business.balanced to ensure that the needs and priorities of all users However, as streets became more developed and engaging,are achieved safely and efficiently. they also became more congested.The migration of people to urban centres has increased thisHOW TO MAKE CANADIAN STREETS SAFER AND MORE problem. Urban areas are projected to house 60 per cent ofINCLUSIVEthe global population by 2030, as one in every three peopleWe must identify and allocate the appropriate amount of will live in cities. This means more pedestrians and cyclistsspace to ensure vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians can will be on the streets. And as urban areas continue to grow,move smoothly and safely along the street. However, the number of vehicle lanes will rise to meet demand.trade-offs and compromises may be required to suit the Higher traffic volumes and speeds, together with wideravailable right of way, which can be resolved through intersections, poor pedestrian lighting, narrow sidewalksstrategicdesign. and limited bike lanes, have resulted in challengingFor example, pedestrians need enhanced lighting along environments for pedestrians and cyclists.streets and at intersections, as well as improved street Traditionally, the design started at the centre line of thecrossings. Trees and planting beds are necessary to road and moved outward to the periphery property lines, oraddress climate change mitigation and stormwater the road right of way, ensuring adequate space for vehiclemanagement, in addition to creating a more attractive and movement and infrastructure first. Peoples needs wereinviting space. The placement of light poles, utility poles accommodated, where possible, at the edges of streetsand roadway signage can be designed to avoid encroaching by applying uniform sidewalk, cycling and crosswalkinto a walkway clear zone. Site furniture and other site-standards to the remaining leftover space. Conventionalsensitive treatments can make a space more inclusive wisdom suggested vehicular lane widths were absoluteto the public. With the increasing instances of urban and whatever width remained could be allocated for otherterrorism, sidewalks should be reassessed to determine users. This must change.the need for, and design of, appropriate barriers. Urban intensification and the COVID-19 pandemic work- Streets in our urban areas are planned on a comprehensive from-home requirements have increased our desire forsystem basis. Each has a predetermined service level public access to quality public spaces, which demandswithin a network hierarchy based on their intended level more inclusiveand safer mobility solutions. Threats ofof use, function, size and types of users. Some streets are urban terrorism and extreme weather events have alsoplanned to accommodate all users, including vehicles, influenced how we must design and build our streets,pedestrians, cyclists and public transit. These are referred 16 2022/23 OALA SOURCE GUIDE'