A novel approach. It would slow me down, certainly, if I was driving there, or walking.
They seem to have a real problem with speeding (the article mentions up to 50 in a 20 km/h zone). That's massive. 20 is really just barely more than the idle power of a car. It's what we have in Switzerland for "encounter" zones where cars are allowed but pedestrians have full priority. Speeding through that at 50 is crazy.
It's an interesting approach and it seems to be working. So I say good for them. But at the same time I can't help but think that there might have been more conventional things to try. Signs don't really work well on drivers. Physics does. A few hefty dips and bumps get drivers to slow down real fucking fast. Looking at a top down image of the intersection there's a REALLY wide turn on one side that is very obviously tempting to speed through. But there's also a small "square" next to it which could have easily been extended to make the turn more sharp. A few more of those fat concrete planters and drivers will learn really quickly that this space isn't for them anymore.
Reminds me of the streets where they remove all markings entirely. I think this would increase safety, since road safety coincides inversely with how safe drivers feel to drive fast and not pay attention, and this signals pretty strongly “you’re on your own now, good luck!”
I wonder if this is more effective than just narrowing the streets.
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