Book description
The only book of its kind to provide an overview of sustainable
street design
Today, society is moving toward a more sustainable way of life, with
cities everywhere aspiring to become high-quality places to live,
work, and play. Streets are fundamental to this shift. They define our
system of movement, create connections between places, and offer
opportunities to reconnect to natural systems. There is an increasing
realization that the right-of-way is a critical and under-recognized
resource for transformation, with new models being tested to create a
better public realm, support balanced transportation options, and
provide sustainable solutions for stormwater and landscaping.
Living Streets provides practical guidance on the complete
street approach to sustainable and community-minded street use and
design. Written by an interdisciplinary team of authors, the book
brings insights and experience from urban planning, transportation
planning, and civil engineering perspectives. It includes examples
from many completed street design projects from around the world, an
overview of the design and policy tools that have been successful, and
guidance to help get past the predictable obstacles to implementation:
Who makes decisions in the right-of-way? Who takes responsibility? How
can regulations be changed to allow better use of the right-of-way?
Living Streets informs you of the benefits of creating streets
that are healthier, more pleasant parts of life:
- Thoughtful planning of the location, uses, and textures of the
spaces in which we live encourages people to use public space more
often, be more active, and possibly live healthier lives.
- A walkable community makes life easier and more pleasant for
everyone, especially for vulnerable populations within the larger
community whose transportation limitations reduce access to jobs,
healthy food, health care, recreation, and social interaction.
- Streets present opportunities to improve the natural environment
while adding to neighborhood character, offering beauty, providing
shade, and improving air quality.
If you're an urban planner, designer, transportation engineer, or
civil engineer, Living Streets is the ultimate guide for the
creation of more humane streetscapes that connect neighborhoods and
inspire people.
Lesley Bain, AIA, LEED, is an architect, urban designer, and
Principal at Weinstein A|U Architects + Urban Designers LLC. Lesley
has played prominent roles in many of Seattle's urban design efforts
including pedestrian planning, station area development, campus
planning, and incorporating transportation into neighborhoods.
Barbara Gray is an urban planner with eighteen years of
professional experience in community design and transportation
planning. She currently manages the Transportation Systems Design and
Planning group for the Seattle Department of Transportation.
Dave Rodgers, PE, LEED, is recognized nationwide as being at
the forefront of innovative sustainable design. He is a Principal at
SvR Design Company.
