By Matthias Schulz
Are streets without traffic signs conceivable? Seven cities and regions
in Europe are giving it a try -- with good results.
Drachten in the Netherlands has gotten rid of 16 of its traffic light
crossings and converted the other two to roundabouts.
Drachten in the Netherlands has gotten rid of 16 of its traffic light
crossings and converted the other two to roundabouts.
"We reject every form of legislation," the Russian aristocrat and
"father of anarchism" Mikhail Bakunin once thundered. The czar banished
him to Siberia. But now it seems his ideas are being rediscovered.
European traffic planners are dreaming of streets free of rules and
directives. They want drivers and pedestrians to interact in a free and
humane way, as brethren -- by means of friendly gestures, nods of the
head and eye contact, without the harassment of prohibitions,
restrictions and warning signs.
A project implemented by the European Union is currently seeing seven
cities and regions clear-cutting their forest of traffic signs. Ejby, in
Denmark, is participating in the experiment, as are Ipswich in England
and the Belgian town of Ostende.
cont'd....
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,448747,00.html