Shared Space System

In seven regions in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and the UK, the Shared Space system is being used with promising results. There are no street signs, no traffic lights, and no distinction between foot paths and roads, and yet a pedestrian can feel safe enough to walk backwards without looking through a busy intersection. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians must interact in the Shared Space System and watch out for each other and stop watching signs. They have found that courtesy works.

During the four years prior to the Shared Space System in one busy intersection in the Netherlands, there were eight serious accidents. During the four years after the Shared Space System was implimented, there were zero accidents. At the busy intersection, there is a round-about. In the center is a water fountain with sensors that move the water up higher during times of busy traffic and the sound of the water drowns out the noise of the traffic.

In the last few years, there have been many tragic deaths of bicyclists in the Corvallis and Philomath area. I believe we need to consider using the Shared Space System to prevent any more tragic deaths and consider using it all over Oregon.