Road Rage – back in the day
Aug 26th, 2011 by bachmann
For longer than we care to remember, traffic has been a sore point with pedestrians and motorists alike. In 1914, the Boston Chamber of Commerce published a study on the traffic conditions in downtown Boston with an eye toward establishing a new approach to the problem, one based on serious facts and detailed statistical observations on traffic, rather than anecdotes or simplified data. Included in the study are pedestrian behavior patterns, urban obstacles, spikes in congestion, retail deliveries, and overall safety concerns. In addition to predictable solutions such as, constructing elevated railways, rerouting cars, and widening streets, the study also offers a novel proposal — elevated sidewalks!
Advantages of Elevated Sidewalks
Advantages:
(1) Elevated walkway to relieve sidewalk congestion.
(2) Fewer pedestrians at crosswalks.
(3) Prevent teaming traffic blocks, due to pedestrians at crosswalks.
(4) Fireproof balcony to help fight fires.
(5) Double entrance to stores.
(6) Fireproof exit at second-story level.
(7) Support for trolley wires. Allow trolley poles to be removed
(8) Uniform awnings for first story instead of fluttering canvas of different colors.
(9) Light would not be cut off from stores, as show windows at first floor are now
enclosed by wooden partitions.
Disadvantages:
(1) Stairs to climb. (No worse than elevated structures.)
(2) More difficult police protection.
(3) Obstruction of view from second-story windows.
(4) Removal of snow.
Pedestrian traffic in the morning
Pedestrian traffic in the afternoon
Chaotic intersection
- Description:
- Boston Chamber of Commerce. Street traffic in the city of Boston :a study made under the direction of the Governing Board of the Under Forty Division, Boston Chamber of Commerce. [Boston : E.L. Grimes, printers], 1914..
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4452778
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University
