10-30-2022, 08:04 AM
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/waterloo-s-...-1.6130104
Seems the "woonerf" in Waterloo has gotten some press. Which is a little strange, I rode through it the summer before we left, which was...well over a year ago and it seemed done then.
I was fairly underwhelmed though, but maybe I'm being too harsh...maybe it is pretty good, but it was very empty and full of tire tracks when I was there.
FWIW...the "woonerf" concept I think is a bit of a weird one or at least non-specific. I don't think it has a strict definition and people seem to use the word to describe almost anything which deprioritizes cars.
In this case this is a residential street which has deprioritised cars completely. In that regard, it's good. But it still needs placemaking, and obviously it's not a commercial/mixed use street so there is actually little draw to the street itself.
It also isn't a part of ANY through route for bikes, transit, or cars, which means well...frankly, it's a no brainer, no city 'pure residential street' (i.e., a residential street that is not a through route for anyone) should ever look different. To me, this seems like the easiest form of "woonerf" to build.
Seems the "woonerf" in Waterloo has gotten some press. Which is a little strange, I rode through it the summer before we left, which was...well over a year ago and it seemed done then.
I was fairly underwhelmed though, but maybe I'm being too harsh...maybe it is pretty good, but it was very empty and full of tire tracks when I was there.
FWIW...the "woonerf" concept I think is a bit of a weird one or at least non-specific. I don't think it has a strict definition and people seem to use the word to describe almost anything which deprioritizes cars.
In this case this is a residential street which has deprioritised cars completely. In that regard, it's good. But it still needs placemaking, and obviously it's not a commercial/mixed use street so there is actually little draw to the street itself.
It also isn't a part of ANY through route for bikes, transit, or cars, which means well...frankly, it's a no brainer, no city 'pure residential street' (i.e., a residential street that is not a through route for anyone) should ever look different. To me, this seems like the easiest form of "woonerf" to build.