London, streets

London, 29 April.

Home Zones

The original inspiration for home zones came from the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and other largely Northern European countries.

London:
London Play’s Home Zones for London (HZfL) project
5 case studies in London: Brent, Westminster, Hillingdon, Lewisham, Sutton.
HZfL project was funded by the Association of
London Government (now renamed London Councils) in 2003.
Process:
in Brent:
road closures and the use of turf to create a temporary ‘village green’ on a very small, neglected public space in the area

Outcomes:
Residents tended to welcome the changes and to feel the schemes had made their streets more attractive and safer.
Most home zone designs aim to make parked cars less dominant in streetscapes.
It is a long-term perspective


more info:
http://www.londonplay.org.uk/file/478.pdf
www.londonplay.org.uk

Street Play

Why these days fewer children play in street?
Traffic, parental anxiety- children's fears, Public attitudes to children playing in the street, Anti-social behaviour and street use.(1)

By slowing down traffic in an area, a safer environment is provided for children to play and cycle in street.
Urban furniture or even safety barriers or bollards are used by children.(2)

From 1970s there are initiatives that aimed to change the way children can use streets:
Home zones
Sustrans DIY streets
Traffic calming schemes(1)


more info:
1-http://www.playday.org.uk/PDF/Street-play-literature-review.pdf
2-http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/liveable%20neighbourhoods/Section%2012.%20Encouraging%20play.pdf