Shared Street / Slow Street

A shared street or slow street is a low-volume residential street on which space is shared by all users, with priority given to people walking and biking. Key characteristics include physical barriers at entry points, traffic calming treatments, and informative signs to communicate that vehicles are guests in these spaces. To maintain low speeds and volumes, it may be necessary to restrict to local traffic only.

A roadway has signage indicating local traffic only and branding for the SFMTA slow streets program.  
 A photo of a street that has been converted to pedestrian space with street furniture and artistic elements.
San Francisco, CA (SFMTA)  Vancouver, Canada
(Wikimedia Commons,
Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0)

 

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

  • Increase safety (pedestrian and bicycle, speed management)
  • Invite public use
  • Improve travel options

Typical Applications

  • 1-2 lane residential roadway
  • Existing posted speed of 25 mph or below
  • Roadway is not a bus route

Material Options

Design Considerations

  • Maintain proper drainage and ability to access for street sweeping
  • Place barricade at each block end, at the least
  • Where local traffic is permitted:
    • On streets with on-street parking, place barricade in the center of the roadway
    • On streets without on-street parking, place barricade on the right side of the roadway
    • Consider emergency vehicle access and turning ability
    • Temporary stencil markings and laminated or aluminum signs can be used to relay the street’s proper use and directionality to users
    • Can be combined with other quick build traffic calming or intersection improvements to encourage slow speeds

Other Considerations

  • Opportunity to include artistic elements and/or coordinate with a larger intersection mural project
  • ADA accessibility particularly for pedestrians with visual or mobility impairments
  • Required notices

Other Resources

Related Information

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