Apply for play street...

In our housing development, the question has already come up whether our street should be turned into a play street. I didn't necessarily think that was a good idea. For one thing, almost all the homeowners have small children and already drive quite cautiously. Otherwise, hardly any strangers drive through, except for the postwoman and the delivery services, who usually drive quite fast. In return, parking is not allowed in the traffic-calmed area. Although we still have 2 spaces free in the driveway next to our double garage, it still happens from time to time that visitors park on the street. For many others in the housing development, this is even more extreme, as they only have parking spaces for their own cars at first.

For us (or rather my parents) it was also a dead end and after everyone had built there, an application was made for it to become a play street. After about 25 years it finally worked and it became a play street. But since many other streets in the area also became play streets, I believe it had less to do with the application. Rather, the entire street layout was reconsidered/changed.

For us (or rather my parents) it was also a dead end and after everyone there had built their houses, an application was made to turn it into a play street. After about 25 years, it finally worked and it became a play street. However, since many other streets in the area also became play streets, I think it had less to do with the application. Rather, the entire street layout was reconsidered/changed.

Makes sense, when all the little children have grown up and left the house, then mommy and daddy can happily play in the street.

Getting an application for a traffic-calmed area approved in a new development area is difficult. We tried it too and failed. Why? A traffic-calmed area requires such designation in the development plan. My application was still well before the roads were constructed (one could have done without different paving, road surfaces, and so on) but it was unsuccessful because otherwise the development plan would have had to be reissued/changed. However, then the roads would no longer have been in the access infrastructure for the residents and every resident could have sued against the development contributions. Why a traffic-calmed area? Because it makes it clear to outsiders including delivery traffic that children are playing on the streets. Because cars are no longer allowed to park haphazardly on the lowered curb. Because it is a successful concept for the symbiosis of car traffic and street use!

Because it is a successful concept for the symbiosis of car traffic and road use!

I don’t know ... I’m actually quite glad when car exhaust gases disappear fairly quickly again. So the argument in favor of play streets doesn’t really convince me. The parking problem described by Musketier is an additional issue. I’m just imagining that I had built as a resident on such a street ... our children are adults now ... and I still have the noise of children playing in front of the door, in the garden ... all year round. Don’t get me wrong, I love children; but I was also happy to be able to decide over my own life again (at least mostly ) when our babies both left the house. This also includes a certain amount of peace away from the professional hustle and bustle Rheinische greetings

The street next door is a play street. The street leading from the right to this play street is a private road and may not be used by the public. Exceptions exist in favor of the residents of the play street. To the left of the play street, the official path begins! Everything has been properly signposted by the local municipality. The residents with older children like to speed daily through their play street, parking haphazardly. The children cannot play properly. Vehicles are constantly in the way. Apart from the fact that almost all! drivers from the new development area drive no less fast on our street. Speed 30? What's that? Therefore, we have applied to be allowed to install traffic calming measures through bollards or obstacles, following the Dutch model. The municipality is currently consulting with the authority responsible for traffic safety in our area. With a bit of luck, this will also deter various through traffic in the future, which believes it needs to cut 200 m as a shortcut.