Flutterby™! : Shared Space

Shared space, where the streets have no rules

Road signs, traffic signals, roundabouts, crossing points and curbs are done away with and replaced by flat, smooth roads without markings, on which cars and people interact regularly. They may feel confused, but that’s exactly the point.

“Introducing ambiguity is central to shared space,” explains Hamilton-Baillie. “If people feel unsafe that’s good because they will then be cautious as they interact with traffic”. Hamilton-Baillie argues that drivers become more aware of their surroundings and respond to human interaction, just like people do in everyday life. “It civilizes and humanizes a city center,” he argues.