December 1995....TABLE
of CONTENTS
Sexy? Depends, but here are three how-to manuals for city lovers.
We all get excited in different ways. Those interested in making their neighborhoods sprightlier and more livable would be well advised to take a gander at the following three handbooks, with deceptively sleepy titles:
•Take Back Your Streets: How to Protect Communities from Asphalt and Traffic ($10 from the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), 62 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110.
Offers a nontechnical introduction to road design issues in order “to show how citizens and public officials can make their communities more safe, scenic, and livable by adopting an updated approach to road design and traffic management.”•Traffic Calming: The Solution to Urban Traffic and New Vision for Neighborhood Livability ($6, plus an unspecified amount for postage and handling, from the still good people at Sensible Transportation Options for People (STOP), 15405 SW 116th #202B, Tigard, OR 97224-2600. Call to find out what the P&H is, and let us know: 503-624-6083.
This manual, according to reputable sources, “presents evidence that narrower streets, reduced sight lines, and increased pedestrian space effectively slow traffic and reduce the number of accidents without hampering mobility. It examines the ‘eight myths of traditional traffic planning’ and promotes citizen involvement as a means to achieving simpler, more effective solutions.”• Lastly, and particularly useful for historic districts or individually listed properties, Preserving and Revitalizing Older Communities: Sources of Federal Assistance describes 90 federal programs that can be used to encourage preservation of historic communities. $6 (stock # 024-005-01129-3) from the Preservation Assistance Division of the National Park Service, 202-783-3238.