Sharing is Caring: What are Shared Streets?

“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday style” is more than a phrase in a seasonal song, it can also refer to a growing trend in bringing more activities to downtown living.

“Shared streets” are taking hold in more and more American urban areas. In Indianapolis, it is Georgia Street and in Denver it is TAXI. In Chicago, it will soon be Argyle Street.

What is a shared street? “You transform a street that solely caters to automobiles and you allow it to be reclaimed for other purposes,” said Brad Vogelsmeier, Development Associate, Milhaus. “Shared streets can accommodate traffic, but also be utilized for events like a farmers market, concerts, or simply added green space and flexible outdoor seating.”

“Shared streets really serve as added amenity for residents choosing to live downtown,” he added. Often, special pavers or curb free streets make it easier to open up the sidewalks and streets to special events. Street furniture including benches, planters, lamp posts and bicycle parking create friendly social areas. These types of streets also slow down vehicle traffic when open, but may also be closed to through vehicles for specific times in the day or special events.

While shared streets are a new concept in the United States, “woonerfs” (living-streets) are very popular in Europe. As more people continue to move to downtown, American cities will likely continue to add more and more to support urban lifestyles. A three-block section of Argyle Street in Chicago will become the city’s first shared street when it opens in open in July.

In Indianapolis, Georgia Street was enhanced to support Super Bowl XLVI festivities in 2012 and has since become home to many activities including summer concerts and the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration managed by Downtown Indy. Georgia Street and the walkway connect the Indiana Convention Center, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Circle Centre mall and a wide range of restaurants, residences, hotels, entertainment and shopping.

While not technically a “shared street”, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail also has a similar concept. “The trail is open to a variety of users and modes of transit (walking, biking, running) and has really helped to activate the ground floor of buildings all along it and has driven a lot more activity and investment downtown,” said Vogelsmeier.

Changing the way we think about infrastructure with concepts like shared streets really champions the pedestrian and helps to further promote and enhance the urban living experience.