Safe Streets for Children
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When streets are designed for vehicle speed and throughput, children cannot safely walk, bike, or play outside without adult supervision. The child's world shrinks to the dimensions of the backyard and the back seat of a car. Independent mobility — the freedom to walk to a friend's house, bike to school, explore the neighborhood — is the foundation of childhood development and has been systematically destroyed by car-centric design.
Evidence and Discussion
Research on children's independent mobility shows a dramatic decline: in 1971, 80% of British 7–8-year-olds walked to school alone; by 2010, the figure was under 10%. The consequences are measurable: reduced physical activity, increased obesity, decreased spatial cognition, and diminished social development.
Therefore
design every residential street so that a seven-year-old can safely walk or bike to school, to a friend's house, and to a park without adult supervision. This requires: maximum vehicle speeds of 30 km/h, raised crossings at every intersection, continuous sidewalks on both sides, protected bike routes on school routes, and sight lines that let children see and be seen. The test is visceral: would you let your child walk this route alone?