Competing Modes

 In response to this article about how Brussels' pedestrianized zone is now needing to (or at least choosing to) restrict bikes, because of pedestrian-bicyclist conflict, I wanted to think a bit more about how different modes do and do not compete for space.

Because I totally get where Brussels is coming from! But it takes a very specific mix of traffic to make that problematic, whereas, well, there are other modes that don't play quite as nice together.

1. Trams play better with people than cars

There is, of course, nothing wrong with a tram sharing space with a car.

But it does create some conflict, hence the above Toronto streetcars are notoriously slow. 

Trams play better on their own, of course (as, to be fair, do most transit modes, including cars): 

Or (as above in Amsterdam) shared with buses only.

But (as Berlin knows) trams and pedestrians can share pretty well, because the tracks are nice and visible, the trams are also nice and visible, and when there isn't a tram you can just...walk (as long as you don't use third-rail power I suppose). 

2. Bikes work best with pedestrians

Brussels aside, bikes tend to work OK with pedestrians, both working at fairly human speeds, though there's definitely a reason that the Netherlands has bike highways that are not walkways.

Note that for this picture I am not standing on the red.

What they really don't play nice with is the other forms of transit. Don't make me ride over train tracks, please! And please bar the cars from driving in the bike spaces!

Thanks for this protected bike lane, Toronto! 

All that paint is only so useful, Chicago. It doesn't actually separate the modes!

The tendency towards shared paths here in the Quad Cities (above) does tend to make it easier to get bike-type infrastructure built, but also means that you do produce some additional conflicts between peds and bikes by forcing them onto one path.

3. Trains (and pedestrians) are best alone

Look, I like trains. I love trains. Trains are my jam.

But they really work best when they don't share right of way.

Don't try to drive a car or ride a bike by these mainline trains in the UK!

Let alone getting something else down into the Tube!

But at the same time, let these people in Camden Town just walk without having to deal with cars and bikes and trains.

Basically, the two extremes (big fast thing that needs tracks and individual people who aren't in a vehicle at all) both do their best when you let them actually do their thing.

The TGV can't OuiGo if there's someone in the way!