i think that it’s important to reserve enough space to streets. not to build lanes, but to build cafes and seating banks and trees there. it’s a typical problem of cities that they figure out that there’s not enough space to build trees, bike lanes, etc. after the houses are built. better reserve space first.
this isn’t really a showerthought but more of a general opinion, but i’ll post it here anyways because i don’t know where else to post it. (pls tell me if there’s a better community to post it to instead)
I see workers hauling tools, 20’ rebar, etc on bikes every morning. Occasionally I see a washer+dryer+refrigerator on the back of a 2 wheeler. But typically large loads like that are handled by 3 or 5 wheelers. Large concrete mixers and dumptrucks are uncommon enough its OK if they block an entire street for a night.
The important part isn’t that the roads are narrow, its that the environment is hostile enough to cars that they aren’t anybody’s primary transport.
Blocking half a street might be okay, but the other half should remain free. Just so emergency services have access. And probably also thrash and other stuff…
They have access from the other direction, and presumably they know to avoid important times, idk, maybe theres a permitting process.
If you allow 2 full lanes on residential streets, people start buying cars and parking them in the street. Wider lanes can work if the city can prevent street parking and discourage home parking, the important thing is that you don’t increase traffic. Japan requires proof of a parking spot to register a vehicle.