Mission

Slow Streets is an approach that challenges what streets are for, and who they are for. A typical North American city street has been designed to move the maximum number of automobiles through as quickly as possible. Since streets are a public asset, does fast moving traffic bring the best return on
our investment? Slow Streets demonstrates through research that designing streets strictly for automobile right-of-ways is ultimately harmful to cities. Therefore at Slow Streets we are calling for slower, more inclusive streets that generate more value and a greater return on our investment.

Slow Streets flips the typical transportation hierarchy and prioritizes what are traditionally ‘slower modes’ over ‘faster modes’’. Slow Streets argues that prioritizing slower modes like walking, cycling, and transit will yield a greater return on investment for taxpayers and municipalities. Slowing down our streets also redefines their purpose, creating the potential for new uses other than mobility. Ultimately, streets are multipurpose spaces for people and a platform for creating social and economic value.

A street is more than simply about moving automobiles. Reconsidering the use of streets can achieve significant and positive impacts for cities. We believe these benefits are measurable and observable.