Starting with Narrow Lanes in Street Design

A paradigm shift is seen in some places where traffic engineers are encouraged to start with narrow lanes in street design and justify widening them instead of the traditional approach. This new perspective aligns with research indicating that narrower lanes are safer. This shift towards multi-modal street design and focus on safety is gaining momentum within organizations such as Ashto members and DOT. The new approach challenges the high burden of proof to widen lanes and instead advocates for starting with narrow lanes and expanding only if necessary.