How to design a great street

Produced by Dave Amos in sunny Sacramento, California.
Edited by Eric Schneider in cloudy Cleveland, Ohio.

[CityBeautiful]

Sorry about any incorrect footage. Sometimes the stock footage I use is mislabeled. And sadly I haven't been to every street shown. Someday (after this virus) I will get there!

[PracticalEngineeringChannel]

I think you forgot good drainage, well-compacted subgrade, and properly-spaced contraction joints... ;) Kidding of course. Great video as always!

[NotJustBikes]

Don't feel too bad about getting the streets wrong. I physically went to Copenhagen and planned to film the Strøget, and it wasn't until I got home that I realized I filmed a different pedestrian street! So all that work and I still had to show a photo from of Wikipedia! 😆

[SylviaRustyFae]

"More doors means better streets"

**builds a street of just doors**

[Majoofi]

Also
Mixed use neighborhoods create longer time period of use for walking.
Streets with independent businesses are more interesting than those loaded with monopoly chains.
Public benches, drinking fountains, trash cans, regular maintenance all help.

[Sam-zqyx]

The building height : street width ratio explains why old European towns are so nice to be in, the narrow streets make you feel very secure and the character of the buildings is special too.

[mccoolguy]

"I'm gonna call out the Champs-Élysées for its lack of a canopy."

*Stares at Regent Street with its lack of trees*

[MyCamilla]

This video perfectly outlines my negative experience with American cities. (With the exception of Boston.)
Having lived in London and Istanbul prior to my relocation to the US, I used to be somebody who was almost claustrophobic and always wanted to spend time wandering around streets (shopping, dining, people watching etc.) as a leisure activity. Whereas here in Washington DC, even though it’s a walkable city, there’s something I find very disturbing and I never truly understood what it is. Even though the architecture is overall superb and greenery is just amazing, there is something about US cities that makes me not want to spend time outdoors. I have certain problem with ridiculously large and noisy vehicles which would never be allowed in European cities that’s for sure, but more importantly, I think that tens of highway size roads cutting through neighbourhoods and forming a square grid is my ultimate problem. I find it eerie and dystopian. It makes me feel like I live on a giant excel spreadsheet and makes me disoriented. Whereas I need to live in a city that has a historic downtown with narrow streets paved with cobblestones, lined with boutiques, bars, bakeries, cafes and bookstores.

[sptlght]

I really like europe-related content because this channel is really focused on US cities and this is kinda refreshing

[GLee-oeop]

You know what I also like? Different colored pavements. Even if it’s just on the roads it gives the streets some more character

[abrissimon]

I wish you could have just wider sidewalks in Cities: Skylines. Like damn they're sooo narrow compared to the carriageway!

[NicNac]

There has recently been some major moves towards walkability in San Francisco too! Market Street, which is a famous avenue that cuts diagonally through the grid, now restricts private car access to much of its length. Now it has become much easier for pedestrians to navigate and, on top of that, it allows for the roadways to be used primarily by its public transportation, increasing its speed and frequency significantly! Hopefully, better and more walkable street start making that comeback in American cities that so many residence need!

[williamgee]

The footage of Copenhagen (1:46) is actually of Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam. A great street as well though and a great show in general!

[Hoofrik]

I died a little inside when you used a McDonald's to illustrate great facade articulation on Les Champs Elysée.

[ericlee]

I really like to walk on a street when I am travelling in Europe. I prefer walking around in the city center rather than taking public transit to my destination. The streets are full of activities and interesting things to see. Elements like water and trees make the street environment better. It would also be great if you have somewhere to sit and rest. Personally I think Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Dusseldorf in Germany are great place to walk. I spent most of my time walking on street there.

[thespianed]

I think an interesting case study for an American to examine would be Shop Street in Galway, Ireland. Despite being a micro-city, it suffers from car congestion, with the exception of the much-loved Shop Street, which is pedestrianised, but surrounded on all sides by old, narrow, car-centric roads, creating an interesting atmosphere around the area and in the city as a whole.

[Andrew-gnqp]

The trees on Champs-Elysées are trimmed according to French formal garden design, its their culture.

[Luboman]

I think this is why I love NYC so much--there are hundreds, if not thousands, of "great streets" in this city--human-sized and geared toward pedestrians. I'm always so delighted to find a new "great street" whenever I wander away from my usual haunts. This city is ENORMOUS, so I'll keep discovering these streets til I die or I'm unable to walk, I'm pretty sure. Added bonus, COVID restrictions in NYC with regards to indoor dining has forced all these restaurants out into parts of streets that used to be for parking. Now there's so much wonderful alfresco dining that it reminds me of Rome. I hope they keep this post-COVID--it adds such wonderful vibrancy to already vibrant NYC streets.

[HalfBewolktBestondAl]

The clip at the beginning from Stroget is definitely not in Copenhagen. That's the Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam

[maybemanda]

I have a Bachelor's of Architecture and several go of friends of mine received a Master's of Urban Infrastructure and you basically just summarized (well) the jist of their master's degree Infrastructure and many aspects of my undergraduate degree. You're a really great communicator. ✨🎉🥂