Awoonerf (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈʋoːnɛr(ə)f]) is aliving street, as originally implemented in theNetherlands and subsequently inFlanders (Belgium). Techniques includeshared space,traffic calming, and lowspeed limits.
The termwoonerf has been adopted directly by some English-language publications. In the United Kingdom, these areas are calledhome zones.
The word, of Dutch origin, literally translates as'living yard'[1] or'residential grounds'.[2]
Since the invention of automobiles, cities have been predominantly constructed to accommodate the use of automobiles.[3]
Thewoonerf was created by residents of Delft who tore up pavement late at night to make it so cars had to drive slower to avoid the obstacles.[4] Thewoonerven (plural) was incorporated into the national street design standards in 1976.[4]
The entire locality ofEmmen in the Netherlands was designed as awoonerf in the 1970s.[5]
In 1999 the Netherlands had over 6000woonerven[6] and today around 2 million Dutch people are living inwoonerven.[7] The benefits of thewoonerf are promoted bywoonERFgoed, a network of professionals and residents.[8]
In 2006 it was reported that people in Hesselterbrink, a neighborhood of Emmen, were disillusioned about how thewoonerf principle had become another traffic engineering measure that "entailed precious little more than signs and uniform standards". They have now adopted theshared space principles as a way of rethinking thewoonerf. They are reported to "now know that car drivers should become residents. Eye contact and human interaction are more effective means to achieve and maintain attractive and safe areas than signs and rules".[5][9]
Belgian traffic regulation (art. 2.32)[10] defines thewoonerf and the generic erf, and their traffic sign. Thewoonerf has a residential focus; the erf can have other primary uses like “crafts, trade, tourism, education and recreation”.
In art. 22bis,[11] the Belgian traffic regulation describes what is and what isn’t allowed in a (woon)erf:
Within erven and woonerven:
- Pedestrians can use the full width of the public road; and playing is also allowed.
- Drivers may not endanger pedestrians or hinder them; if necessary they must stop. Furthermore they need to be twice as careful regarding children. Pedestrians may not obstruct traffic unnecessarily.
- Speed is limited to 20 km per hour.
- Parking is forbidden, except where there are visual markings like different surface colors, a letter P or traffic signs allowing parking.
Under Article 44 of the Dutch traffic code, motorised traffic in awoonerf or "recreation area" is restricted to 15 km/h in the Netherlands.[12]