Does Your Main Street or Downtown Have The Right Program Distribution?

Large City Blocks

Street blocks come in a variety of lengths and the longer the street blocks are the more activity will be required per block. Ultimately the visible distance between monuments, food & beverage, or highly active retail will dictate how many instances need to occur per block. In the example to the right the length of the block is too long for one instance to be enough to draw pedestrians through the main street or downtown.

Equally important, is to consider using both sides of the street when the blocks are long. This uses visibility as a way of drawing people down the street. They may not cross the street for one particular instance of activity, but it increases the odds that they will continue down the same side. Inevitably, people will cross the street and long street blocks may need to have mid-block street crossings. This is can be achieved with paint and signage alerting vehicle to the mid-block street crossing.

Long Street Blocks

Require More Activity Per Block

Long street blocks should also have ample seating and street trees to make the environment comfortable for those who need to take breaks or when the weather is warm. With fewer cross streets, pedestrians are walking for much longer than a shorter street block.

Create Variety in the Cadence of Activity on the Long Street Blocks for an Organic and Less Structured Result

Long Street Blocks Often Come with Long Crosswalks, Consider Those When Planning the Activity

= Visible Landmark, Food & Beverage, or Highly Active Retail

No activity on this side of the street for two blocks

Dead zone where people may not walk

Dead zone where people may not walk

Visual connection of activity to pull pedestrians through the street