Law, Engineering, and the American Right-of-Way : Imagining a More Just Street

This book explores the geography of the everyday roadway and contemplates how regulation and design shape our streets. People may question the hegemony of cars, but reimagining public streets is a major conceptual and technical challenge. Drawing from “new mobilities” and transport studies, Prytherch addresses how streets are structured by policy standards; what it means to have a right to the street; and how a more just street would look—in both theory and practice. He summarizes key traffic statutes, case laws, and engineering manuals, and interprets these in relation to mobility rights and justice. At its core, the book moves beyond criticism to highlight emerging movements which aim to develop more complete and livable streets for everyone. Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (David Prytherch)....Pages 1-10 Front Matter ....Pages 11-11 Rethinking the Street as Space of Mobility, Rights, and (In)Justice (David Prytherch)....Pages 13-32 Front Matter ....Pages 33-33 Legal Geographies of the American “Right-of-Way” (David Prytherch)....Pages 35-52 The Contested Right to the Right-of-Way (David Prytherch)....Pages 53-76 Engineering the Roadway as Space of Flow (David Prytherch)....Pages 77-106 Controlling the Roadway: Signs, Markings, and Signals (David Prytherch)....Pages 107-122 Front Matter ....Pages 123-123 “Streets for Everyone”: Intermodal Equity and Complete Streets (David Prytherch)....Pages 125-137 “Creating Real Spaces for People”: Emerging Standards for Intermodal Design (David Prytherch)....Pages 139-164 The (Block-by-Block) Fight for a More Just American Street (David Prytherch)....Pages 165-193 Toward an Equitable and Livable Street (David Prytherch)....Pages 195-204 Back Matter ....Pages 205-210 "This book explores the geography of the everyday roadway and contemplates how regulation and design shape our streets. People may question the hegemony of cars, but reimagining public streets is a major conceptual and technical challenge. Drawing from 'new mobilities' and transport studies, [the author] addresses how streets are structured by policy standards; what it means to have a right to the street; and how a more just street would look--in both theory and practice. [The author] summarizes key traffic statutes, case laws, and engineering manuals, and interprets these in relation to mobility rights and justice. At its core, the book moves beyond criticism to highlight emerging movements which aim to develop more complete and livable streets for everyone."-- Back cover