Plus O' The Day: February 19, 2010
The recent dustup about the 'winter parking rules' in Minneapolis point to an added benefit (or curse) of winter: the way that snowbanks make slow traffic on city side streets.
You've all been there, stuck in a game of chicken with another driver down a snowy winter street. Cars have to pull off to the side to allow oncoming traffic.
The effect reminds me of the Dutch 'woonerf' streets, which are 'calmed by uncertainty.' Because drivers aren't sure what's going to happen next, they proceed with extreme caution. While it may lengthen your commute time from your house to Point B, it helps to calm traffic on these residential streets, and makes it safer for everyone around.
What do you think? Is there a silver lining to the snowy Minnesota winter?
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