We just have to spread the word a little more about this cool project that fellow Complete Streets/traditional urbanism advocates in Oak Cliff put on a couple of weeks ago.  Go Oak Cliff did “The Better Block,” their own “guerilla” Complete Streets makeover of Tyler Street in X+, on their own using neighborhood supporters.  Armed with about a thousand dollars and some ingenuity, they significantly narrowed the street to slow car traffic speeds, created a protected bike lane buffered from traffic by parking and striping, opened some temporary shops in vacant storefronts, set up sidewalk cafes, and more.

The end result was a street that was massively more pleasant to be on – people walked and dined in what is usually car space, bikes easily rolled past, traffic speeds were dramatically slower creating a much safer place to be, and benefits to local businesses from creating a street as calm, inviting “place” for everybody rather than a car sewer were noticeable – for example, local book store Cliff Notes had their best sales day ever on the first day of the event.

The project showed the benefits to the neighborhood from taming traffic speeds and expanding the amount of space for pedestrians, sidewalk diners, cyclists, and more, and it’s getting much local and national coverage.  The video above comes from Go Oak Cliff themselves.  Here’s a few links to other stories about the event:

The Better Block Wrap-Up - Go Oak Cliff

Emergent Urbanism in Oak Cliff – WALKABLE Dallas-Fort Worth

In Dallas, A Community Transforms A Street – Streetsblog

Guerilla Urbanism:  North Oak Cliff Residents Create Their Own Complete Street – Bike Friendly Oak Cliff