Abstract
A multitude of surveys has established that life in residential streets and other public spaces is a major attraction and a very highly valued amenity. Trends in the 198 —such as declining household size and technological changes affecting both the character and amount of work— point towards a growing importance of lively residential streets for formal and informal social activities. This article discusses a number of conditions for supporting this function of residential streets. The focus is primarily on the importance of creating “soft edges” by way of frontyards/forecourts/porches in order to provide better opportunities for staying in the public spaces for residents of all ages. Studies of residential street life in Australia, Canada, and Scandinavia are presented to support the conclusion that “soft edges” may be a most important way of promoting an active life in present‐day residential streets.
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