Woonerf
A woonerf () is a living street, as originally implemented in the Netherlands and in Flanders (Belgium). Techniques include shared space, traffic calming, and low speed limits. The term "woonerf" has been adopted directly by some English-language publications. In the UK, these areas are called home zones. Etymology. The word, of Dutch origin, literally translates as "living yard" or "residential grounds". History. Since the invention of automobiles, cities have been predominantly constructed to accommodate the use of automobiles. The entire locality of Emmen in the Netherlands was designed as a woonerf in the 1970s. In 1999 the Netherlands had  over 6000 "woonerven" and today around 2 million Dutch people are living in "woonerven". The benefits of the woonerf are promoted by "woonERFgoed", a network of professionals and residents. In 2006 it was reported that people in Hesselterbrink, a neighborhood of Emmen, were disillusioned about how the woonerf principle had become another traffic engineering measure that "entailed precious little more than signs and uniform standards". They have now encompassed the shared space principles as a way of rethinking the woonerf. They are reported to "now know that car drivers should become residents. Eye contact and human interaction are more effective  means to achieve and maintain attractive and safe areas than signs and rules". Regulation. Belgium. Belgian traffic regulation (art. 2.32) defines the woonerf and the generic erf, and their traffic sign. The woonerf has a residential focus; the erf can have other primary uses like “crafts, trade, tourism, education and recreation”. In art. 22bis, the Belgian traffic regulation describes what is and what isn’t allowed in a (woon)erf: Netherlands. Under Article 44 of the Dutch traffic code, motorised traffic in a woonerf or "recreation area" is restricted to walking pace.