Part 2: Prefurbia Incorporates Flow - By Rick Harrison - Oct 01,
2010 For the past four decades, the automotive industry has
invested billions in fuel efficiency and reducing drag and, at
the same time, significantly added to the average engine
horsepower. While government has focused on the vehicle, no
steps have been taken to make neighborhood streets more
efficient. The management of a new era of design dedicated to
reducing time and energy while transiting through a neighborhood
is called "flow." In Prefurbia, flow is essential to
neighborhood sustainability. Getting a vehicle in motion (Phase
1), cruising (Phase 2) and stopping or slowing (Phase 3) are the
three phases of a “segment cycle.” A segment begins upon entry
to a street and ends when a driver stops or slows down to turn
or enter another street. Phase 1 involves the time and energy
needed to get a one- to two-ton (or more) vehicle moving from a
stop to a target residential speed. In some areas, this could be
from 20 miles per hour to 30 mph. Pha