There are many factors that make urban streets unique and different from rural or suburban street

Street

A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...

s. Urban streets have a larger number of pedestrian

Pedestrian

A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...

s and bicyclists and are located near business

Business

A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...

es and commercial building

Commercial building

A commercial building is a building that is used for commercial use. Types can include office buildings, warehouses, or retail . In urban locations, a commercial building often combines functions, such as an office on levels 2-10, with retail on floor 1...

s. When designing urban streets there are many technical aspects to consider including but not limited to: traffic flow

Traffic flow

Traffic flow, in mathematics and civil engineering, is the study of interactions between vehicles, drivers, and infrastructure , with the aim of understanding and developing an optimal road network with efficient movement of traffic and minimal traffic congestion problems.-History:Attempts to...

s, speed

Speed

In kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...

s and volume.

Dallas, Texas

One example where urban street design and its principles were a success was in Dallas, Texas. Here, in 1999 the Urban Street Symposium was held. This symposium covered many design topics and addressed urban street issues in workshops and sessions. Some of the topics covered included: Urban Street Design: Different Perspectives, Public Involvement: Examples and Models, Layout and Functional Classification Parts A and B, Access Management, Street Speed, Intersections, Cross Sections, Pedestrians, Traffic Calming

Traffic calming

Traffic calming is intended to slow or reduce motor-vehicle traffic in order to improve the living conditions for residents as well as to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Urban planners and traffic engineers have many strategies for traffic calming...

, Light Rail

Light rail

Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...

in an Urban Setting, Safety and Design, Capacity Analysis, and Flexible and Neo-traditional Signs. This symposium was very broad, inclusive and informative on strategies for better urban streets.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina is another example where the urban street and its design has become an aspect for community betterment. In Charlotte, a new philosophy for planning and designing streets has become important. In urban street design the philiosophy considers different aspects such as the safety, convenience and comfort for those riding bicycles, for pedestrians and transit users, motorists and the community. In Charlotte, the main points for street design are integrated planning, increased connectivity, and increased modal choices. Another good example of how to design an urban street and what factors can go into this design.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington is another good example where the urban street and some of its design factors have been identified. Here, street sustainability is a primary design factor and is considered to be the factor that will make urban streets more beneficial to the people, community, economy and environment. Seattle takes on the philosophy that urban streets should serve the public across all modes of travel and provide key mobility links within urban communities. Seattle has come up with a list of Sustainable Urban Street Options: Reduce energy consumption, Reduce consumption of material resources, Reduce impacts to environmental resources,Support healthy urban communities and Support sustainability during implementation. All important goals fitting to their guideline standards of an urban street.