The Stroad: A Case Study // Intended (and Unintended) Consequences of Car-Oriented Street Design

street + road = stroad → a thoroughfare that combines functions of both and fails to serve either purpose.

Coined by Strong Town’s Charles Marohn in 2011, stroads mix place-based street functions, such as commercial uses with high-speed connective roadways. Typical characteristics of stroads include numerous travel lanes, intersections that are wide and difficult to cross, inadequate pedestrian facilities, and auto-orientation. They are common in many urban and suburban locations where recently some communities are working to address their shortcomings to improve pedestrian safety.