Street Patterns

Street patterns are a feature of urban areas which we can't live without. Street patterns can make it easy to travel around in the city, it can cause heavy traffic congestion or make it very difficult to locate a place.
There are THREE general types of street patterns -

• Grid iron
• Planned irregular
• Cobweb

1. Grid iron:

Usually found in the oldest part of the city (CBD). This pattern is characterized by rectangular street blocks.

Problems:

• Many intersections that can cause traffic congestion
• Uninteresting design
• Can lead to long and steep roads

Advantages:

• Easy to navigate around
• Easy to extend streets
• Easy to subdivide stands and to build on

2. Planned Irregular

Usually found at the latest suburbs and where there are steep slopes.

Problems:

• Difficult to extend streets
• Can easily get lost

Advantages:

• Interesting pattern
• Dangerous with hidden entrances

3. Cobweb

Streets radiate outwards from one central point e.g a plain, lake, dam, park