Andrew Howard marks temporary bike lanes on Knox today. Photo courtesy of Jason Roberts
A team of guerrilla urban planners is busy constructing a barricaded bike lane on Knox street, near the Katy Trail, to create a “better block.”
Team Better Block, which basically is two guys from Oak Cliff, is constructing “Knox Strasse,” which will be open from 7 a.m. Thursday through 4 p.m. Sunday. The block will include the first physically separated cycle-track in Dallas, connecting the trail to retail. But there will also be an open-air beer garden, live music, a street market, pocket parks and more.
The Better Block is the brain child of Jason Roberts and Andrew Howard, whose ideas currently are part of the Venice Bienniale. They also were recognized by the White House as “Champions of Change” earlier this year. Instead of holding public meetings to decide how to improve streets and other public spaces, the idea behind Better Block is to make temporary improvements to show how things could be, well, better. That way, it’s easier to see what works and what doesn’t. The Better Block guys encourage constructive criticism and feedback on what neighbors like and don’t like.
They started with one block in Oak Cliff a little over two years ago, and since then, they have taken the concept to more than 30 U.S. cities.
For the full schedule of this weekend’s Knox Strasse events, check out the event Facebook page.
