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Google Street View sleuth – show us what's wrong with your city Google Street View sleuth – show us what's wrong with your city
(4 months later)
You may have noticed we're big fans of Google Street View here at Guardian Cities. We've had great fun encouraging the brilliant Halley Docherty to superimpose famous world paintings and classic album covers on to their real-life locations, and we've got a few more fun projects up our sleeve. You may have noticed we're big fans of Google Street View here at Guardian Cities. We've had great fun encouraging the brilliant Halley Docherty to superimpose famous world paintings and classic album covers on to their real-life locations, and we've got a few more fun projects up our sleeve.
But Google Street View also has great potential as a tool for documenting flaws in urban design – whether it's bad road layouts, ugly buildings or confusing signage – and thus represents a powerful way for anyone who cares about a city to help improve it.But Google Street View also has great potential as a tool for documenting flaws in urban design – whether it's bad road layouts, ugly buildings or confusing signage – and thus represents a powerful way for anyone who cares about a city to help improve it.
Take, for example, my beloved Holloway Road in Islington, north London, where there is a glaring example of urban "planning" gone awry. Can you spot the problem in the Google Street View photo below?Take, for example, my beloved Holloway Road in Islington, north London, where there is a glaring example of urban "planning" gone awry. Can you spot the problem in the Google Street View photo below?
Not immediately obvious? Try imagining that you're crossing, on foot, from the left-side pavement in this picture to the right. Is there a pedestrian traffic light? No. Can you see the vehicles' traffic lights? No. How many different ways could a car hit you? Let's count: Not immediately obvious? Try imagining that you're crossing, on foot, from the left-side pavement in this picture to the right. Is there a pedestrian traffic light? No. Can you see the vehicles' traffic lights? No. How many different ways could a car hit you? Let's count:
1) From directly ahead.1) From directly ahead.
2) From behind you, turning right.2) From behind you, turning right.
3) From in front of you, turning left. 3) From in front of you, turning left.
4) Zooming straight through from across the intersection.4) Zooming straight through from across the intersection.
To cross safely you basically just have to bolt across, ideally wearing yellow, and hope the cars notice you in time. The only sane thing about this intersection is that there's a Co-operative funeral home on the corner. To cross safely you basically just have to bolt across, ideally wearing yellow, and hope the cars notice you in time. The only sane thing about this intersection is that there's a Co-operative funeral home on the corner.
Clearly, it's time to take a stand against such examples of bad planning – not to mention all those really ugly buildings we're forced to walk past on the way to work every day. Let us harness Google Street View to name and shame all manner of urban fails, in whichever city they lurk.Clearly, it's time to take a stand against such examples of bad planning – not to mention all those really ugly buildings we're forced to walk past on the way to work every day. Let us harness Google Street View to name and shame all manner of urban fails, in whichever city they lurk.
Open sewer in your park? Two-lane motorway cutting off the waterfront? Ugly sign on the new fish restaurant? However big or small the problem, we want you to join our band of "Street View sleuths".Open sewer in your park? Two-lane motorway cutting off the waterfront? Ugly sign on the new fish restaurant? However big or small the problem, we want you to join our band of "Street View sleuths".
All you have to do is find the offending location on Google Street View, copy the URL (it will even remember the specific angle of sight). You can then post it in the comments section below or email it to Guardian Cities HQ at: cities.streetview.sleuth@guardian.co.ukAll you have to do is find the offending location on Google Street View, copy the URL (it will even remember the specific angle of sight). You can then post it in the comments section below or email it to Guardian Cities HQ at: cities.streetview.sleuth@guardian.co.uk
We can't wait to see what bothers you. Who knows, maybe it will even spur someone to act. We can't wait to see what bothers you. Who knows, maybe it will even spur someone to act.