[Freak_NL]

The 'shared space' concept is actually Dutch in origin (traffic engineer Hans Monderman), and is still used here in a lot of places. The concept seems to work rather well in villages where a primary thoroughfare (essentially two grades below a highway) passes through the village centre. The lack of a well-defined kerb makes motorists adjust their behaviour in a good way.

That said, shared spaces are overused in the Netherlands as well; especially in busy places that have plenty of pedestrians and an ongoing bicycle route. In my experience (as a cyclist and pedestrian) removing the lines and kerbs doesn't make cyclists adjust their speed and pedestrians more aware of their surroundings; it creates an arena where the strongest contender wins.

There is a disturbing trend in Dutch urban planning where demarcations and clear traffic rules are being eschewed in favour of laissez-faire shared spaces where you are mostly on your own as a participant in traffic, and where acting like an ass-hole is the most effective and safe strategy.