Comments on: Safety City: Where Cars Rule! http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Jonathan E. Tarr http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36758 Jonathan E. Tarr Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:01:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36758 I posted a little of this in my blog; I suppose the real lesson for the kids came from going to and from the place, and every day when they walk somewhere. I def. agree that drivers should be the ones getting some extra training, not pedestrians. I posted a little of this in my blog; I suppose the real lesson for the kids came from going to and from the place, and every day when they walk somewhere. I def. agree that drivers should be the ones getting some extra training, not pedestrians.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36684 ddartley Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:01:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36684 Let it stay the way it is, and eventually it will be a kitchy museum. Let it stay the way it is, and eventually it will be a kitchy museum.

]]> By: @alex http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36649 @alex Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:28:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36649 The Safety City reminds me of a similar "model streets" are that I saw in the west of Berlin. I asked about it and was told that it was used for children's bicycle safety classes, where they were taught not just to ride, but also the rules of the road, respect for pedestrians, etc. Something like that might actually be useful, especially if it got more kids out on bikes. It's worth remembering though, that in Germany, the drivers test is much more rigorous (and expensive) than in the US, which is one of the reasons that drivers are generally more considerate and respectful of the rights of pedestrians and cyclists. The Safety City reminds me of a similar "model streets" are that I saw in the west of Berlin. I asked about it and was told that it was used for children's bicycle safety classes, where they were taught not just to ride, but also the rules of the road, respect for pedestrians, etc. Something like that might actually be useful, especially if it got more kids out on bikes. It's worth remembering though, that in Germany, the drivers test is much more rigorous (and expensive) than in the US, which is one of the reasons that drivers are generally more considerate and respectful of the rights of pedestrians and cyclists.

]]> By: Christine Berthet http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36590 Christine Berthet Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:54:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36590 Do you know that out of 110 questions in the drivers license only three concern pedestrians One of them is " what are pedestrians responsibilities? " In case of a fatality , the police fills out a report .Questions about drivers repsonsiblity are ranked 23 to 25 .. The rest is about what the pedestrian was doing and indeed the pedestrain is dead and the driver answers for him/her... WE have a very long way to go.... Do you know that out of 110 questions in the drivers license only three concern pedestrians
One of them is " what are pedestrians responsibilities? "

In case of a fatality , the police fills out a report .Questions about drivers repsonsiblity are ranked 23 to 25 .. The rest is about what the pedestrian was doing and indeed the pedestrain is dead and the driver answers for him/her...

WE have a very long way to go....

]]> By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36572 Hilary Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:37:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36572 Part of the curriculum might include putting a child up in the driver's seat of a high-riding SUV and showing him how limited his visibility is. The blind spots all around the car. The distance it takes to stop. Being in a driver's seat is usually eye-opening for people who have been pedestrians all their lives. They realize for the first time how truly vulnerable they are. This would educate them in the (im)balance of power they will be dealing with as individuals and members of the community. Part of the curriculum might include putting a child up in the driver's seat of a high-riding SUV and showing him how limited his visibility is. The blind spots all around the car. The distance it takes to stop. Being in a driver's seat is usually eye-opening for people who have been pedestrians all their lives. They realize for the first time how truly vulnerable they are. This would educate them in the (im)balance of power they will be dealing with as individuals and members of the community.

]]> By: steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36571 steve Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:26:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36571 I share previous thoughts including desire to keep my kids safe. One way to improve curriculum: Teach kids to make eye contact with motorists when crossing intersection, raise hand to motorists attempting to turn into intersection to indicate "yeild," and proceed only when motorist indicates assent--in the manner of vehicles at an four-way stop-signed intersection. I share previous thoughts including desire to keep my kids safe. One way to improve curriculum:

Teach kids to make eye contact with motorists when crossing intersection, raise hand to motorists attempting to turn into intersection to indicate "yeild," and proceed only when motorist indicates assent--in the manner of vehicles at an four-way stop-signed intersection.

]]> By: P http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36570 P Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:04:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36570 Sorry- I'll respectfully disagree. If I had a third-grader I simply want them not to be killed on the street. I don't care if my third-grader is a pedestrian rights advocate- I just want them alive. That said, the hand raising bit seems so utterly unlikely to be used I don't know why the DOT bothers. Sorry- I'll respectfully disagree. If I had a third-grader I simply want them not to be killed on the street. I don't care if my third-grader is a pedestrian rights advocate- I just want them alive.

That said, the hand raising bit seems so utterly unlikely to be used I don't know why the DOT bothers.

]]> By: momos http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36568 momos Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:45:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36568 Excellent piece, Brad. Very perceptive critique of DOT teaching methods. Yet another gesture towards pedestrians undermined by a bureaucratic checklist mentality, narrow vision and complete lack of sincerity in seeing such an effort be a meaningful success. Excellent piece, Brad. Very perceptive critique of DOT teaching methods. Yet another gesture towards pedestrians undermined by a bureaucratic checklist mentality, narrow vision and complete lack of sincerity in seeing such an effort be a meaningful success.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36567 Larry Littlefield Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:46:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36567 One of the amazing changes since I (and some others) were kids is that so few kids walk or ride bikes to school. Back in the 1960s and early 1970s almost everyone did. And while much land has been developed since, I get the feeling that kids aren't walking to school even in places where they did 40 years ago. Not a good trend. One of the amazing changes since I (and some others) were kids is that so few kids walk or ride bikes to school. Back in the 1960s and early 1970s almost everyone did. And while much land has been developed since, I get the feeling that kids aren't walking to school even in places where they did 40 years ago.

Not a good trend.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36564 Glenn Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:40:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36564 Kids are much, much smarter than people think. And they have a very good BS meter. They watch what people do on the street not what they say in the classroom. They are first and foremost observers of behavior. The best way to educate kids is for the rest of us to do the right thing. Kids are much, much smarter than people think. And they have a very good BS meter. They watch what people do on the street not what they say in the classroom. They are first and foremost observers of behavior. The best way to educate kids is for the rest of us to do the right thing.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36563 Angus Grieve-Smith Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:16:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36563 I can't wait to see this program after Jan Gehl gets done with it. I can't wait to see this program after Jan Gehl gets done with it.

]]> By: MD http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36562 MD Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:52:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36562 My son went there last year as a third-grader and said it was stupid. I think it was the "hand up" thing that irritated him. My son went there last year as a third-grader and said it was stupid. I think it was the "hand up" thing that irritated him.

]]> By: Eric http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36558 Eric Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:25:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36558 How 'bout making all drivers registered in NYC take a required course in conducting their vehicles more safely? Do we make crime victims take a class in how to avoid being the victim of a crime next time around? How 'bout making all drivers registered in NYC take a required course in conducting their vehicles more safely? Do we make crime victims take a class in how to avoid being the victim of a crime next time around?

]]> By: Mark Fleischmann http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36554 Mark Fleischmann Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:00:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36554 The problem with holding up your arms when crossing the street is that it's much more natural to swing them at your sides when running for your life against traffic lights that turn red as soon as you step off the curb. The problem with holding up your arms when crossing the street is that it's much more natural to swing them at your sides when running for your life against traffic lights that turn red as soon as you step off the curb.

]]> By: Willie Makit http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-36553 Willie Makit Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:15:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/#comment-36553 nice piece Brad. notice that the kids are holding their hands up in the photo, which is a ridiculous "safety measure" that the DOT also instructs seniors to do to make themselves more visible when crossing the street. does the DOT really expect everyone to raise their hands every time they cross the street? nice piece Brad. notice that the kids are holding their hands up in the photo, which is a ridiculous "safety measure" that the DOT also instructs seniors to do to make themselves more visible when crossing the street. does the DOT really expect everyone to raise their hands every time they cross the street?

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