Comments on: Feds Launch New Pedestrian Safety Program http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:40:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Fenix http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49713 Fenix Wed, 07 May 2008 00:05:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49713 And Jan Gehl (Danish Urban Designer) said that Sydney (Australia) treated its pedestrians badly. At least we don't get treated with the kind of disrespect that this advertising language promulgates and the Mayor is pushing for pedestrian and cycle friendly streets throughout the city. Those London underground pedestrian subways are ‘death traps’ outside of peak hour commuter use. Besides why should the cars be treated to the open streets – put them underground! And Jan Gehl (Danish Urban Designer) said that Sydney (Australia) treated its pedestrians badly. At least we don't get treated with the kind of disrespect that this advertising language promulgates and the Mayor is pushing for pedestrian and cycle friendly streets throughout the city.

Those London underground pedestrian subways are ‘death traps’ outside of peak hour commuter use. Besides why should the cars be treated to the open streets – put them underground!

]]> By: Sid from Brooklyn http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49670 Sid from Brooklyn Tue, 06 May 2008 11:29:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49670 Pedestrians seems not to care about their own safety. Watch them stand in the street waiting for the light to change(sometimes in a traffic lane) or crossing against the light or in the middle of the street. I think the reason it faces the peds is that when there is a conflict with a car, the ped always loses. The US is among the few places that doesn't totally separate traffic and pedestrians. Its the only way to totally protect the pedestrians. The solution to the many deaths on Queens Blvd was to put fences up everywhere except at the crossings to force the peds into crossing at the lights(even though it doesn't force them to cross with the light). London using an under ground passage ways to separate the traffic and the peds. In the US we never have spent money on things like that. Its cheaper to run a campaign that really solve the problem. Traffic death in cars are down because of three things. 1. safer cars(air bags seat belts and better design- the major cause of the reduction) 2. better designed roads for safety 3. enforcement particularly drunk driving laws- given that a ped ticket is still $2.00(a move to increase it failed in the city council) the police don't waste their time issuing tickets to peds Pedestrians seems not to care about their own safety. Watch them stand in the street waiting for the light to change(sometimes in a traffic lane) or crossing against the light or in the middle of the street. I think the reason it faces the peds is that when there is a conflict with a car, the ped always loses. The US is among the few places that doesn't totally separate traffic and pedestrians. Its the only way to totally protect the pedestrians. The solution to the many deaths on Queens Blvd was to put fences up everywhere except at the crossings to force the peds into crossing at the lights(even though it doesn't force them to cross with the light). London using an under ground passage ways to separate the traffic and the peds. In the US we never have spent money on things like that. Its cheaper to run a campaign that really solve the problem.

Traffic death in cars are down because of three things.
1. safer cars(air bags seat belts and better design- the major cause of the reduction)
2. better designed roads for safety
3. enforcement particularly drunk driving laws- given that a ped ticket is still $2.00(a move to increase it failed in the city council) the police don't waste their time issuing tickets to peds

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49656 gecko Mon, 05 May 2008 21:54:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49656 You should issue a warning at the beginning of the Onion report about reading it during breakfast i.e., except those people that like to eat their cereal through their nose. You should issue a warning at the beginning of the Onion report about reading it during breakfast i.e., except those people that like to eat their cereal through their nose.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49651 Angus Grieve-Smith Mon, 05 May 2008 19:59:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49651 Looks like Ethan beat me to it! But please let us know if the DOT has changed the curriculum for "Safety City": http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/ I remember there was some controversy over the use of the word "dipshit" in their materials. Looks like Ethan beat me to it! But please let us know if the DOT has changed the curriculum for "Safety City":

http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/04/safety-city-where-cars-rule/

I remember there was some controversy over the use of the word "dipshit" in their materials.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49648 Angus Grieve-Smith Mon, 05 May 2008 19:52:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49648 I believe this is an example of the '80s-90s DOT program you are referring to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elissacorsini/606964932/in/set-72157594360604228/ Note that the sign faces pedestrians, not motorists - it's not clear whether that was because the DOT assumed that pedestrian safety was a pedestrian responsibility, or because they assumed motorists wouldn't care. I'm glad we've got some new people at the DOT, with a clear pro-safety mandate from the Mayor. I believe this is an example of the '80s-90s DOT program you are referring to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elissacorsini/606964932/in/set-72157594360604228/

Note that the sign faces pedestrians, not motorists - it's not clear whether that was because the DOT assumed that pedestrian safety was a pedestrian responsibility, or because they assumed motorists wouldn't care.

I'm glad we've got some new people at the DOT, with a clear pro-safety mandate from the Mayor.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49647 Ethan Mon, 05 May 2008 19:50:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49647 These pedestrian fear campaigns still exist and were aggressively implemented on bus adds and at dangerous intersections under Iris's administration. http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/30/signs-of-crooked-pedestrian-priorities/ These pedestrian fear campaigns still exist and were aggressively implemented on bus adds and at dangerous intersections under Iris's administration.

http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/30/signs-of-crooked-pedestrian-priorities/

]]> By: andrew http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49646 andrew Mon, 05 May 2008 19:42:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49646 That's funny, I didn't think Americans actually walked much anymore. That's funny, I didn't think Americans actually walked much anymore.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/comment-page-1/#comment-49645 Mark Walker Mon, 05 May 2008 19:40:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/05/feds-launch-new-pedestrian-safety-program/#comment-49645 This is pretty much the official policy of the traffic police, as someone noted here recently. Seriously: "They shrug their shoulders and say it's a person's own responsibility to protect themselves." http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/25/pedestrian-killed-by-truck-near-brooklyn-bridge/#comment-49096 This is pretty much the official policy of the traffic police, as someone noted here recently. Seriously: "They shrug their shoulders and say it's a person's own responsibility to protect themselves."

http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/25/pedestrian-killed-by-truck-near-brooklyn-bridge/#comment-49096

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