Comments on: America’s Big Fat Road Problem

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:03:56 +0000

It’s a mish-mosh of the old “If you build it, they will come.” With roads, if you build curb extensions, bike lanes, eliminate lanes and provide less space for cars, drivers will behave differently (or not use those roads at all) and larger number of pedestrians and bikers will come out to use the same space that they once avoided.

By: Charles Siegel

Charles Siegel — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:09:15 +0000

“(183% growth in per-person miles from 1969 to 2000, a period in which the number of persons itself increased only 41%)”

I think you mean 83% growth. America’s per capita VMT has roughly doubled since the 1960s.

I suspect someone saw a report saying that per capita VMT in 2000 was 183% of what it was in 1969, and they thought that meant 183% growth, while it actually means 83% growth.

By: oscarfrye

oscarfrye — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:51:47 +0000

i, too was saddened by auto-centric hawaii

back to brooklyn, i agree enforcement (or lack thereof) is part of the problem. plenty of laws are on the books, but get ignored constantly..i say bring on the speeding enforcement cameras, the more the merrier.

By: Valerie Broadwell

Valerie Broadwell — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:18:47 +0000

Although not directly related to the article, I wanted to comment that I just returned from an 8-day trip to Maui and was saddened at how auto-dependent the island is. It is a place with perfect weather for walking and biking, yet doing so is risky most places. The big hotels have built a luxurious trail alongside the beach but it stops where the resorts stop. Nobody walks from the resorts to anywhere; all drive. I wonder if the car rental companies have been active lobbyists opposing sidewalks and bike lanes.

By: Andy B from Jersey

Andy B from Jersey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:16:46 +0000

Regarding this and the Park Slope Neighbors video:

All excellent points but NYC also has very little to no speeding enforcement that I’m aware of.

There are wide roads with low speed limits in New Jersey towns where the police have a reputation for strict speed limit enforcement. Due to this enforcement, speeding on these roads is minimal. However if you’re a stranger and don’t know the reputation of the police, the nature of the wide road still suggests to the driver to “put the pedal to the metal.”

Still I agree that wide roads in residential and urban areas, particularly those with unnecessary capacity should be put on a diet immediately.