Comments on: New Jersey Needs to Face Its Pedestrian Fatality Problem http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jay Corbalis http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-94381 Jay Corbalis Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:01:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=17991#comment-94381 While it is true that NJ has a problem with pedestrian fatalities, and that much more needs to be done (including a statewide complete streets law that applies to state, county and municipally maintained roads), the figure cited in the article above is misleading. That NJ's rate of pedestrian fatalities compared with overall traffic fatalities is high says very little about the relative dangers of being a pedestrian in New Jersey. Indeed, when compared to other states on a pedestrian fatality per capita basis, New Jersey is somewhere in the middle. Instead what that statistic shows is that New Jersey has more pedestrians than other states. I suspect that if you looked at the same figure for New York City you would find that it is also well above the national average. Again, I don't mean to trivialize the severity of the problem, only to call attention to a misleading statistic. While it is true that NJ has a problem with pedestrian fatalities, and that much more needs to be done (including a statewide complete streets law that applies to state, county and municipally maintained roads), the figure cited in the article above is misleading. That NJ’s rate of pedestrian fatalities compared with overall traffic fatalities is high says very little about the relative dangers of being a pedestrian in New Jersey. Indeed, when compared to other states on a pedestrian fatality per capita basis, New Jersey is somewhere in the middle. Instead what that statistic shows is that New Jersey has more pedestrians than other states. I suspect that if you looked at the same figure for New York City you would find that it is also well above the national average.

Again, I don’t mean to trivialize the severity of the problem, only to call attention to a misleading statistic.

]]> By: I Know http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-91041 I Know Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:42:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=17991#comment-91041 No you don't, Andy B! No you don’t, Andy B!

]]> By: The Truffle Shuffle http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-90381 The Truffle Shuffle Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:43:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=17991#comment-90381 First...NJ does have a pedestrian safety initiative in place, which was started in 2006. See link: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/pedsafety/initiative.shtm . I can speak from experience that this initiative is doing things because I am currently working for a consultant on a project that is being funded through it. I feel like the larger issue comes down to one thing. Education. Not only of irresponsible drivers, but also of irresponsible pedestrians and cyclists that run rampant throughout this state. Although there are a lot who do follow the "rules of the road" per se, I can easily state that the majority of pedestrians do not wait for the "walk" signal or cross only at cross walks, and cyclists certainly do not always obey traffic laws as they are supposed to. I've read a good number of police reports, and in a good deal of cases the pedestrian has been at fault as well. In addition to that, a high number of these fatalities are among the immigrant populations that have risen in NJ over the last decade...so once again I'm back at education. NJ is the most densely populated state in the country, so by definition we are going to have high incidences involving pedestrians, cyclists, and autos. But I agree it's no excuse. My only intent for posting was to inform that there are things being done...albeit slowly, but that's the nature of anything in this state. Officials sure aren't taking bribes to build sidewalks. Then again...who would actually go ahead and do the bribing??? First…NJ does have a pedestrian safety initiative in place, which was started in 2006. See link: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/pedsafety/initiative.shtm . I can speak from experience that this initiative is doing things because I am currently working for a consultant on a project that is being funded through it.

I feel like the larger issue comes down to one thing. Education. Not only of irresponsible drivers, but also of irresponsible pedestrians and cyclists that run rampant throughout this state. Although there are a lot who do follow the “rules of the road” per se, I can easily state that the majority of pedestrians do not wait for the “walk” signal or cross only at cross walks, and cyclists certainly do not always obey traffic laws as they are supposed to. I’ve read a good number of police reports, and in a good deal of cases the pedestrian has been at fault as well. In addition to that, a high number of these fatalities are among the immigrant populations that have risen in NJ over the last decade…so once again I’m back at education. NJ is the most densely populated state in the country, so by definition we are going to have high incidences involving pedestrians, cyclists, and autos. But I agree it’s no excuse. My only intent for posting was to inform that there are things being done…albeit slowly, but that’s the nature of anything in this state. Officials sure aren’t taking bribes to build sidewalks. Then again…who would actually go ahead and do the bribing???

]]> By: Andy B from Jersey http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-89951 Andy B from Jersey Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:46:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=17991#comment-89951 Got all the skills and qualifications they need to help work on this and I'm still looking for full-time work! Go figure! Got all the skills and qualifications they need to help work on this and I’m still looking for full-time work!

Go figure!

]]> By: Kiosk User http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/new-jersey-needs-to-face-its-pedestrian-fatality-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-89711 Kiosk User Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:41:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=17991#comment-89711 Ten years ago, Atlantic County, in it's transportation master plan, declared in principle that most trips in and out of the county will be by car. It shows. Atlantic City's outlet mall, named "The Walk", is an obstacle course for peds, who need to press buttons to activate ped crossings. Said buttons are as much as 20+ feet from the curb cut, some blocked by large potted plants. Not all work. Peds get a flashing red hand and a countdown within seconds of the green (winder why cars never get a countdown). Longport, at the southern tip of Absecon Island, has "simplified" things for drivers and peds by blotting out the crosswalks on the southern side of many intersections on Atlantic Avenue the main drag throgh town, accompanied by "no peds" signs. Same Longport has: - blocked a popular walking path along the bay with a stone wall - abolished southbound bus stops along a stretch of the main drag - succeeded in getting NJTransit to reduce bus service to the town. - banned fishing from a pupular bridge (except after midnight in the winter) "for the safety of the fishermen". Few cars yield to peds. Trying to cross the street at the shore on a weekend, especially at night is a nightmare. Ten years ago, Atlantic County, in it’s transportation master plan, declared in principle that most trips in and out of the county will be by car. It shows.

Atlantic City’s outlet mall, named “The Walk”, is an obstacle course for peds, who need to press buttons to activate ped crossings. Said buttons are as much as 20+ feet from the curb cut, some blocked by large potted plants. Not all work. Peds get a flashing red hand and a countdown within seconds of the green (winder why cars never get a countdown).

Longport, at the southern tip of Absecon Island, has “simplified” things for drivers and peds by blotting out the crosswalks on the southern side of many intersections on Atlantic Avenue the main drag throgh town, accompanied by “no peds” signs. Same Longport has:
- blocked a popular walking path along the bay with a stone wall
- abolished southbound bus stops along a stretch of the main drag
- succeeded in getting NJTransit to reduce bus service to the town.
- banned fishing from a pupular bridge (except after midnight in the winter) “for the safety of the fishermen”.

Few cars yield to peds. Trying to cross the street at the shore on a weekend, especially at night is a nightmare.

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