Thursday, November 12, 2009

cities with most pedestrian deaths - USA

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/top-10-dangerous-cities-pedestrians/story?id=9048748

The authors offer some solutions that parallel a national trend toward reconfiguring streets to make them safer and more appealing to pedestrians without adversely impacting traffic flow.

By using traffic calming techniques like reconfiguring road alignments and installing barriers like roundabouts to slow drivers, streets become more accessible. Expanding the Safe Routes to School program, which installs or improves crosswalks, signals and other features, would make walking and biking safer for children.

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Many of the deaths occurred on streets that have few provisions for pedestrians, cyclists or those in wheelchairs. According to the report, of the 9,168 pedestrian fatalities in 2007-2008 where the location of the accident is known, more than 40 percent were killed in a spot where there was no crosswalk.

...states simply aren't spending enough to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Less than 1.5 percent of total transportation funds are spent on such measures, even though pedestrians comprise 11.8 percent of all traffic deaths and nearly the same percentage of all trips taken.

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D: Gee, do you suppose those 2 factoids are related?

In K-W town, I've seen a coupla improvements in the past year.

A coupla bike lane 'pinch points' have been fixed at intersections.

Caroline St. behind uptown Waterloo's mall, for example, at William St.


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

cost of traffic jams

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/11/10/oecd-traffic.html

"The OECD estimates a loss of $3.3 billion in lost productivity annually because of traffic congestion on streets and highways, coupled with the growth problems associated with Toronto's public transit system.
...

The report estimates that 71 per cent of commuters are still dependent on the car.

To reduce the congestion the report suggests toll lanes and congestion charges, as well as fuel and parking taxes."

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D: as usual, no mention of car pooling.
Bus-only lanes and roads.
Et al.

In other words, more of the same.
Cuz, you know, the same has worked sooo well to date...
Yes, that was sarcasm.