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i think this is a very good illustration of how better things are legitimately possible, even in America where the infrastructure can be truly doom-inspiring.
In this case, they aren’t even that hard.
The changes Hoboken had to make to eliminate traffic fatalities were fairly minor. Replace lighted intersections with stop signs and restrict lane widths and reduce line-of-sight-blocking parking at crosswalks using bumpouts, bollards, etc… That basically did 99% of the job.
Pretty much ANY urban-context streets could do this. And moreover the move is fairly unlikely to affect total trip times (because urban lighted intersections actually fucking suck at reducing congestion and even all way stops can work better). Bonus points: eliminating traffic lights saves money because those fucks are expensive even just to maintain.
It goes to show how extraordinarily negligent US civil engineers are, that such small design shifts can have such a significant effect. These people will ALWAYS prioritize vehicle speed over safety because that’s what their bible tells them to do. Absolutely uncritical profession.
So really, the question is how many people should die for 4 extra parking spaces per block. My answer you can probably guess.
Bonus points: eliminating traffic lights saves money because those fucks are expensive even just to maintain.
Here in UK they regularly break down as well. My office overlooks a busy roundabout that has lights at peak times. At just about every red you’ll see someone jumping it anyway. So we also need to ‘educate’ drivers to stop when told to. Hit their wallet, crush their cars, ban them from driving. I don’t care how much it inconveniences them, the dead person or the one who’s had a leg amputated is inconvenienced far more. BTW, I drive almost daily.
/rant
See! It can be done!
Excellent work.
Very excited about this! Now take this framework, apply the tools and methods they suggest on their website to your city, grab some friends and make some signs/slogans, and go liven up city hall with a demonstration! And if you’re really next level, advocate for safe and separate bike lanes as well. We need pedestrian dignity and micro-mobility options built in to every part of dense cities.
