The Chicago Tribune is reporting of a $3.25 million payout to the family of a 4 year old girl who was tragically killed why trying to cross the street with her mother and brother. The basis of the lawsuit is that the City of Chicago did not properly install the stop sign, maintain the crosswalk and the the "No Parking" zone began closer to the stop sign than the law requires.
In my travels all around New Jersey, I see exactly the same conditions that a Illinois court found lead to this girls death. I've long worried that non-compliance with design standards and New Jersey parking laws not only creates hazards for pedestrians, cyclists and other motor vehicle drivers, but that they also will leave municipalities open to litigation. It would seem that my concerns are well founded, at least in some parts of the country and I don't see why such a lawsuit couldn't make traction in the New Jersey court system. Hopefully, towns will learn of this and make the corrections before we have to find out.
Showing posts with label pedestrian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pedestrian. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Little Delaware to spend $13.25 Million on Walking & Biking
The following comes to use from our friends at Bike Delaware. Delaware ups the ante in the bike/ped arms race in the Bicycle Friendly States rankings. Can New Jersey keep up to little bitty Delaware?
Both the Delaware House and Senate voted unanimously last night to approve a capital budget for the state of Delaware, including an unprecedented $13.25 million for walking and bicycling, a 90% increase over last year’s state commitment to walking and bicycling.
Ironically, the unanimous vote in the Delaware Senate at around 8PM came just a little more than 24 hours after the United States Congress voted to eliminate the main federal programs for walking and bicycling. As there was not enough time to amend the bill, Delaware’s capital budget also still includes authorization for a state contribution (a much smaller sum of $388,000) to the Transportation Enhancements program, even though that program now no longer exists.
Governor Jack Markell, Senator Robert Venables (D-Laurel) and Representative Helene Keeley (D-Wilmington) all played key leadership roles in this victory for walking and bicycling. Senator Venables was recognized last year as the 2011 Bike Friendly Elected Official for his leadership.
“Our Governor, his Cabinet, and both sessions of the 146th General Assembly have made historic progress for Delaware in improving the built environment of Delaware,” said John Hollis of Sussex Outdoors and Nemours Health and Prevention Services. ”These nationally recognized improvements will give all Delawareans opportunities for a healthier lifestyle through walkability and bikeability.”
Calling last night’s vote an “historic accomplishment”, Bike Delaware Vice President Bill Osborne said it “would not have been possible without the confluence of several independent forces. First and foremost is the vision and leadership in both the Executive and Legislative branches of Delaware. Add to that the passion and commitment of the consumers/constituents who evidenced their support. Plus we had the essential benefit of an improved economic forecast that made this a decision of inclusion rather than substitution.”
The $13.25 million total commitment by the state is made of up two separate line items, $10.25 million in the Delaware of Transportation and $3 million in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Both Departments are cooperating to create an interconnected network of shared-use trails and pathways that will support non-motorized travel and recreation opportunities for Delawareans and visitors.
VICTORY FOR CYCLING: Delaware General Assembly Votes $13.25 Million for Walking and Bicycling
Senator Robert Venables (left), Governor Jack Markell (center) and Representative Helene Keeley (right)
Ironically, the unanimous vote in the Delaware Senate at around 8PM came just a little more than 24 hours after the United States Congress voted to eliminate the main federal programs for walking and bicycling. As there was not enough time to amend the bill, Delaware’s capital budget also still includes authorization for a state contribution (a much smaller sum of $388,000) to the Transportation Enhancements program, even though that program now no longer exists.
Governor Jack Markell, Senator Robert Venables (D-Laurel) and Representative Helene Keeley (D-Wilmington) all played key leadership roles in this victory for walking and bicycling. Senator Venables was recognized last year as the 2011 Bike Friendly Elected Official for his leadership.
Calling last night’s vote an “historic accomplishment”, Bike Delaware Vice President Bill Osborne said it “would not have been possible without the confluence of several independent forces. First and foremost is the vision and leadership in both the Executive and Legislative branches of Delaware. Add to that the passion and commitment of the consumers/constituents who evidenced their support. Plus we had the essential benefit of an improved economic forecast that made this a decision of inclusion rather than substitution.”
The $13.25 million total commitment by the state is made of up two separate line items, $10.25 million in the Delaware of Transportation and $3 million in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Both Departments are cooperating to create an interconnected network of shared-use trails and pathways that will support non-motorized travel and recreation opportunities for Delawareans and visitors.
The Delaware General Assembly approved $10.25 million for DelDOT to make “Bike and Pedestrian Improvements”
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Call Senator Menendez now to save Federal Bike/Ped funding
Call Senator Robert Menendez right now and ask him to save Federal bike and pedestrian funding!
(973) 645-3030
The below comes from America Bikes and is a very short script that they want you to use when you call your senator / congressperson. Short and sweet!
- Hi, my name is [[your name]] and I live in [[city/town]].
- I’m calling to ask that Senator Menendez maintain the Cardin-Cochran agreement in the transportation bill. Please ensure that states not be permitted to opt-out of local control over biking and walking funds.
- Over 50,000 pedestrians died preventable deaths on American streets between 2001 and 2010. Having saddled communities with unsafe streets, it would be the height of cruelty for Congress now to take away resources from local communities trying to improve those conditions and save lives.
- The bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement in the Senate transportation bill would ensure that local governments can access 1 – 2% of federal transportation dollars for local projects.
- Will Senator Menendez ensure that local governments have control over funds for biking and walking improvements?
Monday, January 2, 2012
Op-Ed: Toll hikes put more traffic on local roads leaving bicyclists and pedestrians in greater peril
Living in North Brunswick, every time there is a toll increase on the Turnpike my town sees a marked increase in traffic (particularly trucks) on Routes 1 and 130. Without fail, some of these drivers find their way onto our local streets, including large trucks, where bicyclists and pedestrians are very common.
All across the state, predictions are being made that drivers will change their driving habits to avoid paying the higher tolls (1,2). Instead of being on the highways built to handle large volumes of high-speed traffic, where bicyclists and pedestrians are not allowed, more cars, truck and buses will be on streets intended for small volumes of local motor vehicle traffic, where bicyclists and pedestrians are common.
Yesterday's 50% toll increase on the Parkway and 53% on the Turnpike, along with the prior round of toll hikes in 2008 is part of a policy shift in Trenton to use the toll roads and the revenues they produce as a substitute to raising New Jersey's 3rd lowest in the nation, gas tax (only the fossil fuel producing states of Alaska and Wyoming are lower). Since a good percentage of those driving on New Jersey's toll roads, particularly the Turnpike, are out-of-state drivers, policy makers in Trenton are using the toll roads as a cash cow to harvest out-of-state money to plug the gap in New Jersey's grossly underfunded transportation trust fund.
This policy is exceptionally shortsighted as many have said publicly (3, 4, 5). While it's reasonable to charge drivers a premium to drive on these premium roads, using the toll revenue as a substitute to a reasonable state gas tax is not. All that this policy will do is take motor vehicles off highways that have the capacity to handle the traffic and put them on local roads that cannot. It also penalizes some New Jersey drivers that just happen to live near or need to use toll roads while letting some ride on other people's coattails. The rich folks in Morris and Somerset Hunterdon Counties have no toll roads in their counties but plenty of free expressways, while the working-class shlubs in Middlesex, Monmouth Ocean and Union counties will simply have to pay.
As for interstate drivers just passing through, there is also major incentive to avoid the toll roads. A round-trip for a 6-axle truck on the entire length of the New Jersey Turnpike now costs over $113! For most working class truck drivers, being able to avoid that cost is worth an extra hour or so in traffic. Close to me, truck traffic was already very heavy on River Road in Piscataway which is part of one of those alternative, toll-free truck routes. Truckers come down I 287 connect to Rt 18 via River Rd and then continue to Rt 1 and ultimately I 295 and I 95. It just happens that River Road is also a critical route for cyclists needing to go west from New Brunswick, Highland Park and Rutgers University. Members of local cycling clubs including the Rutgers Cycling Team can often be seen traveling on River Road to the hills to the west in Somerset County. If a cyclist needs to go between the county seats of New Brunswick and Somerville, River Road is the only road that will get one there without detours that would add a significant amount of extra distance. Additional trucks on River Road will surely put these cyclists at greater risk.
I can't blame these truck drivers for using River Road to avoid the Turnpike. I too do everything I can to avoid New Jersey's toll roads when I drive my car. And just like myself, most drivers do have a choice to either pay for the convenience of the toll roads or opt to deal with a little bit of extra traffic and budget more time driving on the surface roads. In this time of economic stress it is likely that this new round of toll hikes will see even greater numbers of drivers choosing to save their money and go with the second choice, particularly truck drivers. Besides petitioning over the long-term to reverse this bad transportation policy, I guess all that we can do in the meantime is just hope that these diverted drivers don't kill any bicyclists or pedestrians.
All across the state, predictions are being made that drivers will change their driving habits to avoid paying the higher tolls (1,2). Instead of being on the highways built to handle large volumes of high-speed traffic, where bicyclists and pedestrians are not allowed, more cars, truck and buses will be on streets intended for small volumes of local motor vehicle traffic, where bicyclists and pedestrians are common.
Yesterday's 50% toll increase on the Parkway and 53% on the Turnpike, along with the prior round of toll hikes in 2008 is part of a policy shift in Trenton to use the toll roads and the revenues they produce as a substitute to raising New Jersey's 3rd lowest in the nation, gas tax (only the fossil fuel producing states of Alaska and Wyoming are lower). Since a good percentage of those driving on New Jersey's toll roads, particularly the Turnpike, are out-of-state drivers, policy makers in Trenton are using the toll roads as a cash cow to harvest out-of-state money to plug the gap in New Jersey's grossly underfunded transportation trust fund.
This policy is exceptionally shortsighted as many have said publicly (3, 4, 5). While it's reasonable to charge drivers a premium to drive on these premium roads, using the toll revenue as a substitute to a reasonable state gas tax is not. All that this policy will do is take motor vehicles off highways that have the capacity to handle the traffic and put them on local roads that cannot. It also penalizes some New Jersey drivers that just happen to live near or need to use toll roads while letting some ride on other people's coattails. The rich folks in Morris and Somerset Hunterdon Counties have no toll roads in their counties but plenty of free expressways, while the working-class shlubs in Middlesex, Monmouth Ocean and Union counties will simply have to pay.
As for interstate drivers just passing through, there is also major incentive to avoid the toll roads. A round-trip for a 6-axle truck on the entire length of the New Jersey Turnpike now costs over $113! For most working class truck drivers, being able to avoid that cost is worth an extra hour or so in traffic. Close to me, truck traffic was already very heavy on River Road in Piscataway which is part of one of those alternative, toll-free truck routes. Truckers come down I 287 connect to Rt 18 via River Rd and then continue to Rt 1 and ultimately I 295 and I 95. It just happens that River Road is also a critical route for cyclists needing to go west from New Brunswick, Highland Park and Rutgers University. Members of local cycling clubs including the Rutgers Cycling Team can often be seen traveling on River Road to the hills to the west in Somerset County. If a cyclist needs to go between the county seats of New Brunswick and Somerville, River Road is the only road that will get one there without detours that would add a significant amount of extra distance. Additional trucks on River Road will surely put these cyclists at greater risk.
I can't blame these truck drivers for using River Road to avoid the Turnpike. I too do everything I can to avoid New Jersey's toll roads when I drive my car. And just like myself, most drivers do have a choice to either pay for the convenience of the toll roads or opt to deal with a little bit of extra traffic and budget more time driving on the surface roads. In this time of economic stress it is likely that this new round of toll hikes will see even greater numbers of drivers choosing to save their money and go with the second choice, particularly truck drivers. Besides petitioning over the long-term to reverse this bad transportation policy, I guess all that we can do in the meantime is just hope that these diverted drivers don't kill any bicyclists or pedestrians.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Rutgers Releases New Jersey's 2011 Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report
Today the Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center of New Jersey released 2011 Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report. The primary purpose of the report is to track crashes and analyze patterns including hot spots where multiple crashes have taken place. 2011 New Jersey Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report Final For a more detailed description of the report go to the New Jersey Walks and Bikes Blog.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Senate forwards Transport Bill WITHOUT bike/ped funding
The following is written by Tanya Snyder at Streetsblog.DC and is reproduced here due to the importance and urgency of this issue and as she has done a MUCH better job summarizing the issue then I have the time to.
To continue reading this article follow the link to the complete story at Streetsblog.DC.
Also make sure you read Tanya Snyder's second look at the Senate Transportation Bill and why she thinks it's not as bad as it could have been. Also make sure you read the reaction by Rails-to-Trails' Kevin Mills to Tanya's second article (his is the second comment). He is not so optimistic.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted unanimously this morning to pass a two-year transportation reauthorization bill, moving the bill one step closer to passage by the full Senate.
Unlike in the House, where the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has full responsibility for the transportation bill, the Senate splits jurisdiction among several committees, so the saga isn’t over yet by a long shot. The Senate Banking Committee still needs to consider the transit part of the bill, Commerce will get its hands dirty on the rail portion, and Finance is going to figure out how to pay for the whole thing.
Non-Motorized Transportation Takes a Hit
Rarely have bike and pedestrian safety been so squarely at the center of a Congressional boxing match as during the debate over this bill. The fight over dedicated funding for bike/ped projects – much of it focused on the Transportation Enhancements program – threatened the delicate bipartisan consensus for this bill. What emerged was a compromise that placated even the most hardened TE haters like Sens. James Inhofe and Tom Coburn.
To continue reading this article follow the link to the complete story at Streetsblog.DC.
Also make sure you read Tanya Snyder's second look at the Senate Transportation Bill and why she thinks it's not as bad as it could have been. Also make sure you read the reaction by Rails-to-Trails' Kevin Mills to Tanya's second article (his is the second comment). He is not so optimistic.
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