State DOT “Improvements” Imperil Pedestrians in Florida

It’s been pointed out many times that state DOTs often seem blind to any mode of transportation other than the single occupancy vehicle. But the Florida Department of Transportation is making it too easy.

Miami's Brickell Avenue, already a nightmare for pedestrians, is about to get worse at FDOT's behest. Photo: Flickr, Daniel Hornek

Residents of Miami’s Brickell neighborhood have been fighting long and hard for basic safety measures for deadly Brickell Avenue. Network blog Transit Miami has led the charge in the campaign for a reduced speed limit and a few pedestrian improvements.

Despite public outcry and a number of pedestrian-involved collisions, with at least one resulting in death, FDOT has barely budged. A call to lower speeds to a life-saving 25 mph, for example, was rebuffed. Adding insult to injury, FDOT is taking steps to improve safety on Brickell Avenue — for motorists. The planned changes are likely to make conditions worse for neighborhood pedestrians, writes Transit Miami’s Felipe Azenhat:

Elsewhere on the Network today: Pointing to a LEED certified car dealership, Transit in Utah asks whether a certification system for transit oriented development might be in order. Write of Way highlights a new Active Transportation Alliance initiative to give Chicago cyclists real-time updates on conditions on the lakefront trail. And Cyclicio.us shares the sad, sad story of a visually impaired Illinois couple who were struck by a distracted driver while riding the tandem bicycle they relied on for transportation.