In New York, More Proof of Safety in Numbers for Cyclists
The
city's expanding bike network is paying dividends -- boosting the level
of cycling and making streets safer in the process. Snagged from the
latest issue of TA's StreetBeat, this graph is a great illustration of the "safety in numbers" effect identified by researcher Peter Jacobsen in a landmark 2003 paper
published in Injury Prevention. The stats in New York reinforce
Jacobsen's body of evidence that the more bicyclists and pedestrians
are out on the street, the safer biking and walking becomes.
June 5, 2009
Cartoon Tuesday: Beware of the Ouchies
After reading about a new Pew Poll that found 88 percent of Americans believe they can't live without a car, I couldn't help thinking of this cartoon from John Akre -- who also gave us Cars for Hats. Car dependence has never looked so terrifying.
May 12, 2009
Boxer: Collect Fees on Driving Through ‘Honor System’
Another must-read from last week’s Reuters Infrastructure Summit: Barbara Boxer, who as Chair of the Senate’s Transportation Committee will be responsible for shepherding the next transportation bill through the Senate, says she’s open to a mileage tax and to indexing the gas tax to inflation to generate new revenue. It’s great to hear a legislator … Continued
May 11, 2009
Doomsday Across America
Following up on Sarah's post
about transit funding woes in Illinois, this CNN segment from earlier
in the month brings home the effect of service cuts and fare hikes in
St. Louis. Similar scenarios are playing out all over the country.
According to the latest tally from Transportation for America, 85 transit systems serving 22 million riders are facing some combination of shrinking service and higher fares.
April 30, 2009
Rail Across America
You’ve probably seen this already. It’s the latest graphic representation of the nation’s proposed high-speed rail corridors, and it’s been all over the transportation blogosphere since President Obama stood beside it at a press conference last week. Those corridors are likely to change somewhat as the administration refines its new strategy for high-speed rail, says … Continued
April 20, 2009
Waxman’s Climate Change Bill Good for Green Transportation
At the end of March, representatives Henry Waxman and Ed Markey introduced an ambitious federal climate bill. This is the real deal — the legislative centerpiece of President Obama’s effort to combat global warming. Transportation contributes about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so any climate bill will have to green … Continued
April 15, 2009
Obama Falls Prey to Ribbon-Cutting Syndrome
Obama greets construction workers at a DC photo op. Photo: AFP via Infrastructurist. At a press event in DC yesterday, President Obama touted the two thousandth transportation project to receive federal stimulus funds. I’m speculating a bit here, but the White House probably had some discretion when choosing which item to highlight for this milestone. … Continued
April 14, 2009