Pedestrian Safety
Streetsblog LA
East Hollywood Neighborhood Council Declares Itself Pedestrian Neighborhood
The East Hollywood Neighborhood Council has barely been in existence for two years, yet they've already layed out a vision for transportation in the video East Hollywood on the Move, led the way by endorsing the Cyclists Bill of Rights before any other Neighborhood Council and proclaimed that streets are for people, not cars, at the first annual ArtCycle. Last night they began to marry their vision with policy when they declared themselves a "pedestrian oriented community" and vowed to get all members of the community involved in redesigning parts of the community following the "Sole Mates" process.
April 28, 2009
LADOT, USC Plan Changes for Crosswalk at Jefferson and Hoover
Following the outcry after two USC students were run down in the Crosswalk at Hoover and Jefferson, the parents of one of the students, the one who was slain, demanded that the city "fix" this intersection. Some Streetsblog readers noted that this intersection already has one of the safest designs, a Scramble-crosswalk. Given that pedestrians are being mowed down throughout the city, is the LADOT really going to focus on this one intersection?
April 16, 2009
Safe Streets Coalition: How About a Stimulus for Bike/Ped Projects?
As part of its share of the federal stimulus package, Caltrans was allocated $28 million for "Transportation Enhancements," a federal funding category that is home to bicycle, pedestrian, beautification and other road projects that aren't widening or fix-it projects. However, according to the National Safe Routes to Schools Partnership, Caltrans is having trouble spending those funds. From a letter from the partnership to Caltrans:
April 15, 2009
Family of Slain USC Student: Fix L.A. Intersections!
Last weekend, the lives of a family were changed forever, when a distracted driver decided that shaving a couple of seconds of off the trip home for his family was more important than making sure he protected other users of the road. He plowed through the intersection of Jefferson and Hoover, killing USC freshman Adriana Bachan and maiming her companion.
April 9, 2009
As Pedestrian Crashes and Fatalities Mount, What is L.A.’s Plan?
Two weeks ago, the Daily News reported that the number of pedestrians killed in the valley had increased by 230% as compared to the same time last year. This somewhat horrifiying stat passed through the public consciousness with barely a ripple.
April 1, 2009
CPUC Decision: Ped. Bridge for Farmdale but not for Foshay
Today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) finally released its twice delayed, two-years in the making, decision regarding whether or not to allow Phase I of the Expo Line be constructed at grade past Dorsey High School and the Foshay Learning Center. The ruling clears the way for Phase I of the Expo project to be completed by 2010.
February 20, 2009
LADOT Opens Westwood Crosswalks to Pedestrians
On Monday, I re-posted a story that first appeared on the excellent blog bikinginla about a Westwood crosswalk that was posted as closed to pedestrians. On Tuesday, I decided to do the responsible thing and actually let LADOT know about the offending signage. To its credit, the DOT replied via email within minutes and within hours had removed the offending signage. They were even able to tell me which crosswalk was the offending one based on the picture after I told them I wasn't sure.
February 11, 2009
From Biking in LA: The Pedestrian Free Crosswalk
Via BikinginLA, the above image captures so much of what is wrong with pedestrian planning in Los Angeles:
February 9, 2009
Bringing Back Broadway Wants Your Help with Streetscape Plan
As part of their efforts to revitalize the commercial corridor along Broadway, Bringing Back Broadway wants our help to tell them what streetscaping and pedestrian amenities are needed to spruce up this iconic boulevard. While Broadway is still a place teaming with pedestrian life, Broadway itself is one of those mis-designed Los Angeles streets that place a premium on moving cars and not creating a safe and enjoyable place for people to walk, talk, and, not least of all, buy things.
February 4, 2009