#Safe streets

[atlurbanist]

I took this photo over six years ago and nothing has changed in that time. It looks the same.

You're seeing a man run across an un-signalized pedestrian crossing on Piedmont Avenue, near North Avenue, to get to Publix. He's running because a small cluster of cars is barreling toward him (out of frame behind me) with no sign of slowing down.

I took out my camera in expectation of this scene because I'd just had the same experience while walking here.

The design of this section of Piedmont sends a psychological signal to drivers: "this looks like an interestate highway or a race track, so drive fast and don't bother looking for pedestrians."

This is a city-owned street with apartments all around. We're not just failing to give alternative transportation options a chance with this design. We're failing to be basically sympathetic to people who aren't in a car. And we're doing it year after year.

Atlanta has made many strides over the past few years with street design. They're well worth celebrating. But we shouldn't stop being shaken by the lingering danger that affects people in the problem spots.

Something that's also happened over the past six years: a health emergency left me with permanent neurological damage that affects my mobility. Now I see a scene like this and I'm forced to imagine what it will be like for me to slowly pass through with a cane. I want the city to look out for all of us, but I can't help but feel particularly protective of everyone who's incapable of running from the danger.

Darin Givens | Oct 22, 2024

[atlantathecity]

I'm glad to see leading pedestrian intervals at some intersections, where the walk signal gives pedestrians a head start. But I wish they were everywhere. I get this experience too often, being in a crosswalk while a car zips through as a driver makes a turn.

[This experience was, in fact, my entry into the urbanism rabbit hole -- specifically, crossing Ponce to get groceries while pushing my son in a baby stroller and watching drivers zip inches past us.]

Related: am I getting grumpier or is driver behavior getting worse? A little of both probably. We spotted multiple drivers brazenly run red lights yesterday while we were walking around.

It's also possible that my expectations of street safety have risen to the point where bad behavior is more glaring now that it used to be. Which is not a bad thing. We should all have higher expectations of safe streets.

[tracerca]

The excellent Jessica Spieker from ffsafestreets.ca is talking about how the removal of bikes lanes all over Ontario and here in Toronto is just a distraction from the rampant corruption of Doug Ford. Crumbling #healthcare , botched #transit projects and sneaking in favours in this legislation to make developer buddies to make them richer. This legislation does nothing to help congestion or move more people. It's a ploy to appeal to his base and distract.

[astraystayyh]

They have since left four premature babies to decompose on their beds. They have since kidnapped, stripped, tortured civilians and tried to frame them as Hamas fighters for their propaganda. They have since shot people at refugee camps execution style. They have since targeted academics and poets and directors. They have since killed 86 journalists. Still no ceasefire.

psa: i know that many of us did NOT doubt this for a second, neither did i. this is targeted at the people who educated themselves for the first time about this genocide and discovered the absolute horrific things that Israel is capable of doing to Palestinians, with the unwavering support of its allies.

[kiranherbert]

Better Bike Infrastructure Saves Lives

[bansuvs]

happening tomorrow!

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Suggest Gananoque Light Up at Night," Kingston Whig-Standard. June 8, 1933. Page 14. ---- Kingston Car Damaged Mrs. Duff, Kingston, Addresses W.M.S. ---- GANANOQUE, June 8 - At Tuesday evening's meeting of the Town Council, Mayor George R. Webb suggested that local merchants would do well to follow the practice of other summer town merchants and leave their windows lighted in the evenings. The suggestion is a most practical one, and will no doubt find favor with many local merchants. Such action would add immeasurably to the appearance of King Street in the evenings. In many cases it would probably be an inducement to tourists going through in the evening to stop here overnight and longer.

Addressed W.M.S. At the regular business meeting of the Women's Missionary Society of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Duff of Kingston came down and gave a report of the Provincial W. M. S. at Stratford. At the conclusion of the proceedings the society presented a life membership certificate to Mrs. Isabelle Bain as a slight token of her long and faithful service to the society. It was a great surprise to Mrs. Bain and she said she was speechless. Nevertheless, she found words to thank the society very heartily for its action. A bounteous banquet was served and enjoyed.

At about three o'clock yesterday afternoon a car driven by George K. Taylor of Gananoque, in pulling away from the front of Taylor's store, King Street East, struck the rear fender of a car driven by Mr. Dennison of Kingston, which was also proceeding west, and damaged the front bumper of the Taylor car and the rear fender of the Dennison car.

Personals Miss Agnes Kent has returned to "The Poplars" from Syracuse, N. Y., where she delivered an address in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in that city.

Mrs. J. A. Wehster and son-in-law, William Carpenter, Toronto, spent the week-end with friends in Gananoque and vicinity.

Mrs. Fred Cummings and little son are spending a few days in Niagara Falls, Ont., with Mr. Cummings, who is engaged there at present.

[interstellarsystem]

Nonhumans are here, even if you do not see us. We always will be. We are often hard to spot, but can be found doing all the things a human might.

A cat went to work at an event stall for a mental health service.

A massive sea serpent wanted to go to science class because it enjoyed it more than the rest of those living in its shared form.

The void sat down, huddled up in a blanket, to watch a tv show with its partners. It had to stop watching after a bit, but enjoyed spending time with those close to it anyway.

A wolf went to a psychologist appointment and gratefully drank the hot chocolate they were offered in the waiting room.

A shapeshifting being of pure darkness spoke publicly about trans rights in front of politicians and then went to the pride festival he helped fight to keep alive.

A dragon went to school so the others sharing his human body could have a break.

A manifestation of the fear of madness itself sat in the food court at the mall eating mochi and drinking tea while waiting for its friends to get back from shopping.

A witch drew a picture of his cardinal bird and shared the work he was so proud of with his friends.

A cockatoo borrowed the next book in his favourite series from the school library and almost couldn't wait the whole day to go home and read it.

An alien went camping and watched the birds outside and the way the wind made waves and patterns on the water.

A fallen angel went shopping for sunglasses to shield his eyes from how bright the sun was.

A harpy went shopping for new plants to look after. He named a few because he loved them so much, and sent pictures to all of his friends.

An anthropomorphic hedgehog traded Pokemon cards with his peers at school. He was happy with his collection.

You may not see us, and you may feel alone, but you are not. We are just hidden. We are in more places than you'd think, and in the places you'd least expect. We are complex, we are valued, and we are here.

[atlurbanist]

Transportation planning tends to over-emphasize the speed & flow of cars while giving crumbs to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, & transit riders. It's crucial to get a better transportation balance within the existing design of urban streets through redesigns. BUT...

Don't forget to demand better land use as well.

When much of our urbanized space is designed at a scale for cars it's too easy to criticize progressive street redesigns as pie-in-the-sky ideals that "punish" people who live and/or work in these spots. We need to make it so that those criticisms are less easy.

In the short term we should absolutely do what we can to redesign streets for bike/ped safety and transit efficiency. But in the long term, it's essential to retrofit pedestrian-oriented spaces into cities and suburbs for the sake of ensuring comprehensive, equitable access to safer streets in and to mobility options.

[jakegardiner]

Obsessed with Vision Zero Vancouver’s energy

[vox-anglosphere]

A safe, ordered, respectful society - but Londoners are different now.

This photograph shows The Strand on a summer day, and was taken in July 1937. The woman featured is hailing an STL-type bus, bound for Liverpool Street.

[luetta]

[authenticfashionstatements]

Safe Open

[kiranherbert]

How a Bike Bus Inspired a State Bill

[jackredfieldwasmyjacob]

there's more than 50 reported deaths (for now)

[strongermonster]

one of the funniest news things in canada that always tickles me is the ongoing war between magic mushroom shops and the police.

this is the absolute height of humour to me right now