Videos you can use - Feb 11, 2011

Again, I don't like to just rehash content that is already out there on the web without at least a little analysis but the following two videos that were featured on Streetsblog NYC are just too good and pertinent not to share.

The first is a look at the different view the media and law enforcement has of cyclists and of the drivers that hit them in the Netherlands. Clarence's analysis of the differences is spot on and needs no further comment so take a look at what he has to say here.



Also, and maybe even more relevant to New Jersey, is this video meant to counteract some of the national push-back on Red Light Cameras. The video has it's very disturbing moments, so be warned. There is a bit of irony since much if not all of the video of the crashes seem to have been shot on Red Light Cameras (tragically ironic, really since the cameras didn't seem to help those victims). Again Streetsblog's analysis along with that of the commenters just about says it all.

Christie Admin. announces $7.6 million in Local Aid grants

33 grants to be awarded through four Local Aid programs

The following is a verbatim copy of the NJDOT press release with the same above title.  Readers should note that monies awarded from all four individual grant programs are helping to pay for projects intended to make improvements for bicyclist and pedestrians almost exclusively. -Ed.

(Trenton) - The Christie Administration today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will award 33 grants worth a total of $7.6 million to municipal and county recipients through four Local Aid programs.

The state-funded grants will support projects that competed for FY 11 funding under the Transit Village, Centers of Place, Bikeways and Safe Streets to Transit programs, each of which falls under New Jersey’s $200 million Local Aid program. A total of 237 submissions competed for the funding.

News you can use - Feb. 10, 2011

This was a bumper day and week in the news regarding bike and pedestrian issues around the state today so instead of try to rehash everything in my own words it's just easier for me to link you directly to the stories.

NJDOT announces grants of nearly $3 million for bikeway development around New Jersey
NJ Off-Road Biking

Butler's crosswalk to nowhere 
Suburban Trends

More Cyclists = Safer Cycling in Minneapolis
Streetsblog Network

NY Counties Oppose Complete Streets Bill Without Understanding It
Streetsblog

Chinese Mayors Encourage Car Owners to Use Public Transit Instead
Scientific American

Tri-State releases Most Dangerous Roads for Walking - 2011

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign released its third edition of its report titled The Region's Most Dangerous Roads for Walking (2011).  Included with the 10 page report are a series of factsheets for each county in the area that the TSTC covers along with links to interactive Google maps showing the locations of the crashes and the hotspot roadways.  New Jersey gets special consideration by TSTC as it is the only state to have the crash data for all of its counties broken down.  


This map Middlesex Ped Fatals 2007-2009 is a sample of the interactive maps produced by TSTC.

While another superb report by TSTC, I have two small nits to pick with the rankings and the report itself.

Streetfilms: Snow piles as de facto traffic calming

With all the snow on the ground for the past two months, one can't help but notice how all the piles of snow on the streets have been acting as de facto bulb-outs and neck-downs. I've been meaning to go out a document this in my neighborhood but today I came across this great video by Clarence at Streetfilms.  So why bother trying to reinvent the wheel when an expert such as Clarence has done such a great job demonstrating the principle already.  Enjoy!



BTW, Clarence is a really great guy and a good friend of Kerri down at Second Life Bikes in Asbury Park.

FREE FHWA Pedestrian Safety Webinar on February 23

The following is forwarded here from Tamara Redmon, Pedestrian Safety Program Manager at the Federal Highway Administration.

The next FHWA Pedestrian Safety Webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 23, from 1:00-2:30 Eastern Time.

This FREE webinar will feature a presentation on the FHWA’s newly completed Pedestrian Safety Strategic Plan: Recommendations for Research and Product Development that can be viewed here:  http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pssp/.   This 15-year plan ensures that the entire pedestrian program and each project undertaken by FHWA are aimed at reaching the goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

In order to register for this webinar, please click here:  https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=22420

Roundabout video shows locals eating "Humble Pie"

This is a great, well edited but simple video of a well designed roundabout and of all the locals residents admitting that all their strong doubts about the project were entirely unfounded.  The location is Glens Falls, NY.  While this is primarily a project to benefit motorized traffic, there are still a great deal of pedestrian amenities like bump-outs and streetscaping not clearly shown in this video, around the roundabout and down the main street.  It would be curious to see what people's reactions would have been if the video interviewed a whole bunch of locals after a (pedestrian zone, woonerf / shared space / play street, bike lane, traffic calming, shared use path, etc. - choose one) was installed that was never intended to solve a traffic flow problem. That would be much more interesting, indeed.

Also, I wonder if that being from up state New York has anything to do with people willing to admit that they were wrong.  If you threw in a little "Jersey Attitude," would it change people's opinions of the end results?



If your curious to see what the intersection looked like prior to the change, this Google aerial image shows what it once looked like.  Then to compare, you can go to the Streetsview and see what it looks like today while you take a virtual drive through the roundabout.  The transformation is incredible and exceptionally well done (bike lanes?)!