U.S. DOT to Challenge AASHTO Supremacy on Bike/Ped Safety Standards
For years, the federal government has adopted roadway guidelines that fall far short of what’s needed — and what’s possible — to protect cyclists and pedestrians. By “playing it safe” and sticking with old-school engineering, U.S. DOT allowed streets to be unsafe for these vulnerable road users. Read the full Article at DC.Streetsblog.org
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| 2/27/2013 - US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood addresses state transportation officials at AASHTO’s annual Washington conference. |
See the video on the TransportationTV site, or YouTube
Bicycle infrastructure excerpts (see 7:53 to 10:07 of the video):
"Our job is never done. We can always do better, and that’s especially true when it comes to bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
" ... We’re going to continue to work with the cycling community on promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety ...and through improved infrastructure in more livable communities that make biking and walking opportunities as safe as they possibly can be.
"We need your help in this. We know that people are cycling more and walking more and that pedestrian and cycling safety has to be a priority. We must ensure that our streets, bridges and highways are safe, whether we’re in a car or on a bike. ...
"I know that most of you want to build the 21st century infrastructure that your communities need to be competitive. ... Today, I’m proud to tell you that DOT is looking to create a standard guide for how we will build modern streets that work for everyone who depends on them.
" ... we’re going to look at the AASHTO bike guide ... and others... to help us build streets, bridges and highways that keep all travelers as safe as possible...
"Businesses and travelers alike are looking to us to build modern infrastructure that not only meets their changing demands, but is safe as well. We must work together to meet the growing demand for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and to make these transportation options safe for more Americans.""
The video includes comments on TIGER, transportation funding and sequestration.
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We can do better for Concord, NH
The idea of complete streets can be fundamental to ending a 60-70 year trend of automotive centric transportation system which marginalizes alternatives. We can build a community with transportation choices for all users. Many cities around the country are succeeding: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/pdfs/bfc_master_fall2012_with_links.pdf.Having lived in Bike Friendly Communities at the platinum and silver level, I am left with little patience for the bronze level of Concord. We can do better, but only if the bike community demands it. I believe that Main Street is not a complete streets design. Yes, there has been a process, but this has been flawed from the first application for TIGER, to the delayed start of the 17 member advisory committee deliberations focused on parking instead of complete streets.
As a father committed to using alternative transportation I am left with little safe access on Main Street, to use my preferred transportation choice, with my child. There has been progress made in Concord providing sidewalks, where there were none previously, and bike lanes with repaving/repainting projects, We as a city fail to maintain these through the winter, causing people to walk in the streets for weeks and months at a time. We have failed to provide a complete streets design for Main Street, which would encourage or even allows for safe transportation alternative to motor vehicles in this central core area.
The short sightedness of leadership has failed the community. At the beginning of the process the mayor failed to see beyond the past, to the future, in declaring "no loss of parking". Merchants, highway and traffic engineers, and much of the automobile focused community have prevailed in their vision for car centric Main Street. Cycling advocacy has failed to persuade beyond the desires of the recreational and commuter cyclists, to the possibility of cycling as transportation for all, including parents and their children.
If we build it, people will use it. The cities achieving silver, gold, and platinum status as bike friendly communities know this from their success. Failing to build safe infrastructures, people will lack alternatives to driving a car.
We need to do more, and demand more from the city staff, and City Council, if we want safe transportation choices!
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FastLane - Official Blog of DOT Sec. Ray LaHood - April 1, 2013:
Bike safety summits get an enthusiastic green light
"Last month at the National Bike Summit, I said "It's time to take the bicycling renaissance to the next level." And I proposed to help do that by changing the conversation from "Bicycling has earned a seat at the transportation table," to "Like all forms of transportation, bicycling must be safe.""
"... whether you're driving a tractor-trailer, sitting in the back seat of a minivan, or pedaling a bike, the road safety you enjoy shouldn't depend on the number of wheels you're riding on."
"When I say that safety is this Department's number one priority, there's no exception for bikes. With more bicyclists on our streets, helping them ride safely is not a luxury; it's part of our obligation."