Why #pedestrian #infrastructure matters (a thread):
I have to drop my car off at the shop later this week for some maintenance that requires me to leave it for an afternoon. The shop is not really withing my walking radius (especially in July), and my partner’s and my work schedules make it inconvenient for me to ask her for a ride at the time I need it. (1/12)
Setting aside the suggestion to walk in the middle of oncoming traffic on Roxboro, even crossing these two lanes the sensible way is a huge problem. Again, traffic is only coming from one direction, but here it is either turning right from Roxboro, or coming straight from Duke. Which is to say, there is *always* car traffic with the right of way here.
For a pedestrian, crossing here is suicidal. (6/12)
1) It’s worth pointing out that I have lived here many years and driven through this intersection thousands of times, and I didn’t know the way to do this without scouting it out on Google Maps first.
2) People who rely on public transit have to make these calculations every day of their lives. (10/12)
A 900-ft (approximately 5-min) detour is not a big deal for me. I’m able-bodied, and I only need to do this once. And frankly, I have the means to just call an Uber if I don’t feel like it (which I may!)
This is a position of enormous privilege. (11/12)
For someone who does this every day, these detours add up. If they’re late for work and the next bus doesn’t come for an hour, they are going to take otherwise unnecessary risks.
Effectively, this is a tax on poverty, extracted in time, energy, health, and safety. (fin)
Coda: I realize this framing could be seen as equating "transit users" with "poor people." Not my intention. Everyone should use transit if they can! (And I certainly have, though admittedly not regularly, in Durham.)
My point is that a lot of transit users do not have the luxury of choosing it.
@bullcitybrian It's what, 16 or 17 years since I was the civilian member of the Durham Walks! project. Originally conceived as I recall to write a document advising Council how to spend the sidewalk bond money from some years previous. One of my takeaways was that, yes, transit is viewed as a service provided to people who are unable to afford private transportation. The other was that nobody in city government walks further than parking deck to office.
1/
@MrDependable We did recently convince CC to fund a Vision Zero coordinator, which is significant progress. Lots more to do, but at least doing it will be someone's job.
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/durhamnc/jobs/4118238/vision-zero-coordinator
Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.The Transportation Department plans, builds, and maintains a safe and vibrant multi-modal transportation network that supports safety, mobility, and environmental sustainability to provide a superior quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors. If you’re interested in helping bring innovative, community-focused transportation solutions to our community while growing in your career, come to Durham!Hiring Range: $61,357.00 - $73,628.00Workdays/Times: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (some after hours or weekend work may be required as part of engagement and outreach efforts)This position supports and promotes the development of the City’s Vision Zero program. This includes developing goals and strategies that can be implemented through partnerships across agencies and sectors in order to meet the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on streets in Durham.This position will have primary responsibilities for managing multiple facets of the program including: representing the City in developing the regional Vision Zero Action Plan; developing Vision Zero branding and awareness campaigns; conducting outreach on the Vision Zero Initiative; and participating in any local, regional or national activities in relation to supporting the City’s Vision Zero program; developing applications for grant funding to support Vision Zero activities, and overall communication of the City’s Vision Zero program.
@MrDependable Very true. One of the the other things some of us are working on is building support for requesting control of some NC DOT-owned roads within city limits (and raising the necessary bonds to fund those acquisitions and maintenance.)
It's an idea with some traction though I think some people want to see Chapel Hill do it first.
Great points.
I used to take a train from North County San Diego to Sorrento Valley every day for work - it took maybe 10 minutes longer, door to door, but it took a lot of stress out of my day. It did mean that I was without a vehicle at lunchtime, which created a bit of inconvenience.
There was a retail center just on the other side of the 805 from the office with a half-dozen lunch options, and the weather in San Diego should make it an obvious place to walk to get lunch - especially as parking in the retail center at lunchtime was a bit of a nightmare.
However, the crossing was a death trap with relatively high speeds and no signal for people to cross. Of the several hundred people at that office, I think fewer than a dozen of us ever walked to get lunch.
1/2
How many trip-hours for single-passenger vehicles would have been avoided if they had implemented minimal pedestrian infrastructure for the hundreds of people working in the office parks less than one mile away? How many others might have been willing to use the very nice mass transit option (SD Coaster) if the area had been more pedestrian-friendly?
Note: I haven't been to this area in 6 or 7 years, so there may have been improvements since, but all the investments I saw go in were definitely focused on vehicle traffic. (2/2)
Brian Hawkins
MrDependable
Brian Schwarz