David HoFeb 23, 2024
No vehicles should be moving through an intersection when pedestrians are crossing. #RedLightsForAll
Show threadlegraLeGraFeb 24, 2024

@davidho

Agree.

This story of how a cabbie turning left hit a 9-year-old boy and his father crossing the street, throwing both up on the hood, but the father lost his grip on the son and he was run over by the driver still haunts me.

https://www.westsiderag.com/2014/01/15/rip-cooper-stock-alexander-shear-what-now

I get afraid every time I see kids trying to cross intersections that are not two one-way streets.

Even *Today* , I had a near miss of someone turning left right into me so I had to run out of the way when I had the pedestrian walk.

R.I.P. COOPER STOCK, ALEXANDER SHEAR; WHAT NOW?

The 9-year-old boy and 73-year-old man who died in separate crashes on Friday night within two blocks of each other

West Side Rag
Show threadBrad Rosenheim

@atthenius @davidho

It speaks volumes that, even after a night like that, our officials tread slowly and carefully before making changes that could help pedestrians, if they make any at all.

Feb 24, 2024 at 12:07pmWeb
Show threadlegraLeGraFeb 24, 2024

@Brad_Rosenheim @davidho

Eventually, the boy’s parents got a law passed that taxi drivers who killed someone while breaking road rules would get more than a slap on the wrist.

But that didn’t translate to other drivers. In NY, if you aren’t intoxicated and stay on the scene, you get away with killing people with your car. Even while speeding or running red lights or failing to yield on turns.

Show threadDavid HoFeb 24, 2024
@atthenius @Brad_Rosenheim In London, there’s no turning on red and often when pedestrians have a “walk” sign, all vehicles have red lights. It’s the least they could do for driving on the wrong side of the road.
Show threadlegraLeGraFeb 24, 2024

@davidho @Brad_Rosenheim
Something like a pedestrian scramble interval would be great in NY, especially in areas where folks on foot outnumber those in cars.

And— it IS nice where intersections have sharp turns designed into the roadway to slow the vehicle turns down as much as possible.

Or maybe like that metal stop narrow barrier picture you posted a few months ago. What city was that?

Show threadDavid HoFeb 24, 2024
@atthenius @Brad_Rosenheim That was London
Show threadBrad RosenheimFeb 24, 2024
@atthenius @davidho But why focus on punishing a taxi driver when focus should be on bad infrastructure that favors cars over pedestrians?
Show threadlegraLeGraFeb 24, 2024

@Brad_Rosenheim @davidho

The real answer: taxi drivers are less moneyed.

And this ‘fix’ appeased the publics outrage without spending too much money.

Design is a chunk of it in NY but our current mayor has unilaterally cancelled our bike lane and bus lane laws without any consequence.
NYC also passed a law to punish drivers who habitually drive dangerously. They didn’t actually enforce the law, but a surprising fraction of aggressive driving is carried out by a small number of drivers.