Realistic traffic solutions for Somerville?

[turil.livejournal.com]

Yesterday, I walked down to Davis Square and, being the transportation geek that I am, I naturally watched the traffic to see what people were up to. This is what I noticed:

- A very large percentage of people, if not most, don't actually come to a legal and safe stop at stop signs, stop lines, and even some red lights. (They either blow through them, slow down but don't actually stop long enough to be able to yield to the traffic that has the right of way, or don't stop until they are well into the intersection and block cross-traffic.)

- Some people rely on stop signs, red lights, and crosswalks for safety (specifically, cross-traffic with the right of way - both vehiclular and pedestrian traffic).

- Other people, who believe that stop signs/lines/signals aren't very reliable indicators of safety, are afraid to use the public ways or are reluctant to go when they have the right of way. (Especially those who don't have a couple of tons of metal armor protecting them!)

- Current policing doesn't seem to be making things better, and the problem is rapidly increasing! (I used to walk to school by myself when I was in kindergarden in this area, and these days I imagine that there isn't a single parent around here who would feel safe letting their kid walk to school alone.)

What to do? It seems like we need a solution that combines a realistic understanding of natural human behavior (including inertia, self-centeredness, and self-preservation), real physical and emotional safety, and clearly defined policies/design. Should we stick with the stop signs, lines, and signals, and just spend lots more money on enforcement? Should we try to create new street designs and signs that work better than the ones we have? Should we try to change people's natural behavior by getting them to understand how important it is for them to cooperate with others? The usual solutions that come from traffic engineers, the police, and city hall don't seem to be working for Somerville. So, I'm thinking that the solution needs to come by thinking a bit more "outside the box"... (remember, Davis Square isn't actually a square! :-)

Also, can we learn anything from other parts of the world where traffic does flow well and safely? Or learn from the past, when things were better in Somerville?

Comments

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

This just in! Drivers in the metro-Boston area Insert Your Town Name Here suck!

As a driver/walker around the square, I have to agree with the sentiment above that cyclists tend to be way more of a problem in terms of not obeying traffic laws. I know the internet is full of "but I'm not one of those cyclists," but I've yet to see evidence of more than a select few law-abiding cyclists every time I'm driving (which, admittedly, is pretty much only on weekends).

Also, ever driven outside of this country? Minor traffic issues in Somerville are a dream compared to many other roads out there.

[komos.livejournal.com]

Besides, I thought we were looking at installing MORE lights for cyclists.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Hmmm? You know that all traffic lights already apply to biyclists, right?

[komos.livejournal.com]

How soon we forget... (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/609138.html)

[turil.livejournal.com]

Those weren't just for cyclists, though. They were for any traffic that happened to pass Dover street but not make it past Day before the light changed, or were pulling out from parking or dropping someone off there.

[komos.livejournal.com]

I have never seen car traffic "stuck" in that short stretch of road unless there's a backup moving through the Square, and in those cases, cars tend to creep along as though their bumpers were glued together until they clear the intersection. Careless and/or aggressive cyclists are the only reason that an additional light could be realistically argued, but more often than not they would continue doing precisely what they have been doing - ignoring lights when they are, like the op, not paying attention; or ignoring lights when it is inconvenient to stop.

It's interesting that in spite of all the ideas floated in that thread, there's been no movement on the Square's traffic "issues." That being the case, what is the purpose of this thread? I mean, outside of rehashing unworkable ideas like the Powderhouse/roundabout model? Do you or anyone else here have the ability to effect change, or is this just an pointless quasi-intellectual exercise that gives the illusion of community organizing, and one we'll get to watch again some six months hence?

[turil.livejournal.com]

There are many legal reasons for vehicles to get trapped in that space, since it is a legal section of the road between to intersections. Specifically, bikes can legally park on that sidewalk, and legally enter the road there. If there isn't a traffic signal to stop traffic from going through the Day street intersection then they legally have a right of way. And letting two cross streets have the right of way is kind of a bad idea.

And, the putpose of my post was to try and generate some ideas for solutions. And yes, we all have the power to make changes happen in the city if we want. I've been the chair of a city transportation committee, and helped make several changes to Somerville policy in general as well as influencing specific design projects in the city. And I'm just a normal gal with an art school education :-) So, yeah, there is a lot that we could do if we wanted to. The real key is to get a more diverse range of people involved, so that it's not just us transportation geeks making the decisions for everyone...

[komos.livejournal.com]

The lights are timed such that it is exceedingly rare that car traffic gets "trapped" in that area unless there's a snarl further up Elm.

As for bike traffic, they can go ahead and assume that they have the right of way in spite of two lights that are perfectly visible from the city-provided bike lock in front of the hole that was 1 Davis Square, but they're risking getting creamed by traffic that actually has a light. (This has been confirmed, and if anyone decides to challenge this, I will provide photos to prove it.) Incidentally, MA law lays the onus of responsibility for a collision occuring as the result of a vehicle leaving a parking spot on that vehicle. In other words, bikes coming off of the city-provided bike park are liable for any accident they cause by violating ROW for traffic turning with a light. There is no excuse for riders who fail to pay attention to their surroundings.

"We all have the power to make changes happen..."
And yet, nothing has changed as a result of either of the conversations on this topic several months ago. Sure, we've talked about the Monderman model, but it simply will not work in the Square. The carless idea is just as unworkable and would arguably hamstring local businesses. What other ideas have come out of three lengthy and meandering discussions? Tunnels? The Ewok Village?

Perhaps the reason why ideas are so sparse is because it's entirely unclear why we need ideas at all since there's no real evidence aside from your repeated insistence and reminisces about childhood romps that demonstrates that traffic through the Square is not working.

[turil.livejournal.com]

I've learned a lot out of this discussion! Annd I had a lot of fun brainstorming with those who were interested.

It sounds like you aren't interested in working on traffic issues. And that's fine. But why bother joining the conversation if it only annoys you? Why not spend the time doing something you enjoy and is more meaningful to you? Unless, of course, complaining is what you enjoy and find meaning in :-)

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

*snerk*

More lights for them to ignore! Or not see!

[komos.livejournal.com]

We should require that everyone travel through the Square blindfolded and talking on cells. That way, we'd all be on even footing.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

Much of this stems from simple ignorance. Many cyclists aren't aware that they are responsible for obeying posted signs and signals, and many motorists aren't aware that cyclists have all but one of the rights that a motorist has (cyclists are not permitted onto highways).

[turil.livejournal.com]

Make that "limited access highways where "no bicycles" signs are posted" :-)

And yeah, I think it's a combination of lack of education for everyone, as well as a lack of respect, combined with a feeling that other folks can't be trusted so people tend to take the law into their own hands, so to speak.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Yes, drivers of all sorts of vehicles around these parts are getting worse. And I have been to other parts of the world, Portland Oregon, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Holland, and was delighted by the respect and collaborative attitudes of nearly all of the road users. And, as I mentioned, when I was a kid (30-something years ago) around here people the streets were much safer.

So, what can we do about it?

[komos.livejournal.com]

If Davis returns to its earlier kind-of-a-shithole incarnation with such attractions as the Social Security office, the methadone clinic, and nigh-on daily bum fights, people won't really want to go there anymore.

The result will be less traffic, though it will do absolutely nothing for physical and emotional safety.

[ron_newman]

The Social Security office closed? When?

[komos.livejournal.com]

My point was that the Social Security office was one of the only draws to the area unless you were really into bad Chinese or bad Italian food. 15-20 years changes a lot.

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Didn't you start another community for posts like this?

[turil.livejournal.com]

A Davis Square traffic community? Not that I know of...

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Ah, so your other community is strictly for Insane Ramblings.


30 years ago Davis didn't have a T stop feeding into it, and from what I've heard from folks who lived around here back then, not nearly as many people drove around the area. There are very different demographic issues going on in the square now that make going back to "the way things used to be" nigh on impossible. And if you were a child 30 years ago, I'm sure you didn't notice the same things that you notice now as an adult.

[turil.livejournal.com]

I see the difference more in people's attitudes rather than demographics or road design, really. Today, more people seem to be stressed out, angry, and in a hurry. I don't think anyone actually enjoys being that way, and I'm wondering what others think might be a way to help people be more healthy. I obviously have my own ideas about that, but I'm curious about other people's perspectives, too.

And you are definitely right about the conflict between having a popular and thriving business district and people's desire to use the Davis Square streets to get somewhere else. I'm thinking that the combination just isn't really workable. Trying to combine a throughway with a destination seems like a recipe for frustration. There already is one tunnel through Davis, and it gets used for a lot of through traffic, maybe there is a way to move more of that through traffic through the tunnels?

[komos.livejournal.com]

You're not seriously contending that there hasn't been a major shift in the demographics of the area, are you?

If your contention is that the problem is with "people's attitudes rather than demographics or road design," why are you suggesting a road design solution?

I want to see more penguins!

[turil.livejournal.com]

You're not seriously contending that there hasn't been a major shift in the demographics of the area, are you?

Not at all. There has definitely been a major demographics change in Davis over the past 30 years. And certainly adding population to an area will effect it's traffic issues. But I personally don't want to see Davis Square be less successful as a business and residential district. I'm not always an advocate for big change and "progress" but in this case, I think it's healthy for Somerville to have such a thriving area as Davis Square.

If your contention is that the problem is with "people's attitudes rather than demographics or road design," why are you suggesting a road design solution?

I'm not suggesting anything specific yet, I'm curious about all the various options and other people's thoughts on the matter. I imagine that attitudes and behaviors can be positively influenced through a wide variety of changes, including different designs that work with people's natural tendencies and clear up any confusion that people may have about what's expected of them.

So enough about me, what do you think of Davis Square traffic?

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think we need to start moving pedestrians through the tunnels. The T tunnels. Maybe people can walk on top of the trains? I'm curious to see what you think of that! Smiley Face!

X-games underground

[turil.livejournal.com]

Extreme commuting. I like it. Rather than pedestrians riding in the train, there could be a more adventurous option to lure the motorists who actually like the thrill that comes from trying to drive a car in urban traffic. It would certainly take the geeky-professional stigma away from taking the T.

Yep, I like it. Thanks.

Not all that practical, but an ad campaign using the idea might be very practical and useful moving through traffic though Davis more effectively. There would probably also need to be an expansion of the T service past Fresh Pond to really be useful for those folks who choose to live in Somerville and work out in the suburbs.