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davis_squareYesterday, 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?
- 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?
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-24 09:10 pm (UTC)I think there are several things at work here, some of them which can be regulated and some of which just require good behavior.
Highland: Making the left lane left turn only would allow people to enter onto Elm without waiting for the one fellow to go forward through the square and stop blocking the turnoff. Remove the closest few spaces of parking in the right lane to allow right turners to make it onto College Ave without waiting for the light. Add crosswalk flag (as in Arlington) on both cross-walks to make drivers more aware.
Russel St: Remove lights at Summer and Elm. There's not very much traffic and a LOT of waiting.
JP Licks triangle: Ticket bikers who flagrantly disobey the rules.
Elm St: Pedestrians walk anywhere (even when crosswalks occur at least every block) and cars and trucks double park. Gah!
That's a start at least...
no subject
Date: 2007-01-24 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-25 01:12 am (UTC)Quite simply, a small task force of concerned citizens who are given the right to approach people who are not falling within the guidelines of "good behavior" and tell them, "Hey, dude. Quit being a dick."
no subject
Date: 2007-01-25 01:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-25 01:30 am (UTC)"Whoa! My bad dude. I didn't realize I was being a dick. Next time I won't ride on the sidewalk."
no subject
Date: 2007-01-27 04:05 pm (UTC)Personally I'm in favor of being allowed to paintball cars which blatantly violate traffic rules and courtesies. Makes them obviously visible as a danger to others, and costs them money to clean up.