Safety

Jaywalking Not As Big A Safety Issue As Assumed

Over the past 15 years, more than 76,000 pedestrians have been killed in the U.S. Some say preventing a significant portion of these deaths is as simple as enforcing jaywalking laws. Not so, argues Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic.
15 November 2009 - 9:00am
Slate

Safety and Gender in Los Angeles

Enci Box's personal account of how gender, safety, and living car-free intersect in her daily transportation decisions.
9 October 2009 - 2:00pm
LA Streetsblog

Rail Safety Improvements Years Away

Head-on train collisions can be avoided by simply keeping one train per track. There's a plan to make that happen, but it's years from implementation.
9 October 2009 - 6:00am
Miller-McCune

More Terrifying Than Texting?

In this survey, drivers 'fess up to twelve distracting things they do while driving; and some are even more distracting than texting.
8 October 2009 - 1:00pm
The Chicago Tribune

The Planetizen News Brief - 9/10/09


4:25 minutes (4.05 MB)

Turning off traffic lights in London, reducing VMT through density, and the rising demand for parks -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.

10 September 2009 - 5:00am

Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters

Streets aren't just for driving, and cities are starting to realize it. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan explain why street design matters and where we are today in terms of designing the "street space."
23 July 2009 - 5:00am

Safety in Immigrant Numbers

A high rate of poverty, a large population of illegal aliens, and a next-door neighbor to one of the most dangerous cities in the hemisphere, El Paso would seem to be a hotbed of danger. But it's actually one of the safest big cities in America.
20 July 2009 - 8:00am
Reason

Inspection in Philly After D.C. Crash

SEPTA of Philadelphia will inspect train-control signals made by the same company that made the signals on the Metro in D.C, where a possible signal malfunction is under investigation in the recent train crash.
26 June 2009 - 1:00pm
The Philadelphia Inquirer

'Death Wish' and the Life of Great American Cities

Thu, 10/23/2008 - 07:53

City streets need only few things to make them safe, according to the famous urbanist Jane Jacobs. She says safe streets need people walking around, places for them to go, things for them to do and other people for them to interact with. Simple as that. But Jane forgot one more thing: a sock full of quarters.

Planning for True Security

Tue, 10/07/2008 - 10:26

Most people have a highly distorted view of the risks they face, which skews their decisions and ultimately reduces their happiness. We live in one of the safest times and places in history, yet, many people live in constant fear, and respond in ways that actually reduce overall security. This is a major obstacle to efficient transportation, healthy living, and livable community.

Cars, Kids, and a Safer Environment Through Planning

Urban areas are filled with cars, and this creates an unsafe environment for children. This commentary argues that officials need to regain their faith in the power of planning to address the issue.
25 September 2008 - 2:00pm
Guardian

Post-9/11 Safety Provisions Challenged

Safety codes recommended by NIST after analyzing the collapse of the World Trade Center are being challenged by another federal agency on the grounds they will be too costly.
9 September 2008 - 7:00am
The New York Times

A Struggle Between Security and Civil Rights at Beijing's Olympics

Security is a major concern during large public events like the Olympics. The Chinese government is making preparations for a safe event, but could they go too far?
11 August 2008 - 7:00am
Buildings Magazine

Kids Afraid to Play in Public

A recent report by The Australian Commission of Children and Young People reveals that kids in Sydney are too afraid to play outside or ride the bus.
28 July 2008 - 1:00pm
The Daily Telegraph, Sydney

Manhole Theft Plagues Philadelphia

The rising value of iron and steel has prompted thieves to steal an alarming amount of manhole covers from Philadelphia's streets.
24 July 2008 - 10:00am
The New York Times

Bike Language: the Wave, the Yell and the Nod

Mon, 07/14/2008 - 14:52
City cycling can be hectic. Let's be realistic: most American cities are not meant for cyclists. It would be great if they were, but for now, our city forms are primarily designed for the movement of cars. Because cities are made for cars, it's understandable that car drivers tend to disregard the fact that somebody might be riding a bike out there. (Interchange blogger Mike Lydon recently wrote an excellent piece about planning for bicycle networks.) Until our urban forms and public policies encourage the use of roads by a variety of transportation types, the burden is on cyclists to assert their role in the transit jungle. Communication is key to achieving this goal. Safe cycling (and safe transportation in general) relies heavily on communication. Safe cyclists speak bike language -- a rudimentary system made up of three main components: the wave, the yell and the nod.

Of Cyclepaths and Psychopaths

Cyclists Bill Reynolds muses on the freedom offered by the bicycle -- and the tragic tendency for cyclists to fall victim to automobiles.
23 June 2008 - 5:00am
The Walrus

NYC To Experiment With Car-Free Zone

In an effort to increase livability, New York City will test a 6.9 mile car-free corridor during the month of August.
17 June 2008 - 2:00pm
The New York Times

A Laser Light Show in the Crosswalk

Will laser-projected pedestrians make crossing the street safer in South Korea?
30 May 2008 - 5:00am
Streetsblog

Wi-Fi Plans Dropped Over Health Concerns

Officials in the California city of Sebastopol have gone back on an agreement with an Internet provider that was planning to create a municipal Wi-Fi network for the city. They cited health concerns in their decision.
28 March 2008 - 9:00am
The Press Democrat
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