Despite common concerns that narrower traffic lanes and bike infrastructure can slow emergency response, response times in one study didn’t change.
A study that sought to quantify the impact of road diets on emergency response times found that “there was virtually no difference in emergency response travel time (in min/km) after a road conversion compared to before, both in total and when they looked at specific road diets.”
As Jonathan M. Gitlin explains in Ars Technica, a research team from the University of Iowa surveyed first responders. Roughly half of the first responders surveyed believed there was no change in response time, while a third believed response times slowed down and 16 percent thought response times became faster.
The team then looked at specific response times from three fire districts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where road diets were installed, finding no change in response times. The study is an important part of the debate over traffic calming tools such as lane width reduction, which has been shown to improve traffic safety — thus also reducing the need for emergency response to traffic crashes.
FULL STORY: Bike lanes and narrowed streets don’t slow emergency vehicles
Balancing Road Diets With Emergency Access
Examples from the Netherlands show how bike lanes and traffic calming can coexist with effective emergency response.
Getting Buy-in for Road Diets From Fire Departments
Proposals to narrow streets often meet resistance from emergency responders concerned about safety and access.
Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades
The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.
Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service