The Seattle Times Editorial Board argues that automated enforcement would remove scofflaws from blocking bus commuters.
For efficiency and fairness, Seattle should experiment with automated enforcement of its bus lanes, the Seattle Times Editorial Board argues. "Given that buses carrying 90 people are routinely delayed or stopped by a single-occupant car, it’s a good idea that should be tried," the Times argues. The Seattle Department of Transportation has found that certain key points on bus routes are blocked more than a hundred times each day.
"Seattle Police could issue tickets every day, but the police have more important work and the act of stopping drivers to ticket them would further jam the bus lanes," they argue. Further, police stops can be problematic for other reasons, while the piece does not discuss it, automation could curb racial profiling and protect police and drivers from potentially violent interactions that sometimes happen during traffic stops.
Finally, the Seattle Times argues the tactic has been used successfully in other cities like London and San Francisco. "That city [San Francisco] has seen a 55 percent reduction in violations since 2014 and a 16 percent drop in collisions," they report.
FULL STORY: Cameras to nab bus-lane cheaters are a good idea
Vision Zero...Without the Enforcement
As a leading bicycle advocacy organization withdraws support for police enforcement of Vision Zero plans, the discretionary practices of traffic enforcement come under rejuvenated scrutiny.
Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.
Lack of Traffic Safety Enforcement Blamed for Vision Zero Failures
Education, engineering, and enforcement are the three "e's" of Vision Zero in San Francisco. A lack of on of those "e's"—enforcement—might explain why more people are dying on the city's streets this year that any year since the city adopted Vision Z
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
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The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)