Increasingly utilized as 'black boxes' in the aftermath of collisions with motorized vehicles, video cameras are the newest addition to the arsenal of tools being employed to make streets safer for bikes.
Nick Wingfield reports on the increasing use of small, bicycle- or rider-mounted video cameras, that are, "providing high-tech evidence in what is sometimes an ugly
contest between people who ride the roads on two wheels and those who
use four."
According to Wingflield, "Video from these cameras has begun to play an invaluable role in police
investigations of a small number of hit-and-runs and other incidents
around the country, local authorities say. Lawyers who specialize in
representing bicyclists say they expect the use of cameras for this
purpose to increase as awareness of the devices goes up and their
prices, now starting at around $200, come down."
The growing use of such cameras may even work as a deterrent to prevent motorist harassment, a widespread nuisance that new laws in Los Angeles and Berkeley have sought to address.
"'It's a fact of life that on American roads that you get punked, cut off
purposely, harassed, not once but on a regular basis,' said Bob
Mionske, a former Olympic cyclist who is now a lawyer representing
bicyclists in Portland, Ore. 'If motorists start to hear about bikes
having cameras, they're going to think twice about running you off the
road.'"
FULL STORY: Cameras Are Cyclists’ ‘Black Boxes’ in Accidents

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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)