A new law with the support of the mayor and an initial approval by the D.C. council will make it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to collect insurance after a crash with a motor vehicle.
Andrew Giambrone reports on a victory for pedestrian and bike advocates, after Washington, D.C. has made progress toward adopting the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act [pdf] into law.
The Washington, D.C. Council voted unanimously to upvote the act, with a second vote expected in September. Existing D.C. law allows for bicyclists and pedestrians to collect insurance after a collision only if the driver in the crash was 100 percent at fault.
As a separate article by Luz Lazo on the new legislation explains, the new law gives "[b]icyclists and pedestrians in the District could soon have a greater chance of recouping a share of medical bills and other costs after a crash."
"The legislation would give bicyclists the right to argue fault in shades of gray with insurance companies and juries, giving them a greater shot at collecting damages," adds Lazo.
Both Lazo and Giambrione note that insurance groups like AAA Mid-Atlantic oppose the new law.
An article by Eillie Anzilotti earlier in July surveyed the places where contributory negligence was still the law of the land, including Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama.
FULL STORY: D.C. Council Unanimously Passes Bike and Pedestrian Safety Bill Without Debate
'Vision Zero' Requires More Data in Washington, D.C.
Advocates say traffic safety data collection practices in Washington, D.C. don't meet national standards. They also say it will be hard for the District to meet its vision zero goal by 2024 if the problem persists.
Proposed Bill Would Direct Funds to Road Safety
The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act was spurred by the death of a U.S. diplomat who was killed on her bicycle.
Data Shows Chicago Speed Cameras Reduce Speeding, Crashes
Countering claims made by the Chicago Tribune that automated enforcement doesn’t improve safety, Streetsblog Chicago lays out the data showing how traffic safety fared in camera zones.
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
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
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.
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.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
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)