today at work I was glancing over at the back cover to a map on my desk
a few weeks ago a co-worker was kind enough to give me the fresh release of the new dc map
on the back of this map is a greeting from mayor adrian fenty
there is mention of his being a competitive triathalete and there is mention of his goal to make dc a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly city
okay...
he has said this
it is written
but what is being done?
interestingly enough
the focus to make things a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly city does not need to focus on the pedestrians or the cyclists
the focus needs to be on the motor vehicle traffic
a few simple things would bring things to a more fluid level
one...
it may not be possible to tell all the dim witted people in their cars that the are confusing high speed with high efficiency
the rapid acceleration is only contributing to chaos and decreasing efficiency
if there were just the enforcement of some of the basic already existing laws then there would be a more safe and more effienct flow of traffic
stop signs and stop lines...
simple... people need to make complete stops at stop signs (and red lights) at the stop line
not in the middle of the intersection
not blocking the cross walk
simple... that is already the law
just do it
cell phones and text messaging...
well... there is a "hands free" law in washington dc
but this law does not seem to have an effect on the driver's behavior
now... the most dangerous thing about the cell phone
is the cell phone is an additive to already neglegent driving
if the drivers were going the speed limit, following the cues set by lights and signs, and watching out for and giving the right of way to pedestrians.... well... talking on the phone would not be such an issue
but the second nature auto pilot style of driving is miscalibrated
people are knowingly breaking the laws
the bending of a law is acceptable
people are intentionally breaking the law
it is time for people to reel themselves in
the phone call is not urgent
put down the phone
and well... remove text messaging from the equation
if that email is that important... well, it needs your full attention
sorry... got lost from the bullet point approach
but escentially if we started with just the two issues of speed and complete stops at the stop lines
heck... I would settle for just the one complete stop at the stop line
as that one law would have a ripple effect
the complete stop at stop line would do so many things I do not care to list them all
but the end result
a safer place for everyone involved
I wonder...
what is the new DC government actively doing to make this area a more safe and friendly place for pedestrians and cyclists
the city is one big puzzle
we need to put it together piece by piece
if we do not start by picking up a few pieces
well... we should even wonder when we are going to be finished
fenty's bike
my wife said there was a wash post article on fenty's position on traffic.... but lost out.. missed it... could not find it
that article in the washington post about pedestrian friendliness...
I think that a more proactive statement would have sounded like.... "the dc police has just added a traffic enforcement agency... the laws are in place but no one is obeying them... now is the time to reel the people back in... get our drivers back within the healthy limits of the law... it is chaos... it is anarchy... it is time for some action"
okay... I am not a speech writer
but that sounds better than the Police Chief blaming a spaced out pedestrian
it is true... people should look before they leap
but... car driver's need to slow it down... and they are clearly more likely to cause an accident with their phone usage behind the wheel than a pedestrian walking with their headphones on
a few weeks ago a co-worker was kind enough to give me the fresh release of the new dc map
on the back of this map is a greeting from mayor adrian fenty
there is mention of his being a competitive triathalete and there is mention of his goal to make dc a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly city
okay...
he has said this
it is written
but what is being done?
interestingly enough
the focus to make things a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly city does not need to focus on the pedestrians or the cyclists
the focus needs to be on the motor vehicle traffic
a few simple things would bring things to a more fluid level
one...
it may not be possible to tell all the dim witted people in their cars that the are confusing high speed with high efficiency
the rapid acceleration is only contributing to chaos and decreasing efficiency
if there were just the enforcement of some of the basic already existing laws then there would be a more safe and more effienct flow of traffic
stop signs and stop lines...
simple... people need to make complete stops at stop signs (and red lights) at the stop line
not in the middle of the intersection
not blocking the cross walk
simple... that is already the law
just do it
cell phones and text messaging...
well... there is a "hands free" law in washington dc
but this law does not seem to have an effect on the driver's behavior
now... the most dangerous thing about the cell phone
is the cell phone is an additive to already neglegent driving
if the drivers were going the speed limit, following the cues set by lights and signs, and watching out for and giving the right of way to pedestrians.... well... talking on the phone would not be such an issue
but the second nature auto pilot style of driving is miscalibrated
people are knowingly breaking the laws
the bending of a law is acceptable
people are intentionally breaking the law
it is time for people to reel themselves in
the phone call is not urgent
put down the phone
and well... remove text messaging from the equation
if that email is that important... well, it needs your full attention
sorry... got lost from the bullet point approach
but escentially if we started with just the two issues of speed and complete stops at the stop lines
heck... I would settle for just the one complete stop at the stop line
as that one law would have a ripple effect
the complete stop at stop line would do so many things I do not care to list them all
but the end result
a safer place for everyone involved
I wonder...
what is the new DC government actively doing to make this area a more safe and friendly place for pedestrians and cyclists
the city is one big puzzle
we need to put it together piece by piece
if we do not start by picking up a few pieces
well... we should even wonder when we are going to be finished
fenty's bike
my wife said there was a wash post article on fenty's position on traffic.... but lost out.. missed it... could not find it
that article in the washington post about pedestrian friendliness...
I think that a more proactive statement would have sounded like.... "the dc police has just added a traffic enforcement agency... the laws are in place but no one is obeying them... now is the time to reel the people back in... get our drivers back within the healthy limits of the law... it is chaos... it is anarchy... it is time for some action"
okay... I am not a speech writer
but that sounds better than the Police Chief blaming a spaced out pedestrian
it is true... people should look before they leap
but... car driver's need to slow it down... and they are clearly more likely to cause an accident with their phone usage behind the wheel than a pedestrian walking with their headphones on