I recently mentioned the Dangerous By Design report and our own crash stats here in Springfield. While were not suffering to the same extent as Florida, we are suffering (here, here, here).
Keri Caffrey, of Commute Orlando, updated her Facebook page today with a link to the Time article above and this message:
I think the heart of this is the mindless state in which people function most of the time. Look around, they’re mindless in the mall, the grocery store, the office… putting that mindlessness in “control” of a 3000lb missile makes it deadly. So, as much as the car culture itself is a problem, I think this is deeper than that.
When Mighk and I did the pedestrian videos, car after car after car blew past him while he stood in the middle of Edgeater Dr., in the crosswalk, pointing at the crosswalk. That’s not malicious, it’s checked out, unconscious, comatose… whoTF is driving?
So the question arises: How do we encourage mindfulness?
The usual ideas:
1) Change the design of the streets (e.g. complete streets).
2) Make traffic penalties really hurt.
3) Make the car culture uncool.
How do we make people care about how they drive (care about others first) rather than care about their own tender convenience?
(Hmmmmm… Springfield believes itself to be the buckle of the Bible Belt. How would Jesus drive? Would He drive? What would He drive? Who would Jesus hit and run? Would He ride a bicycle or walk? Take public transportation?)
UPDATE: Check out this video from Limited Warren T. (Hat tip to a Cyclelicious tweet)
UPDATE: I’m reading a new book now that is about how we might change the “car system” to a more carbon-friendly system. It’s called After The Car. I’ll post a review when I’m finished reading — a few days.
UPDATE: No sooner do I mention the Bible Belt than I discover what folks are doing — sustainable transportation as a Christian ministry. Check out Bicycle Recycle of Branson.
Comments 3
I really don’t know how to make people care. It seems too many people don’t have the integrity to be courteous and mindful when given power and anonymity. They are self-absorbed and there are no scruples to over-rule the mindlessness.
BTW, my typo: It’s “Edgewater” Drive. Although, Edgeater seems somewhat appropriate
Wait til you see the video. It’s infuriating, but so absurd you have to laugh. I had an office on Edgewater for 6 years, I walked along and across it regularly. I’m not kidding when I say that only twice in six years did motorists yield to me in the crosswalk.
(Edgewater is heralded as a “Complete Street” because they did a road diet and gave us door zone bike lanes) Beware, Complete Street standards are low and subject to symbolic BS.
Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 11:53 am ¶Keri… I’m making it my goal, as the STAR Team CS committee chair, not to allow our efforts to become symbolic BS. I have my work cut out for me
Looking forward to the video!
Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 11:58 am ¶When you’re here, I’ll show you a street that was recently streetscaped — good pedestrian infrastructure was put in. It still has 4 narrow lanes, which isn’t ideal for peds, but great for cyclists. The bike advocates pushed hard for doorzone bike lanes. They would have turned it into a nightmare, like Edgewater. Thank goodness someone had the integrity to say no. There is an excellent parallel route for novices who are not comfortable on the 4-lane, DZBLs might have lured them from that (safer) route. Very important big-picture consideration… and the difference between considering real access and symbolic, award-oriented nonsense.
Posted 01 Dec 2009 at 8:28 pm ¶