You’ll recall that I took my recent CyclingSavvy class through the diverging diamond intersection at I-44 and Kansas Expressway. It’s scary looking. But, given the traffic speeds, it is rather easily negotiable by bicycle. Walking through it, however, is another matter, according to the following critique: I disagree with the narrator’s comments about driving this [...]
Disclaimer: I am critical of our current system of traffic controls. The U.S. could be doing better. But we have a system. We know what it is. And until we come up with something better, all road users are obligated to follow the system we have. How hard is it for a bicyclist to stop [...]
Take a look at this video of pedestrian accommodations on the diverging diamond at I-44 and Kansas Expressway. Hmmmmm… Technorati Tags: pedestrian safety, traffic design, walking
Want to die in traffic? Go for a walk. Here’s a list of the top ten cities for pedestrian fatalities/injuries (with my knee-jerk observations): 1. Orlando: Big, wide traffic sewers and a critical mass of old folks behind the wheel. 2. Tampa: Ditto. 3. Jacksonville: Ditto. 4. Miami: Ditto. 5. Riverside, Calif.: A sea of asphalt — [...]
The following statement is based on imperfect, anecdotal evidence: It appears that pedestrians don’t write blogs (about pedestrian stuff) in the same numbers that bicyclists write blogs (about bicycle stuff). I recently decided to add pedestrian writers (or should that be writers of the pedestrian persuasion?) to the blogroll. So far: 6. Hmmmm… If any [...]
Everyday is Earth Day on Carbon Trace. So no need to make a big deal out of it. But I think you should consider heading downtown this afternoon to stuff your face for a good cause. Click here for details about Earth on Your Plate. It would also be good if you walked or rode [...]
I am reading The Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg, about the concept of the “third place.” I’m fascinated by his contention that third places play an important role in facilitating civic life. This idea crosses paths with my interests on Carbon Trace because proper third places are largely located in areas where people can get to [...]
Ask 18 urban volunteers to forgo using their cars for one week and what will you learn? Nothing very surprising. From The City Fix: The study found that autonomy was more important for commuters than the status or comfort associated with car ownership. “More than two-thirds of participants cited convenience, control, and flexibility—not comfort or status, [...]
Plan for a New National Ave. Crossing Introduced at Public Meeting Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (116)
The City of Springfield is proposing to build a grade-separation crossing on National Ave. from the Rountree neighborhood to the Missouri State University campus. Pedestrians and bicyclists can cross National at three points between Grand and Cherry — at those corners and on the controlled crosswalk at the campus entrance between Belmont and Page. There will [...]
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Obesity rates have more to do with education and income than suburban sprawl. Oh, yeah. Well, er, I mean … so what is this, some kinda gov’met conspiracy thing? Seriously, this result is not at all surprising. Nor does it suggest that living in the ‘burbs [...]
OK, so it’s obvious that Carbon Trace is now a weather blog. That’s the scene from my office window — the intersection of National and Grand (passable only by cars and able-bodied people willing to jump snow mounds). I miss my bicycle. In other news… HB33, the so-called safe-passing law, has been moved to the [...]
Today the News-Leader (in an article) and The Standard (in an editorial) call attention to the condition of Springfield’s sidewalks. It would be good if the mayor or a city councilman could make a statement about this — asking citizens to shovel the walks. The weather is going to get colder. More snow is expected. [...]
Pedestrians will find a way — or make a way. On my walk to work this morning I noticed how many paths had been beaten into the snow creating something like a transportation network for people able-bodied enough to walk on ice and snow. The footprints and the number of paths tell a story: A [...]
I had a short exchange with @CityofSgf on Twitter yesterday regarding the condition of sidewalks in Springfield — something I’ve covered in two recent posts (here and here). The city has been working hard to clear he roads. I think they’ve done an excellent job given the magnitude of he storm. @CityofSgf acknowledged that the sidewalk situation [...]
