Pedestrians suffer at expense of Car-oriented Suburbs

Yep, geography is the culprit. What a leap in logic. Where's the data that supports the argument that more deaths to bicyclists and pedestrians happens in the 'burbs? You cant make such an argument anecdotally. You need to contextualize the argument with the number of fatalities per: vmt, per resident, per lane miles, etc. The reality is the suburbs are the home of the majority of the vmt, population, and lane miles and therefore on should expect that the likelihood that accidents are greater in the suburbs is higher. But like any good pro-anything agenda, people love make anecdotal, normative arguments rather than sensible, rational arguments since fear and emotion make the best policy.

One of the worst articles ever here.

Sure, empirical data would have solidified the central argument made here but I think any idiot should be able to see the obvious: roads designed only for speeding cars make incredibly unsafe places for pedestrians, cyclists or any other non-car user.

Perhaps the title of this post is misleading and a tad polemical. It should simply have been,

"Pedestrians suffer at the expense of car-oriented urban design."

Anywhere with crappy roads and anti-social land uses is going to be a crappy experience for those the road is not designed for, whether it's in the city, burbs or a rural area.

I have a question for the folks like me who live in the city. Why do so many people walk in the street(not crossing but with traffic) on blocks with sidewalks? It drives me freaking crazy. I even see people with strollers in the street and just today, a woman pulling her son in a wagon down Lexington with cars swerving around her. I drive and bike in they city and try to respect all modes of transport but this pisses me off.

apologies for the massive cut-n-paste, but here are studies copied from the comment stream at:
http://www.planetizen.com/node/57583

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For more information on the relationships between sprawl and traffic fatality rates see:

David Clark and Brad M. Cushing (2004), “Rural and Urban Traffic Fatalities, Vehicle Miles, and Population Density,” Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 36, pp. 967-972.

Eric Dumbaugh and Robert Rae (2009), “Safe Urban Form: Revisiting the Relationship Between Community Design and Traffic Safety,” Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 75, No. 3, Summer 2009; at http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/891216__911996851.pdf.

Reid Ewing, Richard A. Schieber and Charles V. Zegeer (2003), “Urban Sprawl As A Risk Factor In Motor Vehicle Occupant And Pedestrian Fatalities,” American Journal of Public Health (www.ajph.org).

Todd Litman (2012), "Risk Versus Dread: Implications for Planners; or Let's Not Let The Terrorists Win," Planetizen (http://www.planetizen.com/node/51290 ).

Todd Litman and Steven Fitzroy (2006), "Safe Travels: Evaluating Mobility Management Traffic Safety Benefits," Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org); at www.vtpi.org/safetrav.pdf.

Wesley E. Marshall and Norman W. Garrick (2011), “Evidence on Why Bike-Friendly Cities Are Safer for All Road Users,” Environmental Practice, Vol 13/1, March; at http://files.meetup.com/1468133/Evidence%20on%20Why%20Bike-Friendly.pdf.

I agree 100% that we need to make the suburbs less car-oriented. I also don't think it can happen anytime soon, because there are only two reasons Americans give up their cars: traffic and money. Since Lancaster is middle class in income and the traffic is liveable, there is no impetus. Even if there were a will to improve mass transit, massive numbers of people in the burbs would have to give up their cars and rely on mass transit in order for bus routes out there to become even remotely feasible financially. Currently the few bus routes that do exist in the suburbs are very heavily subsidized (to the tune of up to $10/ride) by the city routes. Some of the bus routes in the city (#20 Elmwood, #3 Grant, #26 Delavan) almost pay for themselves and they do so by serving such dense neighborhoods that there is actually demand for a bus every 15-30 minutes. In contrast, the extremely low densities in the burbs that make driving a necessity also make the demand for buses very low. You would likely only be able to fill a bus once every 1.5-2 hours, which is not a good enough level of service to entice people to use them. As for light rail, even inner city Buffalo barely has the density to justify the subway it already has. The suburbs, excluding possibly Kenmore, most definitely do not have the population density necessary to make a train feasible or realistic, given federal funding requirements. Probably the best short-term solution for Lancaster and suburbs like it is to try to install some nice wide, perhaps separated bike lanes. Or...move to the city.

Sorry, but I encounter so many pedestrians who either ignore the crosswalks, the flow of traffic, or are distracted that it's any wonder thousands more aren't killed each year. Blame cars all you like (the current fashion), but pedestrians themselves should heed the time-tested motherly advice about their dangerous habits.

...Not that I'm against more transit options, sidewalks (wider ones, please!), street furniture and improved lighting and traffic signalization to increase public safety and comfort. ;)

Todd,

I agree with many of the points you have. However, as an EMS Provider, who works in your hometown for the Ambulance Corps as well as someone who worked in the City of Buffalo on the ambulance for 7 years, the belief that bike related accidents occur more in Suburb Vs. City is not accurate. Currently and unfortunately Lancaster/Depew has just had the misfortune of these events to happen within the confines this summer. The two girls, one who was tragically killed in front of Millard Suburban crossing Maple Road, could happen anywhere.

One point I want to clarify is that Walden Avenue does have a bike lane to it, (I've used it as well) however any of us that are cycling enthusiasts know that drivers are not concerned with our(CYCLISTS)right to the roadway. This proved fatal for the gentleman earlier last month who was struck and killed at Walden & Sheldon. He was by all accounts and from seeing him several times a cycling enthusiast as well as he put safety first. He wore a helmet, vest, lights, etc; Unfortunately, as proves to may times, drivers just don't see us. I've almost been hit several times on my personal bike and my bike at work as I am a member of our Emergency Bicycle Unit.

Towns such as Lancaster and even my hometown of the Town of Tonawanda are not anti-bike, we have to remember that these are areas built during the post war boom of World War II. This was the time that the car reigned supreme & gasoline was cheap. Why do you think in 1950 the IRC disbanded ALL streetcar service in the City of Buffalo? They still had the ridership, but felt rail service was a dying form of transit. Look at why the Central Terminal floundered post war, or why any of the major railroads discontinued passenger service. Remember the view in 1950 of 2012 probably included flying cars, people living on Mars, Planet X, etc; bikes of all things were considered a "novelty" from the Victorian era reserved for children.

So what can be done? I'd love to see a return to simpler times. I'm an advocate for streetcar service back out to the suburbs.
I think a smart idea would be to share usage of the old Erie Line which Norfolk Southern currently runs roughly 3-5 trains a day on, just north of the Downtown Lancaster area. Perfect commuter line, as was it's original inception. Rebuild the old train station that sat atop the viaduct. You have the infrastructure in place, besides say the catenary system. This line runs through the heart of Depew, Cheektowaga, and off towards the Larkin District. (Sidenote: Anyone who has seen the "downtown" core of Depew such as Main Street knows this area is ripe and desperate for an economic boost and renaissance...BR Bloggers tend to forget about the suburban blight. If this was city there would have been a sharp outcry about the demolition of the old Colonial Theatre on Main Street last week in Depew.)

In my hometown the NFTA contemplated for years using old PCC streetcars on the old DL & W Niagara Line, which subsequently was used at the turn of the last century for the IRC's high speed trains to Niagara Falls. That however, like all great ideas, was met by hostile resistance from neighbors with the NIMBY mentality, municipal politics, and of course financing. In the end, the tracks were ripped up a few years ago and now it still lays there.

Bike Lanes need to be better marked, period. More signage, as well as more markings on the roadway. The Driving public needs to be better educated on bicycles sharing the roadway, but cyclists need better training too. Hand signals, safety equipment, etc;

I'd like to see the Share a Bike program expanded to the first ring burbs, GO Buffalo getting involved with that as well.

One thing I'd like to stop see BR peddling once and for all is this City Vs. Suburb mentality needs to go though.

Unfortunate but, the only way public transit will improve or to stop suburban sprawl is that this country implement a federal $5 per gallon gas tax like other industrial countries. Then maybe we would also get affordable health care and free collage education too.

Look both ways?

Ironic. Pedestrian suffering was the rationale for eliminating cars on main street. Looks like this is coming full circle.

I fail to see a genuine cause and effect relationship here even tho related factors are present. First of all, if a person and a vehicle end up sharing a physical space, the car will most likely win. No explanation needed. It is incumbent on all pedestrians to practice a higher sense of hyper alertness whenever on foot for that is essential to life and limb preservation. It isn't a fair fight.

To make this an urban/suburban issue seems to be a stretch.