Re: The Vicious Cycle of Speeding Traffic

In article <dm3hc11pjsh5acnil2l0spfsodmbcpdg92@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 Raphae <root@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> "Speeding traffic sets in motion a vicious cycle in which people who
> might prefer to walk or bike end up driving out of fear for their
> safety. Numerous studies have shown that the speed of traffic, much
> more than the volume, is what poses a threat to pedestrians. One study
> conducted by the British government found that pedestrians were killed
> 85 percent of the time when they were hit by cars traveling 40 miles
> an hour compared to only five percent of the time when vehicles were
> traveling at 20 miles per hour."
> 
> 
> http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2307&printview

5% of pedestrian accidents were caused by people going 20 MPH or slower?  
How do they all hit pedestrians going so damn slow?  Are the Brits all 
driving drunk?

What would make me feel safe is roads designed for use by cars and 
bicycles together - bike lanes, no multi-turn lanes without a merging 
area, and traffic light sensors that work for bicycles.  Lots of cities 
due their duty of installing bike lanes but they abruptly terminate 
whenever they're not convenient.  It's no help at all.  My other 
favorite is designating unmaintained side streets with a stop sign at 
every block as a bike route so that the good streets don't have to be 
bicycle safe.