Deep Research: Travelling But Not By Car

[dewline]

I've been thinking there's a way to string parts of the content of each of these postings together for a Spacing Ottawa piece(assuming that someone else among the contributors hasn't gotten the same content worked out already):

https://waronthemotorist.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/state-intervention/

http://www.usroads.com/journals/p/rej/9710/re971002.htm

I know that I'm not at all happy with the way traffic signals at major intersections across Ottawa seem programmed in favour of car-drivers over everyone else at the moment, that's for sure...

Comments

[pubtran.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting these two great articles. They cover two of my pet peeves.
"State Intervention" references roads in Britain, but could just as well be talking about the US or Canada. In fact, we are probably more addicted to car culture than Britain is.
"Designing Road Signals---" includes some interesting facts. If I read Table 3 correctly, in most cases in creasing the green phase for pedestrians actually decreases delays for drivers! It would be smart for city planners to study this report. Timing for many pedestrian signals defies logic. Near where I live, one intersection on a major through road with four travel lanes, two bicycle lanes and a center island allows only 21 seconds for pedestrians to cross. In contrast, at a nearby T-intersection, the side street (2 travel lanes and a right turn land with no bike lanes or center island), pedestrians have 43 seconds. The logic if it exists escapes me. Thanks again for the post.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

The logic escapes me as well. As I tend to walk rather than drive, the escape is galling in the extreme.