Home > Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety > Pedestrian Forum Newsletter > Spring 2002
Pedestrian Forum – Spring 2002
Safe Pedestrians and a Walkable America
VOL. 20, Spring 2002
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/
The goal of the FHWA is to continually improve highway safety by reducing
highway fatalities and injuries by 20 percent in ten years. Ensuring safe
travel on highways is the guiding principle throughout the FHWA. Pedestrian
fatalities account for about 12 percent of all traffic fatalities and are one of the focus areas of the Safety
Office. FHWA has taken the position that walking and bicycling are legitimate
modes of transportation.
There is no question that conditions for bicycling and walking need to be
improved in every community in the United States; it is no longer acceptable
that over 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed in traffic every year,
that people with disabilities cannot travel without encountering barriers,
and that two desirable and efficient modes of travel have been made difficult
and uncomfortable.
Every transportation agency has the responsibility and the opportunity to
make a difference in the bicycle-friendliness and walkability of our
communities. The design information to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians
is available, as is the funding. The United States Department of Transportation
is committed to doing all it can to improve conditions for bicycling and walking
and to make them safer ways to travel. (The Pedestrian Forum is also on
the web at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/index.cfm)
Congressional Forum on Safe Routes to School
A Congressional Forum on Safe Routes to School (SRS), which was hosted by
Congressman Jim Oberstar, took place on February 5 at the Member's Room of
the Library of Congress. In response to growing concerns about children's
sedentary lifestyles, a number of communities have instituted Safe Routes
to Schools programs to encourage children to walk or bike to school. The
forum included a series of presentations on local, state, and national SRS
initiatives and plans for the future.
Cost Estimate for Losing an American's With Disabilities
Act (ADA) Lawsuit – The city of Honolulu, Hawaii lost an ADA accessible
curb ramp lawsuit. A recent assessment of Honolulu's cost for their curb
ramp program (bringing facilities up to date) is approximately $120 million.
It is estimated that it would have cost Honolulu a fraction of this figure
if it had followed what was required by ADA when it installed the curb ramps.
Section 504, Rehabilitation Act (1973) required curb ramps to be installed
on Federally-funded projects. Section 504 also required States and localities
to develop a transition plan that identified barriers and a schedule for removing
the barriers.
ADA, 1990, Title II, addresses the State and local government requirements
for making programs and facilities accessible. Title II also requires the
development of a transition plan. The deadline for removing barriers in the
plan was January 1995. Many entities have not developed a plan or made a
good faith effort in removing barriers, putting them at risk for lawsuits
that may cost far more than doing the work when it was first required.
FHWA's Mary Peters Speaks at Bike Summit.
FHWA Administrator Mary Peters delivered the keynote address to the 2nd National
Bike Summit, March 6. Peters spoke on behalf of Secretary of Transportation
Norman Mineta, who was unable to attend. The Summit brought more than 200
leaders of the bicycle community to Washington, DC for three days of meetings
and visits. For more info. see www.bikeleague.org
FHWA New York Division: Pedestrian Safety Progress
The New York Division, with assistance from their NHTSA Liaison, has been
working with safety partners in New York, including the Governor's Highway
Safety Representative, to make progress on the FHWA initiative to reduce fatal
and serious injury crashes by 20% in 10 years. Recent efforts have culminated
in New York's Governor Pataki signing a letter to all safety advocates around
the state advising them future 402 funding would be given priority in three
major emphasis areas: pedestrian safety, alcohol, and roadway safety. These
emphasis areas were chosen based on their relevance to reducing fatal and
serious injury crashes by 20% in 10 years. One of the most significant of
the three was pedestrian safety–especially pedestrian safety in New York
City, where one pedestrian is killed every other day. The Governor's Traffic
Safety Committee has dedicated $1 million in pedestrian-eligible 402 funding
for initiatives targeting pedestrian safety countermeasures. Other funding
mechanisms, such as Federal-aid and other Federal and state resources, will
also be used to address pedestrian safety issues around the state and in New
York City.
FHWA's Safety pedestrian web site – visit us at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/index.cfm.
Lots more information added. Copy this site to all your colleagues and others
interested in pedestrian/bicyclist safety.
"Safer Journey" – Interactive Pedestrian
Safety Awareness wins two more awards for Public Service and Special
(education) from Omni Intermedia.(in addition to the "Gold Camera"award
from US International Film and Video Festival). Many State DOTS are printing
their own copies for distribution (e.g. IL – 10,000 copies, NC – 5,000 copies).
E-mail leverson.boodlal@fhwa.dot.gov if your state agency is interested in printing copies for distribution. View
the on line version at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped_bike_order.cfm (click on "Safer Journey")
Meeting of Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee [PROWAAC]
PROWAAC met on April 4-5, in San Antonio. A good portion of the meeting
time was devoted to discussing drawings of "ideal" ADA compliant intersections.
There were quite a few comments and revisions, particularly on pole placement
for the pedestrian pushbutton, and the use of more stub poles and moving the
larger signal pole back when possible. Also discussed was the development
of case studies to help demonstrate to the engineering community how to develop
ADA compliant intersections. The next meeting is tentatively planned for
Columbus, Ohio, on June 19-21.
WHAT's NEW?
Bicycle Safety Education Resource Center
The FHWA's Safety Core Business Unit recently completed development of the
Bicycle Safety Education Resource Center, which is a new web site that provides
bicycle safety education information for bicyclists of all ages, motorists,
and those who teach children to ride. You'll find a searchable database of
training materials, a guide to help you identify the training needs of your
audience, and a Good Practices Guide to assist with the development
of your own program.
To access the Resource Center, visit http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/ee/fhwa.html. Hard
copies of the Good Practices Guide will be available mid-May.
Contact Tamara Broyhill at tamara.Broyhill@fhwa.dot.gov for more information.
Segway Bill Passes Senate EPW Committee
Senate Bill 2024, allowing Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (Segways)
to use federally funded sidewalks and trails, passed the Senate Environment
and Public Works Committee today, April 25. Despite concerns about the bill
from FHWA (not enough known about the operational characteristics) and pedestrian
groups (incompatible with sidewalk use), Senators passed the bill on a voice
vote.
Visit http://www.americawalks.org/epamd/index.htm and/or www.segway.com for more information
about the device.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle University Graduate Course – FHWA held
the 3rd workshop on April 11 for 24 professors from 22 states to expose them
to the graduate course. The professors were drawn from a range of disciplines
including civil engineering, urban planning, rural/regional studies, architectural
and environmental engineering, city planning, and recreation. The first
two workshop helped to refine the graduate course. The opening remarks were
done by the Safety program manager George Ostensen who challenged each professor
to become advocates for safety. The course teaches future professionals how
to integrate pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations into the planning and
design of transportation facilities. The university course is modular in format
and covers an extensive range of issues in nonmotorized transportation design,
including pedestrian and bicyclist crash types and related safety countermeasures,
pedestrian accommodation at intersections, traffic calming techniques, and
bicycle facility design. (Contacts, Ann.do@fhwa.dot.gov or leverson.boodlal@fhwa.dot.gov )
Alert Call For Session Ideas . The TRB Committee on Pedestrians solicits
your suggestions for sessions for the next Annual TRB meeting. Preferred
are sessions which could be co-sponsored with other TRB committees of the
non-converted, similar to the sessions for the last couple of years updating
us on the status of the AASHTO pedestrian guidelines. Willingness to put
the sessions together is quite a high positive. Suggesting co-sponsoring committees
is another. Having a sense of title and presenters is a third. The end of
May is the preliminary deadline. E-mail suggestions to hershfan@world.std.com
Planning underway for fourth conference on Walking
America Walks will host the the Fourth International Conference on Walking
in Portland, Oregon, May 1-3, 2003. The conference will bring together professionals
and activists in public health, transportation, and community planning to
help shift the global paradigm for how walking and pedestrians are viewed.
Delegates will explore how walking is integrated into our infrastructure,
our institutions, and our daily lives. For more information, please visit http://americawalks.org/walk21/ or email info@americawalks.org
State of the art pedestrian research online – An excellent summary, '"State-of-the
Art" Pedestrian Safety Programs and Literature Search,' February 7, 2001,
can be seen on the Pedestrian Committee web site (http://trbpeds.tripod.com)
under 'Documents.' It includes: Summary of other States' Pedestrian Safety
Programs; Studies and Programs of Other States; FHWA; TRB; and Literature
Search. It was developed by the Maryland State Highway Administration's Research
Division based on input from the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee and their
own literature search.
New ITE Traffic Control Devices Handbook features first-ever chapters
on pedestrians and bicyclists – The ITE, Institute of Transportation Engineers,
has just recently published a new Traffic Control Devices Handbook, 2001,
which bridges the gap between the Federal Highway Administration's Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provisions and those decisions to be made
on device usage and application. The Handbook has been expanded to include
special chapters on "Pedestrians" and "Bicycle" traffic
control devices to assist planners and engineers in solving problems. The
Handbook, and may other valuable guides, may be found and ordered online from
the ITE at http://www.ite.org. Phone
202-289-0222.
NJDOT launches new pedestrian safety campaign – "CROSS AT THE GREEN, IF
YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN" – NJDOT has taken a lighthearted approach to a
serious subject, reinforcing the importance of two key safety messages in
their latest pedestrian safety promotional campaign. The images can be seen
on billboards and as exterior posters on NJ TRANSIT buses throughout the state.
Smaller posters are also being distributed by NJDOT at trade shows and by
request. More information is available online at http://www.state.nj.us/njcommuter/html/crosgren.htm or from Elise Bremer-Nei elise.bremer-nei@dot.state.nj.us
State Bike/Ped Coordinators Get AASHTO Role
AASHTO has established a Joint Task Force on Non-motorized Transportation
under the Subcommittee on Design. This sub-committee in turn reports to the
Standing Committee on Highways and membership will comprise the state bicycle
and pedestrian coordinators. The Chair of the Joint Task Force has been designated
as Ms. Susanne Martinovich, Chief Engineer of Nevada DOT.
Resource Guide on Laws Related to Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Laws – This document, available only on CD Rom or as a download from the NHTSA
website, includes provisions of vehicle and traffic laws for every state that
may affect pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The Guide also includes model
legislation containing specific provisions to improve or increase safe cycling
and walking and compares the laws of each state with the selected provisions.
For more information, contact Marv Levy at 202-366-5597. For copies of the
CD Rom, write to the Office of Research and Traffic Records, NHTSA, NTS-31,
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590, send a fax to 202-366-7096,
or download it from NHTSA's website www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
"Ride Smart: It's Time to Start" Video Now Available
NHTSA has produced a "funky fast-paced" video on bicycle helmet
safety, featuring a "raw egg drop" and "jello brain" demonstration.
The video also explains how to buy an approved bicycle helmet that fits correctly
and discusses the rules of the road. Contact Marietta Bowen for more information: mbowen@nhtsa.dot.gov. To order
a copy of the VHS video or a Beta master, fax your request to (301) 386-2194.
FHWA Bike/Ped Program Personnel Change
Carol Tan Esse, who was manager of the FHWA's Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Research Program, is back from maternity leave but has assumed a new position
as a Team Leader at Turner Fairbanks. Ann Do has taken over management of
FHWA's ongoing bicycle and pedestrian research activities. Ann can be reached
at 202-493-3319.
New From NHTSA – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced
the availability of grants totaling $250,000 for projects that further implementation
of the National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety. Check the April 16th Federal Registar for more information.
NHTSA's Bikeability Checklist should be available at www.bicyclinginfo.org at the start of National Bike Month (May). The checklist complements the popular
Walkability Checklist and will also be available in printed form later in
the year.
Photo Library Goes On-line – You've all heard the jokes about Dan
Burden's omni-present photo collection.now you can use his images too by visiting
a digital photo library established by the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information
Center at either www.walkinginfo.org or www.bicyclinginfo.org.
More than 1400 image are available, most of them Dan's. You can also go straight
to www.pedbikeimages.org.
Research on pedestrian crossings to be funded in next round of NCHRP studies
– Standing Committee on Research (SCOR) met in March, 2002, to select
the next round of projects to be funded by the National Cooperative Highway
Research Program (NCHRP). Over 150 research suggestions were reviewed in the
process of selecting the final projects. One of the funded projects will
be of particular interest to pedestrian planners, engineers, and advocates:
G-42 "Innovative Pedestrian Treatments at Unsignalized Crossings."
In the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) study D-8, "Pedestrian
Crossings at Bus Stops," was funded earlier. Since there were many commonalties
between the two projects they were combined. The resulting project, "Improving
Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Roadway Crossings," will be funded
with $550,000. The project panel, met April 15-16 and developed the RFP
The project objective is to evaluate selected engineering treatments to improve
safety for pedestrians crossing high-volume, and/or high-speed roadways at
unsignalized locations, in particular those served by public transportation.
In addition, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) traffic
signal pedestrian warrant will be examined. The RFP will be available on
the TRB web site http://www.trb.org under both NCHRP and TCRP around the end of April. For more information, please
contact the project officer, Diane Schwager of the TCRP staff dschwage@nas.edu.
Three Pedestrian Safety Reports Published – FHWA has released three
reports examining different aspects of pedestrian safety from an engineering
perspective.
- Safety Effects of Marked vs Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Locations:
Executive Summary and Recommended Guidelines.
- Pedestrian Facilities Users Guide: Providing Safety and Mobility.
- Analysis of Factors Contributing to "Walking Along Roadway"
Crashes: Research Study and Guidelines for Sidewalks and Walkways.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
May 16
June 3-5
August 4-7
- Institute of Transportation Engineers, Annual meeting, www.ite.org
Editors:
leverson.boodlal@fhwa.dot.gov,
202-366-8044
tamara.broyhill@fhwa.dot.gov,
202-366-4077
400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590
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