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Driverless cars still confused by cyclists: Renault CEO

Via CNBC

...
"They don't respect any rules usually," Mr Ghosn said.
...


http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/08/driverless-cars-confused-by-cyclists.html

[B' Spokes: I can't help but think what most drivers think the rules for cyclists are: "Cyclists must stay out of the way of cars, even when there is no room for them to be out of the way." - So yeah, when the rules are not well known and we have to go to court to fight of misunderstandings of the law and what is safe, this is the result. Everyone for themselves!]
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CALTRANS: INCREASING CAPACITY UNLIKELY TO RELIEVE CONGESTION

-> Transportation experts have repeatedly found that building new roads inevitably encourages more people to drive, which in turn negates any congestion savings—a phenomenon known as "induced demand." The California DOT (Caltrans) has linked to a policy brief outlining key research findings from years of study into induced demand (Increasing Highway Capacity Unlikely to Relieve Traffic Congestion: http://bit.ly/1NDk01a). What’s significant about the Caltrans acknowledgement is that induced demand creates something of a mission crisis for transportation agencies that spend most of their money on building new roads. http://bit.ly/1PErt4h


from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.

[B' Spokes: And I'll repeat "What’s significant about the Caltrans acknowledgement is that induced demand creates something of a mission crisis for transportation agencies that spend most of their money on building new roads."... That is to say just like Maryland. :/ ]
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MEXICO CITY SUPERHERO WRESTLES FOR PEDESTRIANS

-> The traffic light turns red at the busiest pedestrian crossing in Mexico City, used by around 9,000 people every hour. Tonight, a driver stops his grey Peugeot exactly on the crossing where the masses are trying to pass. A masked man dressed in black, his black and white striped cape, flapping behind him goes to the car, flings his cape over his shoulder, and pushes the Peugeot backwards to make space. "My name is Peatónito, and I fight for the rights of pedestrians," he says. http://bit.ly/1MTyv6k

from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
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LONDON, ENGLAND REQUIRES TRUCK UPGRADES TO PROTECT CYCLISTS

-> Since September, the City of London has banned HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians. Vehicles of more than 3.5 tons entering London must now be fitted with sideguards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision, along with Class V and Class VI mirrors to give the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians. Transport for London (TfL) is also planning to require HGVs to be fitted with larger windows to improve direct vision, and may also extend the scheme in the future to include sensors to detect cyclists. HGVs are disproportionately represented in cyclist deaths in the capital. Of the eight deaths so far this year, seven have involved HGVs. http://bit.ly/1Pwle3v

from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
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Urban sprawl as a risk factor in motor vehicle crashes

Abstract

A decade ago, compactness/sprawl indices were developed for metropolitan areas and counties which have been widely used in health and other research. In this study, we first update the original county index to 2010, then develop a refined index that accounts for more relevant factors, and finally seek to test the relationship between sprawl and traffic crash rates using structural equation modelling. Controlling for covariates, we find that sprawl is associated with significantly higher direct and indirect effects on fatal crash rates. The direct effect is likely due to the higher traffic speeds in sprawling areas, and the indirect effect is due to greater vehicle miles driven in such areas. Conversely, sprawl has negative direct relationships with total crashes and non-fatal injury crashes, and these offset (and sometimes overwhelm) the positive indirect effects of sprawl on both types of crashes through the mediating effect of increased vehicle miles driven. The most likely explanation is the greater prevalence of fender benders and other minor accidents in the low speed, high conflict traffic environments of compact areas, negating the lower vehicle miles travelled per capita in such areas.

http://m.usj.sagepub.com/content/53/2/247.abstract?rss=1
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GAO REPORT: ACTIONS TO IMPROVE PED & CYCLIST SAFETY

-> The GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) reviewed pedestrian and cyclist safety data and challenges in addressing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and injuries as a growing percentage of all traffic fatalities and injuries. This report (Pedestrians and Cyclists: Cities, States, and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Improve Safety: http://1.usa.gov/1QYPvcz) examines: (1) trends in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and injuries from 2004 through 2013 and characteristics of these fatalities and injuries; (2) safety initiatives selected states and cities have implemented and their views on challenges in addressing this issue; and (3) actions taken by DOT to help improve safety. http://1.usa.gov/1T0OLRL


from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
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How to grade what's next to the street

[B' Spokes: It is my belief that what is next to the road is just as important as the bike/ped facilities on the road (ROW.) A short proof is biking or walking by the "auto mile" lots of shiny cars all packed in brightly colored parking lots, one right after another. That's a miserable walking or biking experience. On the other side, a tree lined street without every scrap of space dedicated to storage of unused automobiles, that can be a rather nice walking/biking experience, even with out facilities for biking or walking. In short, when we get what's next to the road wrong the more we need facilities for biking/walking. So that's why I am sharing this article with you.]

http://www.streetsblog.net/2016/01/07/a-letter-grade-system-for-walkable-retail-buildings/
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10 Tired Traffic Myths That Didn't Get a Rest in 2015

By ERIC JAFFE, City Lab

[Just the headings, read the article for more info.]

1. More roads mean less traffic
2. More transit means less traffic
3. Bike lanes make traffic worse
4. A wider road is a safer road
5. The next lane over is moving faster
6. Everyone else’s bad driving is the reason for traffic
7. You need to get lots of cars off the road to reduce traffic
8. Removing an urban highway would be a traffic nightmare
9. There’s no downside to cheap gas
10. Drivers pay the full cost of road maintenance

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/12/10-tired-traffic-myths-that-didnt-get-a-rest-in-2015/422274/
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LESSONS LEARNED FROM AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT

-> Vision Zero is a multi-pronged approach to the complex problem of street safety. We know that speed is a common factor in traffic fatalities and severe injuries — especially for people biking or walking. And one of the key lessons learned from the early adopters of Vision Zero in Europe is that speed reduction must be a top priority if we are serious about the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Vision Zero proponents are exploring Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) as a means to increase capacity to control deadly speeding. A new report (Automated Speed Enforcement Implementation: Survey Findings and Lessons Learned From Around the Country: http://bit.ly/1QMhCtS) includes a wealth of real-world examples of success with safety cameras that help manage speed: "ASE has been found to be an effective tool that over 130 communities throughout the country have implemented to improve safety for all road users." For instance, Washington D.C. had a reduction in drivers speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit from 1 in 3 to 1 in 40 — and reported a 70% reduction in fatalities. http://bit.ly/1OjsieV

from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.

[B' Spokes: IMHO You would not know that speed cameras are effective tool around here with all the bad press they have been given.]
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PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS: Cities, States, and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Improve Safety

What GAO Found

Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and injuries represent a growing percentage of all traffic fatalities and injuries. For example, pedestrian fatalities comprised 10.9 percent of all traffic deaths nationwide in 2004, but 14.5 percent in 2013. Cyclists represented 1.7 percent of all United States traffic deaths in 2004, but 2.3 percent in 2013. Estimates of pedestrian and cyclist injuries also grew during this same time frame.
...

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-66
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