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k032 t1_iy03ym3 wrote

In DC specifically, there was a bill introduced about a year ago the Walk Without Worry Amendment. It aims to standardize pedestrian crosswalks to be elevated, and forces drivers to slow down. Like this. or in real life they look like this, this, and this. Instead of designing a street so pedestrians are entering the car road, cars have to cross the pedestrian walkway.

The bill is still under council review

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WontStopAtSigns t1_iy06bpv wrote

The only thing that slows down traffic is making drivers uncomfortable. Roads need to look different.. if it looks like an 8 lane highway people are going to go 50, no matter how many traffic cameras and stops you make.

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RoeRoeRoeYourVote t1_iy4p546 wrote

Yes, exactly. I was driving around Manassas this weekend and was driving like 55ish because the road was designed to facilitate those speeds. Boy was I in for a rude awakening when I saw a much lower speed limit sign.

Even drivers who are actively trying not to murder pedestrians and cyclists will fuck up when the road is functionally built like a highway.

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wallaceeffect t1_iy8vb12 wrote

All DC roads should be no wider than 2 lanes, one car travel lane in each direction. All other lands should be converted to public transit, pedestrian infrastructure, bike infrastructure, or greenspace. I will not be talked down from this.

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WontStopAtSigns t1_iy8xva9 wrote

Agree. Some bus-only roads would help make that reality. NY ave should just be bulldozed. Build housing there instead.

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Quelcris_Falconer13 t1_iy2qkfi wrote

Come to California we have 8 lane highways and people usually go 80.

The thing that slows people down is FINANCIAL PENALTIES. Put up more cameras and have police actually enforce traffic laws and watch as we see a sharp rise in traffic ticket income followed by a sharp decline in ticket income + road fatalities as people suddenly receive financial reminders that there are rules to the road.

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[deleted] t1_iy0cx8l wrote

[deleted]

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k032 t1_iy3vw6n wrote

I think it can be a case by case thing by street. M street for example in Georgetown, the buses for the most part just go East/West down the street.

So making each crosswalk on the streets in between elevated makes sense to me and leaving the main M st alone.

Removing a lane and adding a seperate emergency / transit access lane seperate by bollards or a curb that isn't elevated as well is an option.

But also doesn't slow them down by much, few seconds at most https://oth.opengov.com/production/uploads/portals/49/forum/issue/7970/issue_asset/asset/9705/Traffic_Calming_Fact_Sheets.pdf

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