August 8, 2017

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TGM News and Information includes electronic news clips, emphasizing reporting and commentary on transportation choices in Oregon and other states. The links to copyrighted news stories are not archived by TGM, and the archiving policies of these sources vary. Inclusion of these clips does not indicate endorsement.

Upcoming Webinars

Walking and Bicycling in an Autonomous Future

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is hosting a free webinar series on how automated vehicles may impact walking and biking, and steps cities should take to prepare.

Part I: The Promise and Challenges of Automated Technologies
August 16, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Part II: Policies to Prepare for an Automated Future
August 31, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Register for either webinar here

Upcoming Webinars

Speeding Traffic

On Speed, Draft NTSB Report Makes 19 Recommendations

Speeding traffic is a leading reason people cite for not walking or biking more often. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) just released a draft report (PDF) reviewing the effectiveness of strategies to reduce speeding-related injuries and fatalities and making 19 recommendations. The NTSB noted "The public is less aware of the risks of speeding compared with other risky driving behaviors. There is also less social stigma surrounding speeding than, for example, drinking and driving."

Streetsblog’s Stephen Miller had this reaction to the report: “Speed Kills – and We’re Not Doing Enough to Stop It,” where he notes 31% of all U.S. fatal crashes are speed-related.

FHWA on How Speed Limits are Set, and Speed Management Resources

Here's a good primer from Federal Highways about how speed limits are set, which notes the 85th percentile rule is not the only factor available to practitioners.

Bicycling

Sharrows, Signage Don’t Help Safety; Bike Lanes Do

A recent study prepared for the Minnesota DOT found "driver behavior is more predictable and drivers are more likely to remain in their lanes when interacting on roadways with buffered or striped bicycle lanes than on roadways with sharrows, other types of bicycle facilities, or no facilities."

Latino Families are Particularly Interested in Family Biking

The People for Bikes Blog reports on recent Harvard research: "Most people find it pleasant to bike with people they know. But there's growing evidence that one category of Americans are particularly interested in it. Latinos and Latinas are far more likely than other Americans to say that friends or family are a major factor in their choice to ride." The takeaway for planners in Oregon, where 12% of the population is Latino and the Latino population grew 72% from 2000 to 2016? Design bikeways that can be used by people side-by-side.

Parking

Carless Renters Spend $440 million on Parking They Don’t Use

In "The Hidden Cost of Bundled Parking" in the latest Access Magazine, C.J. Gabbe and Greg Pierce write "Parking requirements are an equity issue. U.S. carless renters spend $440 million per year on garage parking they don't use for car storage."

Streetsblog reports if Americans paid for the parking we consume, analyst Todd Littman projects we'd drive 500,000,000,000 fewer miles each year, or 16% less than we do. Littman argues "market distortions that make mobility cheap make other goods more costly, including housing (due to additional parking costs and taxes), health (due to increased crash injuries, pollution exposure, and reduced physical fitness), and accessibility (due to congestion and land use dispersion)."

Vox Parking Video

Vox has compiled a helpful six-and-a-half minute video on how significant parking is to how Americans get around and how our cities are shaped.

Macy’s Looks to Build on Underused Parking

Modern Cities reports department store giant Macy's owns a significant amount of land, some of which is underused parking lots. It is looking at redeveloping or selling some of that real estate. Macy’s Doug Sesler, executive vice president for real estate, noted, "The fact of the matter is we don't need the massive parking lots that we needed in the 1970s."

To Ponder

Ever want to tell the story of why we care about transportation choices? The Swiss Federal Railways created some compelling advertisements about choices, focused on the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with young kids.