A symposium co-hosted by the Transportation Research Board hosted symposium promoted the acceleration of transport-sector innovation in the European Union and the US. The summary report of this 2017 symposium is “Decarbonizing Transport for a Sustainable Future: Mitigating Impacts of the Changing Climate” The report includes discussion of policies, programs, and innovative approaches for decarbonizing the transport sector and mitigating climate change. https://bit.ly/2JkG6Md
DESIGNING BIKE FACILITIES FOR VARYING AGES AND ABILITIES
December 12, 2017 by
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has released a guide to help cities decide what types of bike infrastructure will best achieve their goals, building bike networks that are safe and comfortable for riders of all ages and abilities. By focusing on two key safety factors—vehicle speeds and traffic volume—Designing for All Ages and Abilities: Contextual Guidance for High-Comfort Bicycle Facilities* gives cities the tools they need to assess any street and decide which treatments will improve safety and support increases in bicycling. The guide illustrates how conventional bike network infrastructure, such as painted lanes, can be insufficient on higher-volume streets with vehicle speeds above 20 mph, while on lower-speed streets where other traffic calming measures have been introduced, such treatments may be an adequate solution. Download the guide https://bit.ly/2IGfVym (.pdf )
REVISED ELEMENTS OF A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
November 9, 2017 by
The National Complete Streets Coalition released its updated and revised the Complete Streets policy framework that requires more accountability from jurisdictions and provisions that equitably address the needs of the most vulnerable users. The 10 revised policy elements are based on decades of collective expertise in transportation planning and design, and created in consultation with NCSC’s steering committee and other national stakeholders. A new resource offers a model for communities developing complete streets policies and for those with policies, it provides guidance on areas for improvements. Download: The Elements of a Complete Streets Policy https://bit.ly/2qi6gah
STUDY LOOKS AT INCREASED CROSSING TIMES FOR AGING PEDESTRIANS
October 23, 2017 by
The Journal of Transport & Health published a study that investigates changes in walking speed and the ability of adults over 50 to cross roads in time.. Only 10% of measured walking speeds were fast enough for the required 1.2 m/s pedestrian crossing speeds in the UK and the US. Walking speed declined with age, and the decline accelerated with increasing age. Researchers noted their results may overestimate the proportion of older people able to cross the road in time. See Crossing the Road in Time: Inequalities in Older People’s Walking Speeds https://bit.ly/2qjK53q
BRITISH CITIES USE POOLED DELIVERIES TO REDUCE TRUCK TRAFFIC
September 25, 2017 by
Core77 reports on how British cities are reducing truck traffic even as deliveries increase. Because the British do more shopping on the internet than almost anyone else in the world, increased demand for delivered packages was clogging urban streets with delivery trucks, adding both congestion and pollution. British cities have begun requiring pooled delivery: companies (including competing firms) stop their trucks outside of the city limits, consolidate packages onto a lesser number of trucks which are then allowed into the city; traffic is thus reduced. The last-mile delivery vehicles operate over a very limited range, which makes the approach ideal for electric vehicles that can remain close to their recharging home base. Regent Street in the West End of London has cut delivery traffic by almost 80% since firms there started combining deliveries in 2008. https://bit.ly/2EwwtX9
