[bikeqld] Safe Routes to School ...USA

[Yani]

I noticed a couple of things in the US that worked.

 

1. If you drove over 75 MPH in a 60 MPH zone that you get an instant go to
jail card, hence on main highways everyone drives at exactly 74 MPH.

 

2. If you speed through road works the fines were automatically trebled. So
no one speeds through road works.

 

3. Contrary to TV the US is seriously under policed.

 

4. Bigger cars are safer.

 

5. Much more involved community at all levels. More likely to go to church,
attend a re-enactment of a historic event. generally more participatory.

 

As far as general safety goes I doubt if they are ahead of Australian.
(Depending on the state) I noticed road signs on timber stakes, traffic
signals suspended on cables, steel bridges which appeared not to have been
given a coat of paint in 15 years, some right scary centre turn lanes... all
the sort of things you would expect to see in a country running out of cash.
Or where they just don't pay enough tax.

 

 

Although each State is at a different stage of implementation, the fact that
more than 5,200 schools in all 50 States are participating and $355.2
million in Federal funds have been committed to projects attests to the
nationwide reach of the SRTS program.

 

That would equal about $20 million here with population adjustment. That
doesn't sound impossible. 

 

This is the program's site http://www.saferoutesinfo.org
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/> 

 

It's a good model and easy to 'Australianise'. 

 

 

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/encouragement/index.cfm

 

Encouragement strategies are about having fun; they generate excitement and
interest in walking and bicycling. Special events, mileage clubs, contests
and ongoing activities all provide ways for parents and children to
discover, or rediscover, that walking and bicycling are doable and a lot of
fun.

 

 

Good spotting, you should send it off to the Federal Minister.

 

Yani

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au [mailto:bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au]
On Behalf Of Michael Yeates
Sent: Tuesday, 3 November 2009 10:53 AM
To: bikeqld at bikeqld.org.au
Subject: [bikeqld] Safe Routes to School ...USA

 

 

Hi ...

 

For those interested, a reasonable summary of SRTS activity in the 

USA ... and some ideas for what we could be doing here ... and how 

... if only ...

 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/09julaug/01.htm

 

Also for those interested in the fact the USA only kills around 

35,000 people on the roads each year (or for others who might view 

such a fatality outcome as both totally unacceptable and clear 

evidence of a system in its death throes) ... the article on new 

intersection designs is also worth a look ...

 

"Public Roads" July/August 2009

 

MY...................................................

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