TRAFFIC CALMING - 11

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming gives elected officials, local Public Works Directors, City Engineers and even local police the opportunity to work with their communities to create personalized solutions to dangerous traffic.

Traffic calming devices “have the back” of all these officials when they wade into the community and try to create real-life, tailor-made solutions to address everything from annoying cut-through commuters to sites of multiple pedestrian fatality tragedies.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 10

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming fits with all trends toward a greener, more sustainable way of living.

Traffic calming promotes shared use of roadways by bikes, pedestrians, transit and vehicles.

Anything that promotes walking to the neighborhood store or strolling to the local library is green.

Which would you rather do? -- pay 4 or 5 bucks a gallon to get in your car and drive to a pricey gym?

Or take off a few pounds on a calmed streetscape for free?

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com each month by walking safely

TRAFFIC CALMING - 9

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming is a big part of the Safe Routes to School movement.

Transportation departments have a decent amount of federal bucks to grant to communities that want to create safe routes to schools.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 8

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming makes it possible to bike to work from an inner ring suburb, and it makes it safe enough to bike to a transit station.

It does the same to enhance walking. When sidewalks are narrow and traffic is roaring by, people don’t feel safe and secure walking even a couple blocks to the bus stop or train station.

Traffic calming can make the walk – in more humane surroundings -- feel safer and even shorter.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 7

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming is essential, especially in the new economy.

There is no quick fix to the economic crises.

Experts say it will take a decade more for the housing, financial, retail and related markets to recover.

In the meantime, more people than ever are looking at ways they can turn a three-car household into a two-car household, or a two-car household into a one-car one

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 6

TRAFFIC CALMING

Education/public involvement is a big part of traffic calming.

With all due respect to the profession, many people shudder when they hear “traffic engineer.”

They equate it with sins of the past: losing their front yard to road widening, losing their tranquility to rushing traffic, etc.

They first may be skeptical of traffic calming, but in the long run, traffic calming is the rarest of opportunities to reach out and improve a community on a personal, “see, touch, feel the improvement” level.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 5

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming turns seas of pavement/overdesigned roadways into points of civic pride. After traffic circles were installed and landscaped in Miami, some neighborhoods asked for and got entrance signs for their neighborhoods.

The circles, which were controversial at the design stage, now boost community pride with “now entering the historic Miami Roads neighborhood’ signs placed on the circles.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 4

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming beautifies.

In the City of Miami, which often is broke and has trouble maintaining civic spaces, there are traffic circles (actually roundabouts) that are landscaped as beautifully as golf courses.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING - 3

TRAFFIC CALMING



Traffic calming slows cut-through traffic – putting commuters back on the arterials and off of neighborhood streets.

Communities should push their governments to hire traffic/transportation engineering firms with the track record urbanist philosophy needed to approach traffic calming and safe pedestrian pathways with enthusiasm and expertise.

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

TRAFFIC CALMING

TRAFFIC CALMING

We live in Miami – a City where we love the diversity, but hate the dangerous driving that has become commonplace and accepted.

Whether it is the:

• Weekly near-miss accident avoided only by our intense awareness and defensive driving.

• Daily reporting of another hit-and-run killing or maiming of a pedestrian.

• Hourly fear that crosswalks are NOT safe for wheelchair users, bicyclists or pedestrians.

We believe the time is now for our elected and appointed officials to advocate for complete streets where pedestrians are safer, sidewalks are wider, bike lanes are built, transit is facilitated and traffic is calmed.

We will list our top 10 benefits of traffic calming during the next 10 days

Wright frequently writes about Smart Growth and sustainable communities. He recently participated in the prestigious Forum on Land and the Built Environment: The Reinvented City sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com