The Pedestrian Advisory Council is Hiring

The D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council is seeking to hire a new Program/Administrative Associate to help support our work advising the mayor, D.C. Council and D.C. government agencies on how to improve D.C.'s pedestrian environment.  This is a part-time position that pays a $20 hourly rate, and we expect it will require an average of about 8 hours of work per week.  For more information, please see the job announcement online.

To apply for this position, please submit your resume and a cover explaining why you are interested in the position to Jason Broehm, Chair, D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council at DCPedCouncil[at]gmail.com.  We will begin to review applications during December.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

_

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

MPD Launches DC StreetSafe Program

Yesterday, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) launched its new DC StreetSafe Automated Traffic Enforcement Program with the announcement that new traffic cameras are now in place across the District and beginning today -- Saturday, November 23 -- those cameras will be in use.  In addition to existing red light cameras and speed cameras, MPD is now using automated safety enforcement technologies that will issue tickets to drivers who fail to stop at stop signs, fail to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, speed through intersections, and block traffic intersections.  These new technologies will make D.C.'s streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers alike.



MPD selected the locations for these new automated enforcement units based on several factors, including a history of pedestrians being struck at a particular location, high speed volume, proximity to schools, recommendations by the District Department of Transportation, and requests from the community.  The locations are available online at www.DCStreetsafe.org.

MPD is using a series of humorous videos to help get out the word about the new automated enforcement technologies.  From now through December 29, MPD will issue warnings to vehicles caught on camera violating traffic laws at these new locations, and beginning December 30 violators will receive fines.

_

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

MPD Installing New Photo Enforcement Cameras

On Friday, I happened upon MPD Photo Enforcement Program Manager Lisa Sutter and several of her colleagues as they were testing a newly installed mobile speed camera.  The photo that was up on the laptop screen as I looked over  the technician's shoulder showed a crystal clear photo of the back side of a car that was recorded traveling 37.7 miles per hour, more than 12 miles per hour over the legal speed limit.  Once this camera is operational, a car like this would be issued a speeding ticket.

This mobile speed camera is one of 132 new photo enforcement units that MPD will be installing across D.C. between now and the end of September, including:

• 32 portable speed cameras;
• 24 intersection speed cameras;
• 20 gridlock cameras (to catch "blocking the box" violations);
• 32 stop sign cameras;
• 16 cameras to catch vehicles that fail to stop for pedestrians; and
• 8 cameras to catch violations of oversized vehicles on restricted routes.

Following proposals to limit D.C.'s planned expansion of the photo enforcement program, in July, the D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council and the D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council sent a letter to the D.C. Council recommending that the D.C. government continue with the planned expansion to protect pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

_

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

Don't Miss the 2013 Walking Summit in D.C.

On October 1-3, hundreds of pedestrian advocates from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C. for the 2013 Walking Summit.  The conference agenda will feature engaging capacity building sessions, a dance walk, a dance party, and plenty of opportunities to learn while walking.  Two of the D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council's government agency representatives will lead walking tours: on October 1, DDOT's George Branyan will lead a tour focusing on pedestrian infrastructure improvements in and around D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood, and on October 2, the Office of Planning's Chris Shaheen will lead a tour that will feature D.C.'s park system and how it transformed Washington from "gritty to garden city."

Early bird registration, which is only $150, has been extended until Monday, August 19.  After that, the registration fee will go up to $225.  Don't wait, register for the 2013 Walking Summit today!

_

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

Pedestrian Fatalities Are Much More than Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nationwide a pedestrian is struck and injured by a motor vehicle every 8 minutes and killed every two hours.  In 2012, more than 800 pedestrians were struck by vehicles in D.C., and 8 pedestrians died as a result of their injuries.  Fortunately, the number of pedestrian fatalities has declined slightly in recent years, but according to 2011 data from NHTSA, D.C.'s rate of pedestrian fatalities is above the national average.

And most importantly, behind these statistics are real people whose lives ended prematurely and needlessly.  DCist recently reported on two young mothers in D.C. who lost their lives after being hit by motor vehicles, sadly leaving behind children who will grow up without their mothers.  In late July, 30-year-old Georgette Jones was struck and killed by a Chevy Tahoe in the 500 block of Eastern Avenue NE.  Laura Nicole Rinaldi was struck by a dump truck at the intersection of 4th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW and succumbed to her injuries on July 28, at the age of just 38.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced two new tools to help communities reduce the rising number of pedestrian deaths across the U.S. over the last two years.  DOT unveiled a new Everyone is a Pedestrian website with information about improving pedestrian safety.  The agency also announced the availability of $2 million in pedestrian safety grants to be used for education and enforcement, and 22 cities with the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities are eligible to apply.  D.C. is among these cities, and I certainly hope D.C. will apply for this funding.

In a WAMU online poll that appears with an article about the announcement, about 60 percent of respondents report that they do not feel safe as pedestrians in D.C.

 _

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

PAC Recommends Continued Expansion of Photo Enforcement

Today the D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council (PAC) and the D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) sent a letter to all thirteen D.C. Council members recommending that D.C. continue with plans to expand the use of cameras to enforce D.C.'s traffic laws.

The PAC and BAC became concerned by a proposal from Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI) that would ban photo enforcement in D.C., and a subsequent proposal by D.C. Council member Vincent Orange (At-Large) that would place a moratorium on photo enforcement, both of which could threaten the public health and safety gains that have been made in recent years.

Pedestrians and bicyclists are far more vulnerable to being injured or killed in a collision than drivers.  This is particularly true when a driver is speeding because as speed increases, the chance that a pedestrian or bicyclist will be seriously injured or killed increases dramatically.  In 2011, 831 pedestrians and 582 bicyclists were involved in traffic crashes.  Reducing traffic speed and preventing red light and stop sign running are essential to protecting pedestrians and bicyclists as well as drivers. 

Traffic cameras have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing speeding in the District.  According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), when the District’s photo enforcement program began, 1 out of 3 drivers was speeding and today only 1 in 40 speeds.  As speeding has decreased so have traffic fatalities.  Between 2001 and 2012, traffic fatalities in the District decreased 73% (from 72 to 19).

D.C. residents overwhelmingly support photo enforcement.  According to survey results released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in April 2013:

• 9 out of 10 District residents believe that dangerous driver behaviors like running red lights and stop signs, speeding and not yielding to pedestrians are serious threats;

•  87 percent support red light cameras;

• 76 percent support speed cameras; and

• 58 percent who had recently received a photo enforcement ticket thought they deserved it.

 _

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More

PAC Vice Chair Discusses Pedestrian Safety on WAMU

Pedestrian Advisory Council Vice Chair Marlene Berlin was interviewed on WAMU's Metro Connection program this morning. Here's one snippet from her interview on pedestrian safety:

"People do not know the law; there are certain assumptions made about jaywalking. Pedestrians have a lot of rights to cross the street in this city, and they're not given them. This city has been mostly built for automobile traffic and for getting commuters in and out, but a lot of people are moving into the city. We want to be able to traverse the city safely... so we all have a responsibility to make our street safer."

Tune in online for more from the interview.

 _

Written by Jason Broehm

Read More