To: The City Council of City X
From: Karissa Moffett, Florida State University Student
Date: September 16, 2014
RE: Accommodating Non-Motorized Infrastructure Into City X
Executive Summary
Many of us would not want our kids and grandchildren playing in the road with motorized vehicles. On the other hand, what if they were to play in a separated non-motorized road with bicycles and pedestrians? What if they were riding a bike themselves? Considering these questions, a child biking in a separated road with other bikers does not sound dangerous compared to a child biking in the road with cars (Pucher & Buechler 235-255). In the United States, cities with more non-motorized infrastructure tend to encourage more use of non-motorized vehicles (Pucher & Buechler 108, Dill & Handy 2010).
Non-motorized infrastructure is defined as active transportation that includes walking and bicycling and “small-wheeled transport” (skateboards, scooters, and roller blades) as well as wheelchairs (TDM Encyclopedia 2014). In this memo, I will refer to non-motorized infrastructure in regards to bicycling and walking as a single entity that is protected and
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Research by the Department of Transportation (DOT) concludes that building a local road could cost anywhere from $5 million to $15 million per mile (ARTBA 2014) and those sums do not include the cost of maintenance, which is $101 billion annually (Face the Facts 2012). On the other end of the spectrum, building non-motorized roads costs anywhere from $5,000 to $60,000 per mile, and because bikes and people do not weigh as much as cars maintenance is lower (though the maintenance cost of non-motorized roads is undetermined) (Blue 2013). Deciding not to build a mile of city road can buy a premier non-motorized road with a flourishing local economy that is cost efficient and effective (Bush
It is hard to live with disability, because everyday things become a challenge. U.S. Census Bureau report from 2008 states that 3.3 million non-institutionalized Americans over age 15 years use wheelchairs. The reason why there are so many people with disabilities is that U.S. spent decades at war. This is why mobility industry is rethinking the products it provides to support a growing demographic. Vantage Mobility International (VMI) and Braun Ability are two leading industry players that spent decades converting wheelchair vans from companies such as Chrysler , Toyota , and Honda into wheelchair-accessible modes of transportation.
Even though ISTEA, as a whole, did not transform the transportation sector and the direction funding went during its original 6 years, it laid the foundation for subsequent legislation that has led to a continuing effort to create a pedestrian transportation network aimed at alleviating congestion and cutting emissions. According to the Federal Highway Administration (2013), more than $9 billion has been utilized for 27,172 pedestrian and bicycle path projects...
If we are going to be honest, the roadways for the state have NEVER been free. We have paid both state and federal gas tax for decades, now, and we also pay various taxes and licensing fees on our cars and our right to drive which go directly to the highway department in order to maintain the roads. Unfortunately, as we will soon see, the monies raised in this way cannot keep up with the state transportation departments needs, for a variety of reasons.
In this article written by the author Bruce Feiler, titled “Teenage Drivers? Be Very Afraid”, he talks about how he suggest the parents to stop being helicopter parents and allow their children to be independent. However, other professionals’ suggestions are the opposite when teenagers start to drive. As a result of the teenagers’ immaturity, the parents are told to be more involved because their child’s life may be in danger. As stated in the article by Nichole Moris “the most dangerous two years of your life are between 16 and 17, and the reason for that is driving.” There are various factors that play huge roles through this phrase of the teenagers’ life: other passengers, cellphones, and parents. In 2013, under a million teenage drivers were involved in police-reported crashes, according to AAA. The accidents could have been more but many teenage accidents go unreported. As a result, one of their recommendations to the parents is to not allow their children to drive with other passengers: other passengers can big a huge distraction and could increase the rate of crashes by 44 percent. That risk doubles with a second passenger and quadruples with three or more. Furthermore, as technology has taken over teenagers’ lives, the parents should suggest to those teenagers who insists on using the phones that the only safe place for it to be: in a dock, at eye level, on the dashboard. The worst place is the cup holder, the driver’s lap, and the passenger’s seat. Next, professionals also suggest that the parents implement their own rule and even continue the ones like the graduated driver’s licenses regulations. This regulation includes restrictions like not allowing their children to drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. To
Many people don't consider a cycle commute to work because they are worried about their safety on the road.
The basic components of today's mobility scooters are two rear wheels with a seat above them, a flat area upon which to put the feet that also holds the seat and power source, and a steering column with handlebars to steer either one or two front wheels. There are gasoline powered ones, though
The great changes in American society that came with the introduction bicycle in the late 19th century are often overshadowed by the influence of the automobile in the following decades. Today, bicycles are often seen as an alternative mode of transportation - a cleaner and more environmentally conscious form of travel. Because of this, it may be difficult to realize the incredible modernizing effects that bicycles had on American society when they were first introduced. Manufacturing and marketing techniques introduced by the bicycle industry were massive steps towards modern industrial practices. In addition, by making individual travel available to many people for the first time, bicycles changed the speed at which life flowed in much of America. Bicycles granted a degree of personal freedom of mobility to many for the first time, and their effect on the women's rights movement of the time was notable. Bicycles were used in war, by police, and by the postal service, among others. In countless walks of life, the availability of personal travel offered by bicycles had an incredible impact on American society.
Off-highway vehicles (OHV), which include snowmobiles, four-wheelers and dirt bikes, are the mode of choice for millions of Americans who want to experience the outdoors. They're blamed for irreparable damage to the environment, and touted as one of the most enjoyable ways to spend time with friends and family outside. Environmentalists insist that much harsher restrictions of OHV use on public lands are vital to preserving fragile ecosystems. OHV users say they follow the rules already in place and don't need any more.
The elimination of traffic regulations causes drivers to think for themselves and pay attention to the road rather than the laws of the road. Without set speed limits, motorists drive at a speed they feel comfortable and in control of. For example, large stretches’ of the Autobahn do not have a speed limit. While there are many people who drive at speeds in excess of one hundred and fifty miles per hour (Driving 150mph on the Autobahn, YouTube), but the average speed of the majority of vehicles is eighty miles per hour. This is merely ten miles per hour faster than the speed limits on most comparable United States highways. Even though there is no set speed limit on large portions of the Autobahn, fatalities are much lower than that of rural highways in the United States, despite having no speed limit. Another study concerning speed limits involved measuring the speed of vehicles in a given area. Next the posted speed limits were either raised or lowered the speed limit. After the speed limit was altered vehicle speed was measured again. The study found, regardl...
Today, Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is one if the fastest growing recreation activities taking place on the public of the western United States. OHV includes, but is not limited to motorcycles designed for off road use, All terrain vehicles (ATVs), 4-wheel drive automobiles, and other vehicles such a sand rails or dune buggies (Cordell, Betz, Green, & Owens, 2005).
One form of mobility management, which relates to travelling to school, have been develop and implemented in many developed countries, namely Active School Transport, also known as Safe Routes to School, Active Travel to School, Active Transport, Active School Travel, Active Commuting to School, Travel Smart School, and other more names which all more or less have the same meaning as an action of creating a neighbourhood that encourage people to actively walk or cycle to and from the service stops [6]. Garrard [7] giving clear information and source of references for the benefits of active transport. She gathers the important point of the benefits as shown on Figure 1.
The opponents of helmet laws seem to have a good argument. Helmet use cannot prevent an accident and Department of Transportation statistics indicate seventy five percent of bicycle related deaths are in collisions with motor vehicles (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons 2), which implies the real problem is with automobile drivers causing accidents with bikes.
There are going to be sometimes where you do want too or must walk, bike, or use some other transportation to get somewhere. It’s just easier, more convenient, faster, and gives you more freedom when you do take your own car. Sometimes you must go somewhere at the last moment, where it’s easier to get in your car and drive. You get to your destination faster when you drive, it could be safer if you are the one driving, you don’t have to wait on anyone to pick you up, and you wouldn’t have to worry about where to put your bike. Although; if you choose not to drive; you wouldn’t have to worry about the traffic, you would get to see different views of your city, you would get exercise if you were walking/biking, save on gas, get to be with friends/family if you
Cars and bicycles: can be raced from the sidewalk, use as motivation to speed up.
Widely throughout the world, motorcycles and scooters are primarily the main source of transportation. In Europe as well as Asia, this is the most logical, safe, fast, and economical way to travel. Two wheels are the most efficient way to get around in everyday traffic and is the logical choice for everyday commutes to and from work. If you cannot carpool it makes sense, two wheels pollute less, use less gas and are generally less expensive to maintain or purchase. For motorcycles and scooters, it is cheaper to insure, care for, ...