Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS)

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Data geeks can get their fix from this cool new tool from our friends at that "other" transportation school up north, UC Berkeley. Researchers at the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) have developed TIMS to provide data and mapping analysis tools and information for traffic safety related research, policy and planning.

You can find and map info on crash rates, causes, victims, and more using data complied from state and federal crash databases. Much of the data is California-centric, but you can get some info on crashes elsewhere in the US.

Users must register for a free account to access the system, available online here.

Cool Ped Stuff #14: Green (Tree) Crossings

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China might have the fastest-growing market for cars, but that also makes it the fastest-growing market for pedestrian advocacy. Enter this awesome crosswalk design/advocacy campaign:

This week on foot

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It has been such a busy week for pedestrians, I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with bridges: In New York, the Mother Of All Pedestrian Bridges To Connect Brooklyn Parks, while down south Old pedestrian bridge to be removed in Louisiana and up north Foxborough Selectmen Support Pedestrian Bridge.

Closer to home (for me, anyway) Glendale clears path for pedalers and pedestrians, while in Northern California folks consider  Oakland's pedestrian dangers. As we know, one of those dangers is distracted driving, which is why it's encouraging to hear that Motorists who text or talk on hand-held phones face stiffer penalties under Senate measure.

And the California Senate isn't the only group thinking about pedestrian safety this week. Under Pressure, AASHTO Withdraws Objection to Stronger Bike-Ped Rules , while in Baltimore Citizen fights Fells Point pedestrian changes.

PBIC Recognizes Walk Friendly Communities

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The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has announced the its 2011 Walk Friendly Communities, and I'm pleased to see that my hometown of Seattle tops the list as the only city with a "Platinum" designation. The new program, sponsored by the PBIC, the Federal Highway Administration, and FedEx, recognizes communities that stand out in their commitment to pedestrian safety, access, and comfort. According to program manager Carl Sundstron, "The WFC designation recognizes communities that help set the bar in fostering and accommodating walking." Here's the full list of designees:

Platinum Level

• Seattle, Washington

Gold Level

• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Arlington, Virginia
• Hoboken, New Jersey
• Santa Barbara, California

Silver Level

• Charlottesville, Virginia
• Decatur, Georgia

Bronze

• Austin, Texas
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Flagstaff, Arizona
• Wilsonville, Oregon

Don't see your community on the list? Online applications for next year's program are available May 1.

A new twist on the marked crosswalk debate

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You run across some odd stuff when you're wandering around the internet in search of pedestrian info. Take this Special Report from Project Consumer Justice, a site that describes it's purpose as to "honestly report on consumer, legal and political issues important to the American civil justice system."

The article details a $12 million settlement in a San Mateo lawsuit over a ped-vehicle crash that left a 17-year-old woman in a permanent vegetative state. The victim was struck while crossing at a marked crosswalk on a six-lane roadway. During the trial, lawyers for the victim cited Caltrans "dirty little secret" about "when marked crosswalks can be more dangerous for pedestrians." As evidence, they pointed to the infamous 1972 Herms Crosswalk Study, explaining how it proved that marked crosswalks gave pedestrians a "false sense of security."