Jesse, that's a great example of what I'm looking for. Gregor, on the one hand I'm looking for real cases to quote, and on the other, I'm trying to figure how to convince the powers-that-be (engineers and so on) that although they're highly qualified, when plans are implemented, the reality for drivers and pedestrians is sometimes far from ideal, and even dangerous.
Sidewalks and crossings are often not usable by disabled folk, or even "regular" pedestrians. Road intersections often have poor fields of vision for drivers and pedestrians - resulting in injuries and death. The common response to my pitch (which includes photographs of real issues), is: "we design/build according to local law and standards", "lack of budget", "your solution is *not desirable to pedestrians* etc." I know that no studies are carried out where I live, and no drivers / pedestrians / residents are involved. On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Jesse Zolna <[email protected]> wrote: > One example I read about in a recent book, Nudge I believe, was Lake Shore > Drive in Chicago. One section of road had many accidents because it was a > dangerous curve and people would ignore signs to slow down. The city of > Chicago drew lines on the road that gradually came to be closer and closer > together. The visual experience gave drivers the sensation of speeding up. > Drivers compensate by slowing down, and accident rates have dropped. > > You could use that example in your pitch. > > -Jesse > > __________________ > Jesse S. Zolna, Ph.D. > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Gregor Kiddie <[email protected]> > *To:* Rob Epstein <[email protected]>; [email protected] > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:55:00 AM > *Subject:* Re: [IxDA Discuss] City experience > > That's a very intriguing set of questions there! No experience but my > curiosity is piqued! > > How could you re-design a road (or pavement) from a UX perspective... > Fantastic question for an interview! > > Gk. > > Gregor Kiddie > Senior Developer > INPS > > Tel: 01382 564343 > > Registered address: The Bread Factory, 1a Broughton Street, London SW8 > 3QJ > > Registered Number: 1788577 > > Registered in the UK > > Visit our Internet Web site at www.inps.co.uk > > The information in this internet email is confidential and is intended > solely for the addressee. Access, copying or re-use of information in it > by anyone else is not authorised. Any views or opinions presented are > solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of > INPS or any of its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient > please contact [email protected] > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rob > Epstein > Sent: 21 July 2009 11:29 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [IxDA Discuss] City experience > > Has anyone provided UX / usability services to a city or local council, > regarding: > > - Road / sidewalk design and maintenance > - Road signs - locations, standards, maintenance > - Navigation signs - to local sites, main roads, points of interest > - Traffic calming > - Pedestrian crossings > - Shared spaces > - and in general, how to make cities more walkable, safe, and a great > place to live. > > I'd like to hear your experiences, war stories, and how you convinced > the > city that they needed you (or did they "get it" from the start?) > > Thanks, > Rob > > ___________________ > Rob Epstein > UX consultant > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [email protected] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [email protected] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
