The safest plan is to allow
traffic to move as quickly as possible on the major streets, and spend the
money on keeping pedestrians and cars separated (maybe put up fences?).
I do not agree that cars need to move as quickly as possible on major streets. I believe that we need to reduce car traffic in order to make all of our streets safer, to reduce pollution and oil dependency, and to allow for greater diversity of vehicles.
To expand on this further:
If we make major streets bigger, they will simply become congested with even more cars. If we increase speeds on major streets, we are likely to see more car crashes and more serious car crashes. This is more dangerous and costly than maintaining moderate speeds.
The best way to help cars move through the streets more quickly is to reduce the number of cars on the streets. The best way to do that is to engage in a long-term comprehensive program to educate the public and to increase transit options, small urban ZEV options, and walking and biking options.
Smart transportation options, Smart Growth urban planning, more appropriate "user-fees" to offset the safety and public health costs of car over-use, and ongoing education are vital to our city's future.
During World War II, the government sponsored billboards proclaiming "When You Ride Alone, You Ride With Hitler" as well as other billboards pleading with Americans not to make a soldier give up his life because we waste gasoline at home.
cf -- http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1121/p15s01-sten.html -- "Proud, Patriotic, and Green" by Amanda Paulson
We could also make posters and public TV and radio announcements saying:
"When you ride alone, you ride with...
Osama bin Laden
Saddam Hussein
the 19 "911" airplane highjackers
the House of Saud -- oppressors of the Saudi people
global warming
cancer ( a 100-fold rise in the risk of cancer for us in Mpls, mostly caused by cars and trucks -- cf http://www.scorecard.org/community/index.tcl?zip_code=55409 )
death by car crashes
crippling injuries by car crashes
millions of dollars in health care costs caused by car crashes
millions of dollars in property damage caused by car crashes
"blood for oil" war and foriegn policy
and much, much more.
As I give people rides on my pedicab, they remark about how nice it is to be able to sit back and notice the wonderful architecture of the houses and buildings, the yards and the individuality expressed by businesses and residents. These are things one cannot notice while speeding along as fast as possible in a car. Cars isolate people and deny the space they are moving through. This is not healthy for anyone.
We need to actively encourage safe streets for bikes and other relatively low-speed vehicles. We need to pass laws which discourage car use and encourage walking, pedaling, and transit development.
Bike racks and paths are good. But as I discuss these issues with fellow bikers, there is despair and anger toward those people going too fast, one-to-a-car, on city or residential streets. Not only is that behaviour anti-Minneapolis, it is anti-American, unpatriotic, anti-earth, and will cost us the relative comfort and security many seem to hold dearer than anything else.
When we ride in a fossil-fuel car alone, we ride with the terrorists planning the next strike. When we ride a bike, we ride with true American patriots past, present, and future.
Bike racks and paths are a good start, but the very beginning.....
Gary Hoover
King Field
