[Mpls] Traffic flow and its implications for other systems

[ArthurTHimmelman]

Thank you to the many mnforum participants who shared their analysis and experience with traffic lights and resulting consequences, including Lt. Reinhardt for sending the name and number of the city employee in charge of this function. 

Although my inquiry was about traffic lights, it reminded me of a perception that I had years ago about the relationship of our "system" for assisting drivers move as quickly and safely as possible throughout the city to other so-called systems such as public education and social services.  I thought, if we could put these systems on the street, they would look like much like our traffic patterns; seemingly based on decisions with little regard for those that are affected by them on a regular basis.

As can happen when drivers let their frustration get the best of them and, as a result, risk injury to others and themselves, people unable to get appropriate, user-friendly, and effective assistance when "navigating" our education and social service systems, may harm others and themselves because of misdirected frustration.

Arthur T. Himmelman
Loring Park