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Nobody ought to must face harm or demise whereas strolling down the road, or whereas using a bicycle. But, anybody embarking on these seemingly benign actions might imagine twice. Why? American roadways have gotten deadlier.
The New York Occasions not too long ago wrote about rising roadway tragedies, highlighting Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, the third overseas service officer on the State Division to die whereas strolling or biking within the Washington, D.C., space this 12 months. She was killed in August in suburban Bethesda, Md. Her husband remarked that Langenkamp’s demise marked extra overseas service officers killed by autos at house than have died abroad this 12 months.
The story famous that the U.S. has “diverged” over the previous decade from different comparable international locations. Whereas visitors fatalities have been falling in different first-world nations, they’ve been on the rise right here. The federal government estimated almost 43,000 folks died on American roads, and the latest rise in fatalities has been pronounced amongst these the federal government classifies as most susceptible: bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. The issue extends throughout America, together with right here in Western New York.
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In July, The Information editorialized concerning the variety of folks dying due to a tradition designed to favor automobiles and vehicles to the detriment of different types of transportation. The Higher Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council reported that biking within the area has elevated 3,000% since March 2020. But, tragedy abounds for these not driving a automobile. Buffalo noticed 1,622 bicycle and pedestrian-involved crashes from 2017 to 2021, and three,472 crashes involving automobiles with pedestrians and bicyclists in Erie and Niagara counties over the identical span.
A few week in the past, two pedestrians suffered head accidents after being struck by autos in separate incidents in numerous components of city over a span of simply 12 hours. The one-mile stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard in town line between Amherst and Tonawanda has grow to be treacherous for pedestrians.
A few week in the past, two pedestrians suffered head accidents after being struck by autos in separate incidents in numerous components of city over a span of simply 12 hours. The one-mile stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard in town line between Amherst and Tonawanda has grow to be treacherous for pedestrians. There’s some effort to make the roadways safer for all. For instance, the nationwide Full Streets program, was adopted by way of native ordinance by Buffalo in 2008 and by New York State in 2011. Domestically, GObike Buffalo has labored with municipalities, together with the Metropolis of Buffalo, on establishing protected bike lanes. And on a state stage, with assist from GObike, the Legislature permitted three of eight proposed payments inside the Crash Sufferer Rights & Security Act. Considered one of them, rising state reimbursements for Full Streets building, nonetheless awaits the governor’s motion.
The regional transportation council is dedicated to the Full Streets effort and, by means of a principal planner, developed Bike Buffalo Niagara, a regional bike grasp plan permitted by the transportation planning council in 2020.
Options exist, as does cash to assist fund them, by means of the bipartisan infrastructure invoice handed final 12 months. Protected bicycle lanes make a distinction. So can narrower roads that assist to gradual visitors. A better dedication to roundabouts might help at harmful intersections. What it takes is the dedication to behave. That’s what is required.
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