I just did one of the most dangerous things you can do in Jacksonville I rode
things you can do in Jacksonville I rode
things you can do in Jacksonville I rode my bike to this event
the City of Jacksonville has been ranked
the City of Jacksonville has been ranked the fourth worst city in the United
the fourth worst city in the United
the fourth worst city in the United States for pedestrian and bicycle
States for pedestrian and bicycle
States for pedestrian and bicycle fatalities per capita according to Smart
fatalities per capita according to Smart
fatalities per capita according to Smart Growth America dangerous by design
Growth America dangerous by design
Growth America dangerous by design report as a traffic engineer I took a
report as a traffic engineer I took a
report as a traffic engineer I took a deeper dive into that issue and the
deeper dive into that issue and the
deeper dive into that issue and the problem is much worse than that
problem is much worse than that
problem is much worse than that the map you see behind me is pedestrian
the map you see behind me is pedestrian
the map you see behind me is pedestrian and bicycle crashes that have occurred
and bicycle crashes that have occurred
and bicycle crashes that have occurred in the last 10 years that’s 7,000 269
in the last 10 years that’s 7,000 269
in the last 10 years that’s 7,000 269 and Counting most of these crashes
and Counting most of these crashes
and Counting most of these crashes result in some type of injury many of
result in some type of injury many of
result in some type of injury many of them result in significant injury and
them result in significant injury and
them result in significant injury and even death what I’m here to tell you
even death what I’m here to tell you
even death what I’m here to tell you today is that a lot of what has to do
today is that a lot of what has to do
today is that a lot of what has to do with this problem has to do with our
with this problem has to do with our
with this problem has to do with our values and that what we need to decide
values and that what we need to decide
values and that what we need to decide moving forward is that people matter
moving forward is that people matter
moving forward is that people matter more than cars to further illustrate I’m
more than cars to further illustrate I’m
more than cars to further illustrate I’m going to talk about two tragic events
going to talk about two tragic events
going to talk about two tragic events that have occurred the first one only
that have occurred the first one only
that have occurred the first one only happened less than two months ago a
happened less than two months ago a
happened less than two months ago a bicyclist was on his way to work riding
bicyclist was on his way to work riding
bicyclist was on his way to work riding along when he swayed into traffic he was
along when he swayed into traffic he was
along when he swayed into traffic he was struck and critically injured where was
struck and critically injured where was
struck and critically injured where was he supposed to ride this is that
he supposed to ride this is that
he supposed to ride this is that location this is the traffic kind of
location this is the traffic kind of
location this is the traffic kind of condition that was going on at the time
condition that was going on at the time
condition that was going on at the time there’s no extra space for that
there’s no extra space for that
there’s no extra space for that bicyclist to be the second event
bicyclist to be the second event
bicyclist to be the second event happened this summer miss Angie Sanders
happened this summer miss Angie Sanders
happened this summer miss Angie Sanders aged 68 was on her way home from work
aged 68 was on her way home from work
aged 68 was on her way home from work and she stopped a Mayport road at the
and she stopped a Mayport road at the
and she stopped a Mayport road at the Mayport Plaza stopped to do some
Mayport Plaza stopped to do some
Mayport Plaza stopped to do some shopping
shopping
shopping there’s no crosswalk at that location
there’s no crosswalk at that location
there’s no crosswalk at that location when you step out she looked to the
when you step out she looked to the
when you step out she looked to the right looked to the left and the safe
right looked to the left and the safe
right looked to the left and the safe place to cross is a quarter mile in each
place to cross is a quarter mile in each
place to cross is a quarter mile in each direction so for her to make the safe
direction so for her to make the safe
direction so for her to make the safe journey
journey
journey a quarter mile is about a ten minute
a quarter mile is about a ten minute
a quarter mile is about a ten minute walk
stop wait for the light cross and then a
stop wait for the light cross and then a 10-minute walk back to where she really
10-minute walk back to where she really
10-minute walk back to where she really wanted to be Mayport road is a six-lane
wanted to be Mayport road is a six-lane
wanted to be Mayport road is a six-lane Road with a real narrow median so
Road with a real narrow median so
Road with a real narrow median so there’s six lanes to cross this day
there’s six lanes to cross this day
there’s six lanes to cross this day she’s very tired
she looked it up either way and made the
she looked it up either way and made the choice to cross at that location she got
choice to cross at that location she got
choice to cross at that location she got through the first lane the second lane
through the first lane the second lane
through the first lane the second lane and then by the third lane she didn’t
and then by the third lane she didn’t
and then by the third lane she didn’t make it
make it
make it these events are happening very
these events are happening very
these events are happening very frequently in our city over 7,000
frequently in our city over 7,000
frequently in our city over 7,000 crashes with this potential why our
crashes with this potential why our
crashes with this potential why our values and I’m going to demonstrate
values and I’m going to demonstrate
values and I’m going to demonstrate examples of how our values of how we’ve
examples of how our values of how we’ve
examples of how our values of how we’ve placed to build our space has
placed to build our space has
placed to build our space has contributed to this problem we need to
contributed to this problem we need to
contributed to this problem we need to decide that people matter more than cars
decide that people matter more than cars
decide that people matter more than cars so one thing we know is we have a
so one thing we know is we have a
so one thing we know is we have a problem how did we get here it really
problem how did we get here it really
problem how did we get here it really goes back to post-world War two the
goes back to post-world War two the
goes back to post-world War two the automobile came along the promise of
automobile came along the promise of
automobile came along the promise of this American Dream the freedom that it
this American Dream the freedom that it
this American Dream the freedom that it afforded us the suburban lifestyle it
afforded us the suburban lifestyle it
afforded us the suburban lifestyle it was great freedom of movement
was great freedom of movement
was great freedom of movement independence all that it was wonderful
independence all that it was wonderful
independence all that it was wonderful so we started setting about building our
so we started setting about building our
so we started setting about building our cities around that system in Florida I
cities around that system in Florida I
cities around that system in Florida I came a little bit later than post-world
came a little bit later than post-world
came a little bit later than post-world War two because we needed this how many
War two because we needed this how many
War two because we needed this how many of us would really be living here if we
of us would really be living here if we
of us would really be living here if we didn’t have that by 1960 eighty percent
didn’t have that by 1960 eighty percent
didn’t have that by 1960 eighty percent of all the cars in Florida had air
of all the cars in Florida had air
of all the cars in Florida had air conditioning our house is rare condition
conditioning our house is rare condition
conditioning our house is rare condition our buildings were air-conditioned our
our buildings were air-conditioned our
our buildings were air-conditioned our cars were air-conditioned we had this
cars were air-conditioned we had this
cars were air-conditioned we had this lifestyle of Independence and freedom
lifestyle of Independence and freedom
lifestyle of Independence and freedom and mobility and so we never had to get
and mobility and so we never had to get
and mobility and so we never had to get out and walk around so our economy
out and walk around so our economy
out and walk around so our economy our highway departments got really good
our highway departments got really good
our highway departments got really good at giving us that designing roads our
at giving us that designing roads our
at giving us that designing roads our highway department said about giving us
highway department said about giving us
highway department said about giving us a first-class highway system for cars I
a first-class highway system for cars I
a first-class highway system for cars I relate to this really well because as a
relate to this really well because as a
relate to this really well because as a civil engineer I was trained to give you
civil engineer I was trained to give you
civil engineer I was trained to give you that okay it’s really hard you think you
that okay it’s really hard you think you
that okay it’s really hard you think you might have more cars add some more lanes
might have more cars add some more lanes
might have more cars add some more lanes if you really want to make sure that
if you really want to make sure that
if you really want to make sure that people can go fast and continue on their
people can go fast and continue on their
people can go fast and continue on their trip provide no interruption to that
trip provide no interruption to that
trip provide no interruption to that facility no crosswalks no lights almost
facility no crosswalks no lights almost
facility no crosswalks no lights almost like a freeway so we have valued that
like a freeway so we have valued that
like a freeway so we have valued that lifestyle for a very long time until we
lifestyle for a very long time until we
lifestyle for a very long time until we kind of reach this tipping point where
kind of reach this tipping point where
kind of reach this tipping point where we have this crisis of crashes and
we have this crisis of crashes and
we have this crisis of crashes and fatalities so it’s not just about the
fatalities so it’s not just about the
fatalities so it’s not just about the roads we need to design our communities
roads we need to design our communities
roads we need to design our communities a little bit differently as well so
a little bit differently as well so
a little bit differently as well so there is kind of that land component
there is kind of that land component
there is kind of that land component that we have to make in concert gonna
that we have to make in concert gonna
that we have to make in concert gonna take a little bit of a segue and talk
take a little bit of a segue and talk
take a little bit of a segue and talk about in a parallel example of how we
about in a parallel example of how we
about in a parallel example of how we value and our values kind of relate 20
value and our values kind of relate 20
value and our values kind of relate 20 years ago about young traffic engineer
years ago about young traffic engineer
years ago about young traffic engineer in Minnesota worked for the city of
in Minnesota worked for the city of
in Minnesota worked for the city of Arden Hills and they had a new land
Arden Hills and they had a new land
Arden Hills and they had a new land development happening and they were
development happening and they were
development happening and they were going to put a road through a parkland
going to put a road through a parkland
going to put a road through a parkland and this City Council was very concerned
and this City Council was very concerned
and this City Council was very concerned about the animal species that were in
about the animal species that were in
about the animal species that were in that Park so they wanted to make sure
that Park so they wanted to make sure
that Park so they wanted to make sure that we took care of all the animals and
that we took care of all the animals and
that we took care of all the animals and I learned all about Florida well before
I learned all about Florida well before
I learned all about Florida well before I moved here that we are great in this
I moved here that we are great in this
I moved here that we are great in this state at taking care of animals
state at taking care of animals
state at taking care of animals environmentalists have figured out
environmentalists have figured out
environmentalists have figured out understood that we need to consolidate
understood that we need to consolidate
understood that we need to consolidate all of the lands and habitat so that the
all of the lands and habitat so that the
all of the lands and habitat so that the animals have a place that naturally
animals have a place that naturally
animals have a place that naturally takes them to a place where they’re
takes them to a place where they’re
takes them to a place where they’re gonna cross the road and then we spend a
gonna cross the road and then we spend a
gonna cross the road and then we spend a lot of money building a lot of crossings
lot of money building a lot of crossings
lot of money building a lot of crossings like this panther crossing we value the
like this panther crossing we value the
like this panther crossing we value the panther as we should there’s only 200 m
panther as we should there’s only 200 m
panther as we should there’s only 200 m left in the state and there are precious
left in the state and there are precious
left in the state and there are precious to us and so we take care of them we
to us and so we take care of them we
to us and so we take care of them we take care of the bear we take care of
take care of the bear we take care of
take care of the bear we take care of snakes we can’t
snakes we can’t
snakes we can’t take care of turtles and we even take
take care of turtles and we even take
take care of turtles and we even take care of the little bitty / do ki beach
care of the little bitty / do ki beach
care of the little bitty / do ki beach mouse okay
mouse okay
mouse okay just learn this a couple weeks ago we
just learn this a couple weeks ago we
just learn this a couple weeks ago we actually put PVC pipes underneath the
actually put PVC pipes underneath the
actually put PVC pipes underneath the road to make sure that they can get
road to make sure that they can get
road to make sure that they can get across another example of how we show
across another example of how we show
across another example of how we show our values and this is a something that
our values and this is a something that
our values and this is a something that really hit me in the last two years I
really hit me in the last two years I
really hit me in the last two years I was working for the Jacksonville
was working for the Jacksonville
was working for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority on providing
Transportation Authority on providing
Transportation Authority on providing safe streets around the bus stops it was
safe streets around the bus stops it was
safe streets around the bus stops it was a big program called Complete Streets
a big program called Complete Streets
a big program called Complete Streets and as we were going out and doing
and as we were going out and doing
and as we were going out and doing community meetings and talking to people
community meetings and talking to people
community meetings and talking to people I was paying a little bit more direct
I was paying a little bit more direct
I was paying a little bit more direct attention to what was going on in the
attention to what was going on in the
attention to what was going on in the media and what I saw it was an article
media and what I saw it was an article
media and what I saw it was an article that looked like this and this has been
that looked like this and this has been
that looked like this and this has been repeated you know periodically but the
repeated you know periodically but the
repeated you know periodically but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office they’ve
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office they’ve
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office they’ve seen the same media report about us
seen the same media report about us
seen the same media report about us being one of the worst cities in the
being one of the worst cities in the
being one of the worst cities in the country so they’re doing their part to
country so they’re doing their part to
country so they’re doing their part to try and fix the problem and and the
try and fix the problem and and the
try and fix the problem and and the sheriff’s office duty and role is to
sheriff’s office duty and role is to
sheriff’s office duty and role is to enforce so they set about enforcing
enforce so they set about enforcing
enforce so they set about enforcing jaywalking but ironically at the same
jaywalking but ironically at the same
jaywalking but ironically at the same time I came across this article that the
time I came across this article that the
time I came across this article that the city of st. Paul they were addressing
city of st. Paul they were addressing
city of st. Paul they were addressing pedestrian safety issues and they were
pedestrian safety issues and they were
pedestrian safety issues and they were out there enforcing vehicles that were
out there enforcing vehicles that were
out there enforcing vehicles that were not yielding to pedestrians in the
not yielding to pedestrians in the
not yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk and that was their campaign so
crosswalk and that was their campaign so
crosswalk and that was their campaign so they said that walking is important and
they said that walking is important and
they said that walking is important and they value that perhaps it would be good
they value that perhaps it would be good
they value that perhaps it would be good if Jaso had more crosswalks to enforce
we’re working on this problem it’s
we’re working on this problem it’s simple
simple
simple there’s kind of four main areas one we
there’s kind of four main areas one we
there’s kind of four main areas one we start with the width of our road for
start with the width of our road for
start with the width of our road for automobiles while there’s some roads
automobiles while there’s some roads
automobiles while there’s some roads that we’ll need and continue to have to
that we’ll need and continue to have to
that we’ll need and continue to have to carry a lot of cars we have many streets
carry a lot of cars we have many streets
carry a lot of cars we have many streets in the city of Jacksonville that no
in the city of Jacksonville that no
in the city of Jacksonville that no longer need that number of lanes reduce
longer need that number of lanes reduce
longer need that number of lanes reduce them
them
them the other thing we can do is minimize
the other thing we can do is minimize
the other thing we can do is minimize the width of these lanes to make the
the width of these lanes to make the
the width of these lanes to make the crosswalks a shorter distance and easier
crosswalks a shorter distance and easier
crosswalks a shorter distance and easier to travel so you don’t have to be a
to travel so you don’t have to be a
to travel so you don’t have to be a track star to make it across we also
track star to make it across we also
track star to make it across we also need to modernize our bike system
need to modernize our bike system
need to modernize our bike system actually have one as a start
but what’s really transformed in our
but what’s really transformed in our design community and its global it’s not
design community and its global it’s not
design community and its global it’s not just United States but we’re seeing more
just United States but we’re seeing more
just United States but we’re seeing more examples that it’s necessary to provide
examples that it’s necessary to provide
examples that it’s necessary to provide kind of protected bike lanes not just
kind of protected bike lanes not just
kind of protected bike lanes not just that three foot strip of pavement that
that three foot strip of pavement that
that three foot strip of pavement that you’re not sure if it’s a shoulder or a
you’re not sure if it’s a shoulder or a
you’re not sure if it’s a shoulder or a place you should be riding your bike my
place you should be riding your bike my
place you should be riding your bike my five year old daughter should be able to
five year old daughter should be able to
five year old daughter should be able to ride her bike on that on that trail on
ride her bike on that on that trail on
ride her bike on that on that trail on that system on that road and then
that system on that road and then
that system on that road and then finally we cannot ignore kind of the
finally we cannot ignore kind of the
finally we cannot ignore kind of the land use around there because it’s not
land use around there because it’s not
land use around there because it’s not just a road problem it’s a value problem
just a road problem it’s a value problem
just a road problem it’s a value problem but it’s also how we create the space
but it’s also how we create the space
but it’s also how we create the space the Mayport Plaza strip mall kind of not
the Mayport Plaza strip mall kind of not
the Mayport Plaza strip mall kind of not connected to anything not really
connected to anything not really
connected to anything not really promoting walkability the things I need
promoting walkability the things I need
promoting walkability the things I need to educate you on is about my industry
to educate you on is about my industry
to educate you on is about my industry we try and make things easier for
we try and make things easier for
we try and make things easier for everyone to intuitively understand what
everyone to intuitively understand what
everyone to intuitively understand what we mean and I’m often reminded by my
we mean and I’m often reminded by my
we mean and I’m often reminded by my family and friends that they have no
family and friends that they have no
family and friends that they have no idea what I’m talking about
idea what I’m talking about
idea what I’m talking about so my education to you is we in our
so my education to you is we in our
so my education to you is we in our industry our always seeking public
industry our always seeking public
industry our always seeking public consent input and an interest so what
consent input and an interest so what
consent input and an interest so what you need to do for us to really help
you need to do for us to really help
you need to do for us to really help move this along is look for a complete
move this along is look for a complete
move this along is look for a complete Street project advertisement Lane
Street project advertisement Lane
Street project advertisement Lane elimination study a road diet project a
elimination study a road diet project a
elimination study a road diet project a context-sensitive design or even a
context-sensitive design or even a
context-sensitive design or even a streetscape project all these projects
streetscape project all these projects
streetscape project all these projects kind of we coin these different terms
kind of we coin these different terms
kind of we coin these different terms but they all kind of mean the same thing
but they all kind of mean the same thing
but they all kind of mean the same thing we’re out there trying to reinvent the
we’re out there trying to reinvent the
we’re out there trying to reinvent the space for better walkability and and
space for better walkability and and
space for better walkability and and bike bikeability
bike bikeability
bike bikeability and safety but don’t ignore and you
and safety but don’t ignore and you
and safety but don’t ignore and you should really the big red flag to put
should really the big red flag to put
should really the big red flag to put out there is if you see a capacity
out there is if you see a capacity
out there is if you see a capacity project the red flag on that is the
project the red flag on that is the
project the red flag on that is the capacity may be needed
capacity may be needed
capacity may be needed you know the additional capacity may be
you know the additional capacity may be
you know the additional capacity may be needed but the way we’re designing our
needed but the way we’re designing our
needed but the way we’re designing our space now is we are not doing capacity
space now is we are not doing capacity
space now is we are not doing capacity at the exclusion of people walking and
at the exclusion of people walking and
at the exclusion of people walking and biking so those first border that I
biking so those first border that I
biking so those first border that I mentioned you should be really active
mentioned you should be really active
mentioned you should be really active and supportive behind and then the
and supportive behind and then the
and supportive behind and then the capacity type projects you should be a
capacity type projects you should be a
capacity type projects you should be a little bit skeptical and ready to go
little bit skeptical and ready to go
little bit skeptical and ready to go after it if need be this is a political
after it if need be this is a political
after it if need be this is a political will problem that we we face the
will problem that we we face the
will problem that we we face the agencies are really making an effort
agencies are really making an effort
agencies are really making an effort City of Jacksonville just recently
City of Jacksonville just recently
City of Jacksonville just recently adopted what I think is a modern and
adopted what I think is a modern and
adopted what I think is a modern and very good bicycle and pedestrian master
very good bicycle and pedestrian master
very good bicycle and pedestrian master plan the Jacksonville Transportation
plan the Jacksonville Transportation
plan the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has just made Complete Streets
Authority has just made Complete Streets
Authority has just made Complete Streets their number one priority to make sure
their number one priority to make sure
their number one priority to make sure that they’re taking care of their
that they’re taking care of their
that they’re taking care of their pedestrian and their transit customers
pedestrian and their transit customers
pedestrian and their transit customers the Florida Department of Transportation
the Florida Department of Transportation
the Florida Department of Transportation took great notice because the state of
took great notice because the state of
took great notice because the state of Florida is far and away the worst state
Florida is far and away the worst state
Florida is far and away the worst state in the country in this area and so their
in the country in this area and so their
in the country in this area and so their way of dressing it as a policy change
way of dressing it as a policy change
way of dressing it as a policy change and a complete rewrite of all the sacred
and a complete rewrite of all the sacred
and a complete rewrite of all the sacred Scrolls of design manuals and all that
Scrolls of design manuals and all that
Scrolls of design manuals and all that so they have become a Complete Streets
so they have become a Complete Streets
so they have become a Complete Streets agency these are all great plans and
agency these are all great plans and
agency these are all great plans and great ideas but they’re not going to
great ideas but they’re not going to
great ideas but they’re not going to happen unless we hear get behind that
happen unless we hear get behind that
happen unless we hear get behind that and make it happen
and make it happen
and make it happen so finally we the people of Jacksonville
so finally we the people of Jacksonville
so finally we the people of Jacksonville people matter more than cars thank you
people matter more than cars thank you
people matter more than cars thank you you
”
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