By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
When you say the words “Safe Streets”, it means different things to different people. A driver
of a car or motorcycle might be talking about wide, well-lit streets, with good markings and
signage that helps people know where to go. A pedestrian might be talking about well-marked
intersections with push button controls to stop the traffic when they approach. They might also
be interested in well-lit sidewalks with protection from a wayward car veering off the road. A
bicyclist might be talking about well-marked bicycle lanes and signage to inform pedestrians
and motorists that they need to be alert for bicycles. A traffic planner might say that it is a little
bit of everything that has been mentioned.
As cities evolve, their need in the construction and maintenance of streets is a critical
component and can literally save the lives of motorists and pedestrians, alike. Over most of the
past fifty years, the automobile seemed to rule the day. Much of the investment in streets was
to move traffic at increasing speeds and in increasing volume. The iconic two-lane street,
through the middle of town, with parking on both sides of the street was replaced with four to
six lanes of traffic, with less and less parking and increasing speed limits. As might be expected,
pedestrian deaths increased, and citizens became concerned about the lurking danger in our
cities and towns.
While not wholly responsible, the emphasis on the auto, led to the growth of suburban
shopping malls with large parking lots in a confined area. It also led many cities to decrease the
number of sidewalks next to major thoroughfares, since fewer people were using them. Cities
and towns suffered and searched for a solution. One possible remedy for these problems
involved slowing the traffic down and putting physical barriers along many roadways to protect
pedestrians and bicyclists. Lane dividers were sometimes used to create a well-marked area for
bicyclists to ride and to provide an additional buffer for pedestrians. During Covid, when many
downtowns were vacated, restaurants and shoppes expanded their stores onto the sidewalks
and sometimes using parking spaces to construct outdoor seating. Citizens liked what they saw
and encouraged local leaders to adopt these innovative ways of controlling traffic, while
creating a better experience for diners and shoppers.
Another phenonium occurred when companies like Amazon, FedEx and UPS, started delivering
tens of millions of packages in downtown business districts and neighborhoods alike. These
large trucks could not depend on finding an available parking meter or open driveway and
began parking wherever they could find a spot. This has led to crowded streets and
deteriorating sidewalks, due to the unexpected weight loads, brought about by these heavy
trucks pulling onto curbs and sidewalks. Slowly, traffic engineers and city planners are
attempting to keep ahead of the curve and are designing solutions for this new world in cities
and towns. Since it took over fifty years to get into this traffic mess, it is going to take many
years, before significant improvement is noticed by the public. Drone deliveries and driverless
vehicles offer some hope and artificial intelligence is also being viewed as a resource to assist in
analysis of traffic patterns and data analysis.
While the concept of “Safe Streets” has multiple meanings, the end goal for everyone is to be
able to live, work and play in our communities in a safe and secure manner. Let’s hope that it
comes sooner rather than later!