[sustran] Re: Comment on video - In Your Car No-one Can Hear You Scream!

[Martin Cassini]

Paul,

In some haste, taking your points in turn:

1. In a longer version of the video (which wouldn't fit on YouTube) I
spelled out the lower speed point. But my deep hunch is we don't need speed
limits to drive appropriately in any event. When we can see good reasons for
good behaviour, we behave well. Speed limits are rigid and can act as a red
rag. Responsible adults don't need to be told what to do. Limits, like
lights and priority rules, are counterproductive. You can't cover every
eventuality, but you can't legislate for maniacs either. Limits and lights
are no guarantee of safety. Risk is an essential part of life and learning.
Seems to me that trusting human nature is positive and the least of all the
other evils. Frankly, I don't give a damn about "the key sets of allies" who
will only relax when all lights are permanently red and no-one can use the
roads.

2. Yes and no. It sort of goes without saying that I'm referring to urban
junctions, but maybe the rule applies generally, and wouldn't it be good to
trial it? In my view, scrapping inhumane priority rules and restoring the
democratic common law principle of first-in, first-out at junctions would do
wonders for traffic flow and stress levels in towns and cities as well as
the country. 

3. Interesting points, and perhaps we can discuss them at more length
another time. Of course traffic volume can be a problem. But in my
experience volume + controls is worse than volume - controls. Until
deregulation has at least BEEN TRIED, my attack on congestion charging is
valid. It is entirely unjustified to inflict congestion charging (especially
with its painful payment and punitive penalty system) on a city where lights
cause catastrophic congestion by minimising road capacity and filtering
opportunities. Bus lanes outside rush hours in my view, too, are an affront
to decency and the environment, especially when they are diesel powered.

In haste,

BW
Martin



Paul Barter wrote:
> 
> My comment on the video clip (In Your Car No-one Can Hear You Scream) is
> too long for youtube comments. So will post it here and maybe Eric can
> forward to the filmmaker?
>  
> I found this clip very stimulating, confronting and thought provoking.
> The footage of the same four-way intersection with and without its
> traffic lights is striking and persuasive. The film promises to be a
> strong missive in favour of wider application of shared space ideas.
>  
> BUT I notice THREE PROBLEMS. 
>  
> ONE, the clip fails to sell a key benefit of shared space (at least as I
> understand it, so far). This is the creation of a lower-speed street
> environment in which vulnerable road users can share comfortably and
> safely (including being a great boon for bikes, blades, wheelchairs and
> other 'personal mobility devices'). In high speed traffic the human mind
> is not capable of negotiating by eye contact. We can only do this below
> 30km/h. By coming close to suggesting that speed limits are not needed
> at all, the film's arguments are likely to lose a key set of allies,
> namely people concerned with road danger for vulnerable road users. 
>  
> TWO, it over-reaches by not recognising the limits of the approach.
> Monderman and the other shared space 'gurus' make clear that their ideas
> apply only to the part of the network that can be designated as 'public
> realm', where speeds should be no more than 30km/h or so. This includes
> many streets where we have currently allowed traffic to dominate but it
> does not include most major multi-lane arterials (main roads). In
> traffic space, speeds are high and traffic engineering and control will
> need to remain. In the public realm we can and should design for lower
> speeds, especially at intersections, and eliminate most signs and
> controls, and rely much more on common-sense and social interaction. 
>  
> THREE, the film seems to misunderstand congestion to some extent. And
> therefore takes aim at some of the wrong targets, such as congestion
> charging (or demand management more generally) and bus priority
> measures. Again you lose some potential allies for no good reason.
> Congestion will apparently not be worsened by removing many traffic
> controls and unnecessary delays at off peak times can be reduced. BUT
> this approach cannot magically solve peak period congestion altogether.
> The peak problem will remain unless the demand side is tackled somehow.
> Some kind of demand management and some kind of priority for public
> transport are necessary. Shared space will have no hope politically
> (since it requires a lower speed street environment) unless it is
> complemented by its natural allies, which include bus priority and
> demand management. Otherwise, we will keep seeing demands to expand the
> traffic space and shrink the public realm as we have for the last 50
> years.
>  
> Paul
>  
> Paul A. Barter | Assistant Professor | LKY School of Public Policy |
> National University of Singapore | 29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace | Singapore
> 119620 | Tel: +65-6516 3324 | Fax: +65-6778 1020 | Email:
> paulbarter at nus.edu.sg | http://www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/faculty/paulbarter/
> |   I am speaking for myself, not for my employers.
> 
> Perspectives on urban transport in developing countries:
> http://urbantransportasia.blogspot.com/ 
>  
> 
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