Interesting read (okay, maybe just for
some of us!) - International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist
Safety and Mobility (June 24, 2009)
Background info from the Pedestrian and Bicycle
Information Centre (U.S.):
In May 2009, a team of 12 transportation
professionals with expertise in bicycling and walking from the U.S. visited five
countries in Europe to identify and assess effective approaches to improve
pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility. Some of the countries, like
Denmark, had experienced an increase in car use in the 1960s and 1970s, and
subsequently reoriented their transportation policy to give priority to
bicycling and walking. The scan team heard presentations from and had informal
discussions with the foreign hosts. During most visits, the scan team also went
on guided field visits (by bike as well as by foot) to better understand and
experience the design and operation of various walking and bicycling facilities.
These field visits were invaluable in documenting the facilities through photos
and video, observing traffic behavior, and experiencing firsthand how well a
design or operational strategy worked. The purpose of this scan tour was to
identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist
safety and mobility.
The summary report provides a quick-response
overview of the team's findings and recommendations:
cheers,
Beth