William Yarzab’s Post

It's been over 10 years since I worked in the political world and organized lobby days, but on Tuesday, I joined one as a citizen. We live in the shadow of the capitol and I walk my daughter on the stairs on rainy days, but it felt different to be back in the bustle of the legislative session. We were there to ask for legislation to make our streets safer for all users -- pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, those in wheelchairs, elderly individuals, children, skateboarders, etc. -- esp. those that are vulnerable, like my 3-year-old daughter when she tries to cross the street on the way to the capitol. The legislative asks of this group are depressingly small -- that's the state of our roads, of how we have organized the physical layout of our asphalt-centered neighborhoods. You can't quickly undo 70 years of taking public space away from people and giving it to cars, so, the coalition is asking for things that are so easy that it feels almost ridiculous to have to ask: - $10 million for complete streets projects (a drop in the bucket in NYS) - Sammy's Law, which would allow NYC to lower its speed limit below 25mph if it wants to (yes, you read that right -- currrently, state law makes illegal for NYC, the most pedestrian-trafficked city in the country, to have a speed limit of 10 or even 15 anywhere, at all). Hopefully these pass. Hopefully many more laws pass that change what our roadways look like. Hopefully our streets can one day again be public spaces for people, where we can gather and feel safe and build community with other humans that live around us. If you live in New York State and your organization cares about keeping vulnerable road users safe, you can join the coalition through the below link.

Traffic Awareness Month coinciding with back-to-school, is a timely reminder to prioritize safety on our roads. Let's all pledge to follow these tips and ensure a safe journey for students and drivers alike. Remember to: Stay Alert: Avoid distractions such as texting, eating, or adjusting the radio while driving. Stop for School Buses: When a school bus has its lights flashing and the stop sign extended, stop your vehicle and wait until the bus resumes motion. Watch for Children: Be extra cautious in areas where children are likely to be present, such as near schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods. Obey Speed Limits: Drive within the posted speed limits, especially in school zones and residential areas. 📍7516 Route 1 N. Chesterfield, VA 23237 ☎️ (804) 271-1141 #trafficawarenessmonth #trafficawareness #autoinsurance #goodneighbor #statefarm #northchesterfield #virginia #northchesterfieldinsurance #billconleyinsurance #youragentbillconley

A Winnipeg Free Press editorial derided the residents of Wolseley for fighting City Hall, comparing them to "stereotypical Winnipeggers who staunchly oppose" new policies and are "“notoriously” resistant to change." Sounds like they opposed a bike lane, right? But this time, it wasn't about bikes. This was about buses. In Episode 2 of Season 5, you'll hear about the contempt the newspaper showed for almost 500 concerned residents of Wolseley and West Broadway- a contempt shared by the special interest group driving the changes. Part 1- Demands from the transit lobby means the City is "taking the system we have right now and blowing it up and starting over again." For Wolseley that meant bus traffic was aiming where it isn't wanted, risking homes and school kids. A 'Greenway' is no place for a bus. With no routing planned west of Arlington, users there face walking for 20 minutes to get to a stop, in winter, at night. Whose side did the Free Press take? Not the taxpayers or the actual bus users in Wolseley. Their concerns are "cultural obstinancy”. The "culture" the Free Press insists taxpayers adopt is that of a group called Functional Transit Winnipeg. It had steered a moderate course under its founder, Joe Kornelson but has taken a radical turn after a former NDP politician from Calgary got involved. You'll hear key background the media- and their own website - doesn't tell you, and you'll wonder why. 16:44 Part 2 - Listen to a sample of feedback about the meeting, and about the comment of FTU's Brian Pincott- who has lived in Winnipeg for all of 5 years- that the #10 is "the most inefficient route imaginable". Functional Transit Winnipeg and their allies at the Free Press dismissed faked consultation, safety issues, 20 minute walks to a stop, and labeled the residents as luddites. Is that logical? 22.00 Marty Gold exposes how the planners rigged the consultation process after Transit admitted they 'differentiate stakeholders from residents." 28:04 One theory: "It would apparently be too disruptive because they are concerned other neighbourhoods uncovering flaws will demand the same." The effect of an Arlington route boundary on seniors, kids and women and whether buses will interfere with emergency vehicles using Arlington are valid safety concerns - but not to the Functional Transit Winnipeg lobby group. The media described Pincott's position: 'the biggest challenge for the city is not getting bogged down with individual needs and wants.' The outrageous way people taking time to deal with City Hall are looked down upon, was capped by Public Works chair Janice Lukes. “So maybe it’s a year of no transit [in some areas]" No buses for a year? Unlike MSM, we review the kinds of everyday and vulnerable people impacted by her cavalier gamble. https://lnkd.in/gib-w_S8 Comments, news tips, Interac donations- [email protected]

One of San Jose’s most dangerous roads is gearing up for a major upgrade. King Road, a six-mile street bounded by Berryessa Road to the north and East Capitol Expressway to the south, is slated for improvements. The city’s transportation department is finalizing a plan that targets safety and traffic flow. From 2018 to 2023, eight people, including an infant, were killed on King Road and 21 were seriously injured due to collisions from 2018 to 2022, according to city data. The plan — funded with more than $399,000 from a Caltrans grant and more than $51,700 from the city — will be a collaboration between the City of San José and VISION ZERO , a program aimed at reducing and ending traffic injuries and fatalities. The draft includes improvements for the entire street, such as a median at some sections of the road, a bus and emergency vehicle-only lane and more crosswalks. The average distance between crosswalks is roughly 1,000 feet, Project Manager Wilson Tam said, which is about a five-minute walk. #transportation #sanjosecalifornia #safety

The Safety Action Plan "has to look at equity and make sure the plan is fair for everyone who works, lives, or visits the city of Decatur. It has to focus on policy and progress changes, not just specific projects, but helping build a city where daily routine decisions are safer." — Byron Rushing, Senior Planner The City of Decatur recently kicked off its Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan, where our project team presented crash data and details, before inviting community members to share safety initiatives they want implemented. Together, we're shaping a future where every decision contributes to safer roadways. Read more about the project in this article featuring Byron. ⬇️

Speeding up improvements in safety using Federal dollars is a good idea. Any of these types of change are always going to have opposition, there are not many things everyone agrees on. Hopefully, people can agree that we need to try new ideas to improve #roadsafety. . Those that work well should be expanded, those that don't should be removed. https://lnkd.in/gDS2pF8b

SFMTA plans to expand No Turn On Red downtown, but has no plan for a citywide policy — a missed opportunity! Help get a citywide No Turn On Red policy approved by sending an email now using tinyurl.com/CitywideNTOR No Turn On Red is proven to increase safety, especially for children, seniors, and people with disabilities — but also people in cars — including in San Francisco. Approving a citywide No Turn On Red policy would increase safety and help more people shift trips away from cars. A citywide No Turn On Red policy is also popular with the public — more than 1,000 San Franciscans have already supported our campaign in less than six months! News media have featured our campaign in over 50 articles and reports! Numbers and news links ⬇️ Approving a citywide No Turn On Red will help Mayor Breed and the City address three simultaneous crises: 1️⃣ Roadway safety crisis 2️⃣ Climate crisis 3️⃣ Budget crisis (SFMTA and the City) A citywide No Turn On Red policy is about as close to a common-sense solution you can get! A citywide No Turn On Red policy addresses our roadway safety crisis by decreasing crashes, which often result in fatalities and injuries. It will also make it safer and easier to cross the street, which is important for real safety as well as perceived safety — both important. A citywide No Turn On Red policy addresses our climate crisis by helping more people shift trips away from cars and to walking, biking, and public transit, reducing private car emissions — one of the biggest contributors to climate change in San Francisco. This is climate action! A citywide No Turn On Red policy addresses SFMTA’s (and the City’s) budget crisis by reducing bureaucracy and staff time and taxpayer money wasted on unnecessary process, enabling SFMTA to do more to increase roadway safety, climate action, and frequent and reliable Muni service. The SFMTA Board can approve a citywide No Turn On Red policy, but the Board needs staff to propose a policy. We need the Board or Mayor Breed to direct staff to propose a citywide No Turn On Red policy. Please send an email now using tinyurl.com/CitywideNTOR — it takes two taps! After sending an email, please sign up for public comment at the SFMTA Board VIsion Zero Subcommittee meeting (Tuesday, February 27 at 12PM): https://lnkd.in/gm7XqRZJ Giving public comment sends a clear message to the Board that you want a citywide No Turn On Red policy approved. Please also sign the petition at NTORsf.com — it takes less than a minute and every signature gets us closer to a citywide No Turn On Red policy! If you already signed the petition, please share it with your friends, neighbors, and groups at https://lnkd.in/gYfY5HeG.

The Pacific Coast Highway is as iconic as it is dangerous. Now, the California Office of Traffic Safety is hoping to increase #HighwaySafety through infrastructure upgrades, increased #traffic enforcement, and a new public education campaign. Improving #safety on highways will take a multi-fold approach. I think many states would benefit from adopting a similar strategy as California's highlighted above. Looking forward to seeing the impact this will have.

Traffic Awareness Month coinciding with back-to-school, is a timely reminder to prioritize safety on our roads. Let's all pledge to follow these tips and ensure a safe journey for students and drivers alike. Remember to: Stay Alert: Avoid distractions such as texting, eating, or adjusting the radio while driving. Stop for School Buses: When a school bus has its lights flashing and the stop sign extended, stop your vehicle and wait until the bus resumes motion. Watch for Children: Be extra cautious in areas where children are likely to be present, such as near schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods. Obey Speed Limits: Drive within the posted speed limits, especially in school zones and residential areas. 📍8 Locust Ave Danbury, CT 6810 ☎️ (203) 456-6577 #trafficawarenessmonth #trafficawareness #autoinsurance #goodneighbor #statefarm #danbury #connecticut #danburyinsurance #YourAgentTallineCarvalho #TallineCarvalhoInsurance

Unfortunately, no details on how New Hampshire is going to implement their plan. For the road users in New Hampshire lets hope the plan focuses more on engineering than education and enforcement. Details to come, hopefully. https://lnkd.in/gickxpij #roadsafety #positiveprotection #provenperformance