According to The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there were 6,227 U.S. pedestrian deaths in 2018. Pedestrian deaths are rising while, ironically, other traffic fatalities have decreased.
Pennsylvania has the eighth highest number of pedestrian deaths among all 50 states. According to the report, most fatalities occur along local roads.
The spike is blamed on SUVs, smartphones, more people driving etc.
I would add poor walkability plans in our local communities.
So if you think that it's odd that Dr. Paige Van Wirt has made walkability an issue, think again. and this is not a "liberal" issue. Conservatives like Ron Beitler in Lower Macungie Tp are very concerned about pedestrian safety, too.
It would be interesting to see if there is a disproportionate amount of deaths during winter months or a spike in deaths/injuries during the days following a snowfall. Pedestrians are forced to walk in the roads when there are no sidewalks and recent plowing makes it impossible to find a path off the roadway.
ReplyDeleteMake rope bridges out of hemp!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the percentage of deaths from walking under the influence?
ReplyDelete"The spike is blamed on SUVs ..."
ReplyDeleteHuh?
Actually, Pennsylvania is not that bad. The report indicates that the number of fatalities per 100,000 population puts Pennsylvania deaths as a percentage of population very low. That would agree with assessments made by a similar National Transportation Board study reviewing five year trends. What is disturbing is the spike in deaths for Pennsylvania for 2018. I see the problem every day. pedestrian crosswalk signs are not understood. People do not stop and that encourages accidents. Equally school bus laws are violated frequently. I really think if the state wants you to stop for pedestrians use traditional stop signs or traffic lights. School bus infractions are inexcusable. Start jailing people.
ReplyDeleteBernie, thank you for bringing attention to this issue. I have been writing to the City of Bethlehem for several years about the traffic hazard on East Broad Street, especially at the intersection of Broad & High. The sidewalks are fine for walking, but getting across Broad is often a mad dash against the traffic that speeds from Stefko to Linden to Center. A few years ago, a woman was run down and killed on Broad by the YMCA. In addition to cars, there is lots of truck traffic, including 18-wheelers. Few drivers bother to slow down for pedestrians. I walk for exercise almost every day that I’m in my office, so this is my personal observation.
ReplyDeleteThe City Zoning Hearing Board recently approved yet another conversion of an old building into tiny (400 square feet), high-density apartments. It’s directly across Broad from my law office. A new restaurant opened on the corner of Broad & High last year. There are new businesses opening on East Broad and more pedestrians than I’ve ever seen (I’ve had my office there since 1996). There is no crosswalk, let alone traffic controls.
I agree with you that walkability is not a liberal issue. I’m a business owner and a conservative Republican. Philosophically, I believe that government should have limited functions. Public safety is one of the basic functions of municipal government; so are streets and traffic. Perhaps Dr. Van Wirt will be able to address this issue, preferably before another pedestrian gets run down by a car or truck.
Crisis Manufacturing 101
ReplyDeleteBig Government To The Rescue
This seems to miss and/or ignore a major reason for these 'accidents'. Everyone, pedestrians and drivers alike, never take their eyes off their dumb phones.
ReplyDeleteCouncilor,
ReplyDeleteYou should change your practice to personal injury. The streets are paved with gold right outside your door! You even have the language down, "run down by a car or truck"
Have the machines taken over?
Let's try "A woman was struck by a motorist" I'm sure the driver was not intent on running anyone down.
You know, if governments would stop hassling homeowners for minor sidewalk and curb issues (I'm looking at you Allentown) and spending tax dollars on useless curb cuts that go nowhere (they're now on their second version, even though the original ones were in good shape and never used anyway), perhaps we could concentrate on actually having useful sidewalks where there are none.
ReplyDeleteMaybe at least build sidewalks where curb cuts were built?
I must live in a different Allentown than you. I live 1.5 blocks from an elementary school and 1 block away from a huge park and the city does nothing to make home owners maintain their sidewalks. This is also happening on a day when I see numerous recent home owners on my block who haven’t (and won’t) clear their sidewalks of snow let alone maintain concrete. Homeowners have responsibilities, but the city doesn’t enforce these ordinances on some people.
DeleteThis is why it is good to have someone who actually has a degree in city planning on Bethlehem's City Council. Improving walkability in Bethlehem is a matter of public safety and successful economic development that relies on foot traffic rather and single "destinations" that people drive to the city to visit. Beitler is a no-bullshit conservative with a brain that is big enough to grapple with differing opinions. Can we have more of those please?
ReplyDeleteFederal law mandates ADA accessibility. As a result, PennDOT installs curb-cuts at remote intersections. Meanwhile, a local FEDERAL post office goes without curb-cuts on their sidewalk frontage despite the fact that they exist in all areas surrounding the facility. In 2013, an elderly person died as a result of being struck by a vehicle on her way to the post office.
ReplyDeleteHey O'Hare are you going to cover Ms. Zirinski's marijuana legalization bill in Northampton County,. We will all be token it big time.
ReplyDeleteBernie, that is nothing. How about a developer that builds homes that go about $300,000 that don’t evan have a real 2x4 in construction and put fake dormers ,meaning void spaces ,on the roof and no lightning arresters. N.J. Refugees are buying them . This type of “light weight construction “ with laminate truss go to the ground after fire starts in about 15 minutes. In fires , if a portion of the truss fails the whole span failed .So Palmer Fire can’t evan vent roof ,it would be unsafe. The occupiers would be lucky to get out of structure in their Panama’s . Palmer Twp is allowing these luxury homes to be built this way . Firefighters are at grave risk in a rescue to find occupants in a ground level search in the smoke because of collapsing upper areas So, - Most of the the people run over were where in dark clothing and or ran across the street and avoided the electric signs in city streets that were 10,000 bucks to tax pays each . Culling of the Hurd . You can’t fix stupid.
ReplyDeleteBernie, Palmer Twp . By the was has very aggressive firefighters. They also possess the “state of the art “ equipment and the the best manufacturer of fire trucks in the the world. Probably a top tier investigator is part of their resources. that would be unusual in a Township. There enthusiasm in fantastic and they had most likely saved “ my ass once “ during a fire when the roof got soft . Back in the corner in an Easton Fire at Lens court . Their ladder truck was in ally to take us off ( ours was in shop ) so I still praising the driver ,how the hell did you get in there?
ReplyDeletePeter J Cochran, yea and I personally like that the only one reporting on the adjoining property of the indicted fed eds family home was the morning radio man that stated that particular news? The firefighters came from surrounding communities to see if it was just a scare tactik or if there recidivism counterpart subcontracted employees had done the job of putting up a good notice?
ReplyDeleteHell that's only a half truth
Well , say what you will, Palmer is a volunteer outfit that sends Santa out for your kidaswell as guardians of their community. Well that may sound like a waist of money,but they have a crew on Christmas Eve while most of the readers here are home with their family that was ready to put out a fire because their already on the truck. ,including Santa. Somebody is thinking here. Outstanding, I say.
ReplyDeleteSUVs? Cmon.
ReplyDelete