This Cheap Street Fix Saves Lives. Why Don't More Cities Do It?

This Cheap Street Fix Saves Lives. Why Don’t More Cities Do It?
“Daylighting” intersections to improve visibility for drivers is an effective way to make crosswalks safer for pedestrians. Here’s why it works so well.

By John Surico
November 28, 2023 at 12:36 PM EST




(Bloomberg CityLab) After a string of tragic traffic fatalities, a community board in Queens, New York, endorsed a call in June for city officials to make all intersections more visible to road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Then, in October, a board’s transportation committee in Brooklyn did the same. In the weeks since, full boards in Brooklyn and Queens joined the pack. Several boards in Manhattan are considering it as well.

The non-binding resolution is noticeably rare for community boards. Historically, the citizen-led bodies — which play an advisory role but are often looked to as local gauges of support — have been slow to support safety-minded street redesigns, favoring car parking over measures like bike lanes or road diets. But recently, things have changed, said Paul Kelterborn, an author of the resolution in Brooklyn’s Community Board 1, which represents Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

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That action is called daylighting, a process that pays close attention to the schematics of the street where most crashes occur: the corners of crossings. The idea is that if intersections are clear of obstructions like parked cars — or “brighter,” to follow the expression — then drivers, pedestrians and cyclists would all be able to see one another better. Better sightlines, less likelihood of crashes, the formula goes.

Daylighting can take many forms. Curb extensions, painted or built out with concrete, and sometimes with rain-absorbing plantings, are often cited. Curbside cycling amenities, like bikeshare docks or racks for micromobility vehicles like e-scooters, are increasingly common. Outdoor dining sheds can help with daylighting, too. Others use granite blocks or giant concrete balls. Even affixing a “no parking past this point” notice to a stop sign can help. ............(more)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-11-28/the-case-for-daylighting-the-cheap-traffic-safety-fix-that-cities-need?srnd=premium