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prettylittlearrow t1_j06s4z8 wrote

Reply to comment by theAmericanStranger in How can we change the driving culture in this city by [deleted]

If there's concrete blocking people from bypassing traffic in a bike lane or only one lane in each direction, you're forced to move with traffic. What we consider congestion--restriction of the speed of traffic flow--can actually make roads safer because cars have no option but to slow down.

Changing the physical design of roads is really the only way to (mostly) force people to drive carefully.

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theAmericanStranger t1_j06t2c5 wrote

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating for less physical safety, separation of vehicular and other traffic etc. BUT, you cannot fortify and armor every block in the city, no city can. Enforcement has to be integral to traffic function, especially when flaunting laws seems to be rampant. Unless you're calling to make every single street in the city one way lined by concrete - good luck. And even on these roads people make turns, don't they?

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prettylittlearrow t1_j06tolz wrote

That's why I said "mostly". Yes, you can't use concrete and pavement to stop people from running stop signs or red lights or double parking. But slowing people with physical barriers can do a lot, and you definitely can do it on most streets. You can also block car traffic from streets entirely, which solves quite a lot of problems as well.

And by "can" I mean it's physically possible. Politically, maybe not, but I'd say that expecting PPD to consistently enforce traffic laws is also not politically easy either.

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theAmericanStranger t1_j06ux87 wrote

>but I'd say that expecting PPD to consistently enforce traffic laws is also not politically easy either.

Agree. This is why top priority (in a perfect world) should be to redo the entire police department. Most of all - keep safe out there!

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prettylittlearrow t1_j06vvyl wrote

I guess--what I'm getting at is relying on human enforcement of other humans (especially considering the deeply flawed nature of policing and public distrust ) is not always the best choice for getting better outcomes.

Especially with police, who have been given tons of responsibilities that they probably aren't capable of carrying out. Leave crime investigation and smaller-scale conflicts to them, and find other ways of deterring other bad behaviors.

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