Streetsblog.net: Copout on the Transit Bailout

2923680890_fbd6d0e94a.jpgToday on the Streetsblog Network:

The Transport Politic talks about how Congressional support for bailing out transit authorities who got into troublesome deals with AIG is eroding. 

Also, two stories about the importance of pedestrian infrastructure in suburbia. First, Planning Livable Communities laments the poor state of sidewalk snow clearance in Framingham, MA:

Why is it understood that communities must keep roads clear of snow so that drivers can get where they need to go, but nobody seems to care about doing the same for sidewalks?

Next, Twin Cities Streets for People links to a new report about the benefits of safe routes to school for kids.

Plus: the AP’s short list of Transportation Secretary contenders, a cool video about the lively downtown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and more.

Photo from BarryBar via Flickr

  • Jeffrey W. Baker

    It’s worse than that: most cities (including NYC) actively heap snow upon the sidewalk in order to clear the road.

  • Rhywun

    I have to differ with the above re: NYC. I’ve been here 12 years and they *don’t* dump snow on the sidewalks. They do in other cities I’ve lived in though, like Buffalo and Rochester, where nobody walks anywhere.

  • Speaking of AIG, I wonder if they will give up their $125 million dollar contract to advertise their name on Manchester United’s futbol jerseys? Doubtful…

  • Jeffrey W. Baker

    What are these plow drivers doing, then?

    http://flickr.com/photos/27149250@N00/99320681/

    http://flickr.com/photos/lunchtimemama/99883299/

    (NB: I know these two photos were from an all-time record blizzard, but that’s all Flickr was offering.)

    I’ve been in Manhattan during several snow storms and every time they plow the roads, the pedestrians are stepping over huge heaps of snow to cross every street. And then at mid-day it’s huge heaps of ice from all the trampling. Maybe you’re just used to it?

  • Rhywun

    I dunno, but I see clear sidewalks in both of those pics. And in the first pic, you can see that the plow is angled away from the sidewalk. I don’t *know* for sure what their practice is, but I do recall reading a story a couple years ago about where they dump the snow (i.e. not on the sidewalk). I *have* seen it blocking the sidewalks at corners–that’s a valid complaint. Anyway the property owner is responsible for the sidewalks so I guess they might be angry at having to clean that up.

  • Niccolo Machiavelli

    Rhywun, it is worse than that, they actually pile up the snow and drive it into the bus shelters and subway entrances, forget the wheelchair curb cuts, fuck those crippled people (they should get a car anyway). The sole focus is on clearing the way for individual drivers who they also warn to “use mass transit”.

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