More Evidence of a Dismal Austin Pedestrian Situation

[Stu]

Fellow Cyclists and Sometime Pedestrians:

This is a timely follow-on to my reporting of Austin recently being
ranked as the 34th safest / 19th most dangerous metro area for
pedestrians.

It is a KXAN story on the plight of children trying to walk to their
nearby middle school in SW Austin:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/traffic/students+promised+a+safe+walk+to+school

I believe this story also has direct relevance for cycling since
children attempting to bicycle to the school must be facing the same
obstacles, and might also benefit from the same solutions that TxDOT
is promising for those wishing to walk.

FYI,
Stuart

[John Mayson]

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 9:34 PM, Stu <stu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Fellow Cyclists and Sometime Pedestrians:
>
> This is a timely follow-on to my reporting of Austin recently being
> ranked as the 34th safest / 19th most dangerous metro area for
> pedestrians.
>
> It is a KXAN story on the plight of children trying to walk to their
> nearby middle school in SW Austin:
> http://www.kxan.com/dpp/traffic/students+promised+a+safe+walk+to+school

I just watched the piece. That was totally useless. They focused
primarily on sex offenders. My son attends Deerpark Middle School and
this has NOT been the primary concern for parents. The concern has
been the heavy and fast moving traffic. I know, I have been directly
involved. I got Deerpark MS and Leslie Luciano together to discuss
getting the Freiker program started at Deerpark and Live Oak
Elementary. So far we've heard nothing back.

Two things struck me as really bad. One, a mother was going to drive
her daughter to school until she was old enough to drive. Two, their
#1 piece of advice was to drive your child to school. Putting more
cars on the road isn't the solution! That's the problem.

Honestly, some days I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

John

--
John Mayson <jo...@mayson.us>
Austin, Texas, USA

[Stuart Werbner]

Huh, sex offenders??? Funny, but I recall them talking about pedestrians (not pedophiles). Nothing about sex offenders in the text accompanying the video clip, either. [I hope I didn't offend anyone.]

I thought it was a pretty well done piece. I am very grateful to KXAN for reporting on this issue.

People need to be kept aware just how tough it is to get around in this area in something other than an automobile, or nothin' ain't never gonna change.

Peace,

Stuart

--
     __o
   _`\<,_
   (*)/ (*)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Stuart Werbner
Annuit Coeptis

[John Mayson]

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009, Stuart Werbner wrote:

> Huh, sex offenders??? Funny, but I recall them talking about pedestrians
> (not pedophiles). Nothing about sex offenders in the text accompanying the
> video clip, either. [I hope I didn't offend anyone.]

The 10 o'clock broadcast was primarily all about sex offenders. I've been
involved in this issue since last spring when the bus route cuts were
first announced and this is the first time I've heard any question about
sex offenders. And they interviewed one parent whose name I did not
recognize and doesn't appear to be in my list of "concerned parents".

> I thought it was a pretty well done piece. I am very grateful to KXAN for
> reporting on this issue.

I am too, I just wish they had spoken to a parent who has been involved
for the past six months instead of apparently picking one at random.

> People need to be kept aware just how tough it is to get around in this area
> in something other than an automobile, or nothin' ain't never gonna change.

There's an assisted living center on Hymeadow for people with severe
physical disabilities. I see them out all the time in their motorized
wheelchairs and I'm amazed they even attempt it. I'm surprised no one has
sued under the ADA about the abysmal conditions for the mobility impaired.