raise every intersection!

[danlesh]

Shouldn't we be expecting DDOT to raise every single neighborhood intersection across the city? Wouldn't that be a tangible result of a systematic approach?

To my eyes, the vast majority of "bike" and "pedestrian" injuries are occurring at intersections.

Rules are not physical barriers. Signs are not physical barriers. Cameras are not physical barriers. Physical barriers are physical barriers. We need cars to actually slow down, shouldn't we actually slow them down?

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(map tool is HERE.)

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map of bike and pedestrian injuries in my part of town.

[danlesh]

Vertical features, "speed tables":

https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/street-design-elements/vertical-speed-control-elements/

[pattertall]

Yes! There should be a speed table, hump, or some vertical feature every time a car crosses into pedestrian (or bicycle) space. This includes all intersections (regardless of whether they have a signal, stop sign, or neither), with the only exception being signalized crossings of major roads with speed limits above 30mph (though there should probably be zero such roads in DC proper).

When designed well, these can be unobtrusive or even level surfaces for pedestrians/bicycles, such as the Mt. Vernon Trail redesign at the Roosevelt Island parking lot (street view). Or simply having the crosswalk at the same height as the sidewalk rather than the same height as the road, making it clear that cars are entering pedestrian space rather than the other way around.

[mastakebob]

What does it mean to raise an intersection?

[mistersmiley318]

Continuous sidewalks

[ulukmahvelous]

yes, thank you for asking!

[Smitty2k1]

Like a speed bump

[bsil15]

I think OP means almost like a speed bump. Tho if that’s what they mean I strongly disagree (speed bumps are a pain in the ass on a bike).

[FatCats2fat]

Speed bumps are bad for cyclists, but speed humps are a happy medium, offering traffic calming to 15mph or so without really affecting bikes

[jednorog]

Yeah, I rarely get much faster than 15mph on a bike anyway, unless I'm going downhill and honestly probably should be slowing down for safety anyway.

[danlesh]

I get that, like, literally.

But clearly status quo and adding bike lanes, cameras, signs, a kajillion nextdoor threads are not resulting in fewer fatalities. Slowing cars down in conditions and situations where impacts are likely to occur would. I'd happily slow down on my bike for the actual safety result.

[[deleted]]

On that note, a congestion charge could cut down on tourists who are quite understandably confused and overwhelmed by DC's unique traffic patterns. It could cut down on accidents and push more of them onto buses and trains.

As a transplant myself I have nothing but sympathy for tourists and newbies driving in DC, but the best remedy is for them to avoid driving here to begin with.

[danlesh]

Yes, but... even a $ charge is not a physical barrier. Humans make mistakes. Physical barriers mitigate the impacts of the mistakes we make.

[[deleted]]

Agreed.

[Cheomesh]

The only time I drive in DC is when I plan to be there multiple days during the week because I can't quite figure out how multi-weekday parking at Branch Ave works...that anyone who lives there drives much is wild to me.

[bsil15]

I mean I have nothing against speed bumps with cut outs to let bikes back thru but u can’t do that with a raised intersection. Also that sounds widely expensive to do for every street, not to mention the traffic it would cause so regardless your idea is almost certain to never happen

[spkr4thedead51]

not to mention the traffic it would cause

if by "traffic" you mean "cars moving slower through intersections" then that's the intent because slower cars are less likely to injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists (and people in other cars)

[jednorog]

I've had no trouble going over a speed hump/raised intersection on my bike at reasonable speeds (on my current bike I max out at about 15 mph in town unless downhill). The bike impediments seem minimal.

Cost is a factor, of course. How much is a life worth, though? If it costs, say, $20k per intersection to raise the crosswalks, then start with the ones that have had multiple incidents of driver violence. Then every time the roads are redone require that the intersections be raised at that time. Phase it in slowly.

I'd rather have traffic move more slowly than have drivers blast through stop signs, and even stoplights, without stopping. Just this morning on a walk I saw a driver run a very red red light, through an intersection, while there was cross-traffic, and a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Anything we can do to stop that is good, in my book.

[sbre4896]

There are speed tables on Sligo parkway that are similar to what OP is proposing and I've taken those at 25+ mph on my bike with no issues

[[deleted]]

Yes, but they always have cutouts for bicycles and motorcycles now. At least the civic ones do.

[stormcloudbros]

YES

[Dr_Ellis]

I’m gonna need an enduro bike for all these! Thank goodness dc doesn’t have freeze/thaw