Summary
B McGraw and William Henderson talk about best practices in urban design. What are the best principles of good urban systems? How do we reduce externalities related to urban life? This is part 2 of 2 episodes.
We first talk about vehicle accidents and where they most likely are to occur (specifically intersections and arterial roads). Then we discuss ways in which intersections can be made safer, and ways to make arterials safer as well. Then we talk about different city layouts and how pedestrian friendly designs reduce accidents. We then discuss the value of bike lanes.
After this, we discuss ways to reduce the heat island effect in cities, including through the user of trees and reflective pavement. We finally then discuss the importance of right sizing infrastructure.
Links
[0:00:15] Introductions and overview of the podcast and urban design series continuation.
[0:00:30] Discussion of vehicle accident statistics, especially fatal intersection crashes from studies. (1)
[0:01:31] Analysis of types of road collisions, side impacts, and their fatality rates.
[0:02:21] Road category statistics for crash frequency (rural vs. urban, arterials, and collectors). (2)
[0:03:07] Importance and risks of arterial and collector roads compared to highways/local roads.
[0:04:04] Evaluation of raised safety platforms and their effect on reducing accidents and speeds. (1)
[0:06:28] Introduction of “daylighting” intersections as a traffic visibility and safety method. (1)
[0:08:17] Effectiveness of roundabouts in reducing injury and fatality crash rates. (1)
[0:10:49] Dangers of slip lanes at intersections and general intersection design safety improvements. (1)
[0:12:18] Summary of research on urban vs. suburban street designs, density, and their impact on traffic safety. (1) (2) (3)
[0:14:35] Downsides of arterial roads lined with commercial activities related to increased crashes. (1) (2) (3) (4)
[0:16:42] Findings on strip commercial activity and pedestrian safety, particularly with alcohol venues.
[0:17:56] Additional research about collisions involving older drivers and pedestrians on arterial roads.
[0:18:55] “Strodes” as problematic street types and their depiction in media and research.
[0:19:10] Comparing city layouts (Atlanta vs. Boston) regarding street configuration and accidents. (1)
[0:19:33] Relationship between urban sprawl and increased crash rates. (1)
[0:20:08] Benefits of dedicated bicycle lanes for reducing bicycle accidents. (1)
[0:22:32] Shift to discussion about urban heat and environmental sustainability in city design. (1) (2)
[0:23:04] Review of techniques like reflective pavement and green infrastructure for mitigating heat islands. (1)
[0:24:32] Emphasizing the cooling and sustainability benefits of urban greenery and trees.
[0:24:38] Brief mention of right-sizing infrastructure and development strategies based on context. (1)
[0:25:24] Incremental vs. large-scale development—pitfalls of planned, oversized urban projects.