Ghost bikes -- white-painted, road-side memorials to cyclists who died in traffic -- not only honor those who have lost their lives on the roads, but also remind drivers of their responsibilities toward more vulnerable people on the street.
But imagine if we applied the same concept to cars, says Network blog Baltimore Spokes:
Does anyone really think texting will be a problem after passing this alongside the roadway?
Maryland has 97,023 auto crashes a year (5 year average); that works out to be about three auto crashes per mile of roadway each year! Can you imagine what our roads would look like if these crashes stuck around for at least a year?
I think it would be a good educational tool to move a wrecked automobile to an entrance ramp (or other visible but out of the way public place) and let it sit there a while with a sign saying something like, "Pay attention and drive safe. Don't let this happen to you." But instead we sterilize the roadway, making it seem like nothing ever bad happens there. Denying a problem is the first step in making it worse.
Elsewhere on the Network today: The Get Around Blog offers a critique of NPR's "War on Cars" story. American Dirt says big box-style convention centers rob visitors of opportunities to experience downtown. And Streets.mn remembers the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Car Crashes by City Workers Cost NYC Taxpayers $180M in Payouts Last Year: Report
A record number of victims of crashes involving city employees in city-owned cars filed claims in fiscal year 2023 — and settlements with victims have jumped 23 percent, a new report shows.
Tuesday’s Headlines Are Driving Inflation
Driving — specifically, the cost of car ownership — is one of the main factors behind inflation, according to the Eno Center for Transportation.
SEE IT: How Much (Or How Little) Driving is Going on in America’s Top Metros
Check it out: The lowest-mileage region isn't the one you'd think.
Monday’s Headlines Bring Another Setback
The Biden administration's new rule requiring states to report their greenhouse gas emissions from transportation was dealt another blow when the Senate voted to repeal it.
‘The Bike Is the Cure’: Meet New Congressional Bike Caucus Chair Mike Thompson
Meet the incoming co-chair of the congressional bike caucus — and learn more about how he's getting other legislators riding.
