US DOT Secretary Gets a Message on Pedestrian Safety

We've got a fine sampling of content from the Streetsblog Network today.

First, Steve Davis at Transportation for America reports on the meeting T4A and several of its partners had with US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood on Monday. The meeting was to deliver a petition with more than 4,100 signatures gathered after last week's release of the "Dangerous by Design" report on pedestrian fatalities:

US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood with James Corless of Transportation for America and Barbara McCann of the National Complete Streets Coalition

With the petition and a copy of Dangerous by Design in front of him,
LaHood listened intently as T4 America’s James Corless and others
talked about the epidemic of preventable deaths -- and what we can do to
turn the tide and keep pedestrians safe.

Secretary LaHood was hopeful that federal transportation policy can
better accommodate all users and keep them safe, and that now is the
right time to make that change.

“I think this Congress gets it now,” Secretary LaHood told us.
“Certainly in part because of advocates like you.” He acknowledged that
making the streets in our communities safe and accommodating for
everyone dovetails well with the Obama administration’s focus on
livability.

He stressed that safety is the top consideration for everything they
do at USDOT and urged T4 America to take the report directly to
Congress as they continue discussions on the full six-year
transportation bill. He also asked for more copies of Dangerous by
Design (on their way, Mr. Secretary!).

We'll be keeping an eye on developments.

More from our members: Network Musings beings news of a proposed vehicle-miles-traveled tax in the Netherlands. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia reports on a proposed bike registration and ban on brakeless bikes in that city. And Hub and Spokes has a video about the impact of mandatory parking minimums.