Dunwoody: Adopt Vision Zero - No deaths on our streets



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Editor's Note: I've added a link at the bottom of this post to an Op/Ed written by Dunwoody's own, Bob Dallas on this subject. It was published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution last November.
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Last week, a tragic event unfolded when a 14 year old girl riding her bicycle from school was killed in a crash by a motor vehicle in Atlanta. She was crossing the intersection of Monroe at 10th street, where there is a transition from a 2-way on-street cycle track, to a “pedestrian” crossing, to the Beltline (14-ft wide multi-use trail).  

Watch this powerful TV interview with Rebecca Serna, the Executive Director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition:



As a result, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is asking for immediate safety changes to the intersection design. See post with details, click HERE

In Dunwoody, let’s adopt a Vision Zero policy and put the safety of the most vulnerable users as the number one criteria for our streets and public passage ways.

In light of this tragedy, we need to insure that internationally-recognized best practices and engineering features are being planned across our city. And all the more important & timely is for the intersection of North Shallowford & Dunwoody Park / Lake Ridge Lane (apartment complex entrance). This is where the Dunwoody Trailway will cross, connecting Brook Run to Chamblee-Dunwoody.

The trail is expected to be open and completed within the next 60 days. PRIOR to it's opening, we must create a safer way for people to cross.




How will persons traveling on the trail cross the intersection? As a default, will they have to cross twice? From west to east for example, they would: 1) Push the ped crossing signal; 2) Cross North Shallowford; 3) Stop & push the signal to cross Lake Ridge Lane. 4) When activated, cross onto the trail.

There are many inherent dangers with this “default” / “as is” design once the trail is open. As more & more casual persons use this facility, the greater the risk of these persons being in a crash with a car making right or left hand-turns. Or going through a red.

*** STOP THE PRESS: 2/17/2016 UPDATE ***


Great news!! Dunwoody Public Works sent me the detailed project design documents. In it, a...

Pedestrian scramble phase (Diagonal Crossing) has been incorporated into the design of the trail at this intersection!! 



Hooray!!




So the rest of the below post is for your reference....

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Starting with the adage, “I am not an engineer”, I would like to suggest consideration of the following:

    1.  Exclusive Pedestrian Phase

Provides a separate phase of the traffic signal where all vehicle lights turn to red and the “white walking man” comes on allowing pedestrians to cross the street without vehicle traffic movement.

    2.  Pedestrian Scramble

    Scramble: “X” Crossing markings indicating pedestrians may walk diagonally across the intersection during exclusive pedestrian crossing phase

Chicago: State Street and Jackson Boulevard.

3.  No Turn on Red

Too many motorists roll through red lights when making right-hand turns.

     4.  Shorter cycle length


     5.  Automatic sensors built into the trail approach to trip the signal to pedestrian crossing


     6.  Additional lighting


     7.  Traffic calming on North Shallowford

        a.       If no Pedestrian Scramble, then Pedestrian Crossing island built of concrete on the north side of the intersection.
        b.      Curb bulb outs
        c.       Raised intersection



     8.  Additional Signage such as State Law / Stop for Pedestrians


My ask for my readers:

If you are concerned about the safety of this trail crossing intersection and want to see safety improvements, and/or would simply like Dunwoody to formally adopt a Vision Zero plan and implement it, please send a note to:

Mayor & Council: CouncilMembers@DunwoodyGa.gov
Public Works: public.works@dunwoodyga.gov

And sign our on-line petition supporting Complete Streets. Click HERE


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BONUS: Safer pedestrians make safer roads

Op/Ed by Dunwoody resident Bob Dallas

Former director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, serves on the MARTA board and as chairman of PEDS, an Atlanta-based pedestrian advocacy group.


As we read about lives cut short due to traffic crashes, we generally attribute the loss to a mistake; yet no driver, pedestrian, or cyclist intends harm on our roadways. While all roadway users are responsible for their actions, all users are human and all humans make mistakes.

For the full article click HERE

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