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CoffeexCup t1_j6ejjqr wrote

Reply to comment by anachronissmo in Student death sparks conversation on pedestrian safety at VCU by CrassostreaVirginica

Totally agree with this. This is a VCU problem not a city problem. I’m not blaming the victim in this situation and I’m honestly not that familiar with the story. There are a lot of students that just don’t pay attention when crossing streets and there needs to be more pedestrian bridges on campus to completely avoid the roads.

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funkipus t1_j6eylsx wrote

I see where you're coming from but I really don't love this take. Are we really willing to just accept that roads have to be so deadly that the best solution is to build expensive bridges over them? That's certainly not the only solution used by cities all over the world who have lower rates of traffic injuries and deaths than ours. For me this is a "why not both" situation. We can have more aware pedestrians AND roads that don't invite drivers to travel at speeds that kill. VCU, the City, and VDOT (because it's a state route) need to share responsibility and tackle this issue.

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ridebikes666 t1_j6etldf wrote

The fact that pedestrian deaths are up 100% suggest it is the whole city. Drivers need to slow down.

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CrassostreaVirginica OP t1_j6ewr11 wrote

We should design our streets so that driving slower comes naturally. I'm no traffic engineer, but I've read good things about roundabouts, regular speed bumps, lower speed limits, and deliberately inducing more congestion. None of which are popular with drivers, but fuck popularity; lives are at stake.

Plus we need a decent network of protected bike lanes that folks will actually use because it's actually useful.

And universal sidewalk coverage.

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bigdawgwhatup t1_j6fetjc wrote

This is everywhere though. All throughout the city and into western Henrico near Willow Lawn.

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PhoenixAshies t1_j6fsnng wrote

Broad really ought to have streetlights into the county. Especially Broad through Willow Lawn and most of Staples Mill. Pedestrians get hit there constantly.

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GMUcovidta t1_j6fttop wrote

They would still run into traffic like they do now

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prestondoom t1_j6eo02m wrote

I agree, VCU produces a higher number of pedestrians than a normal business or city district would, but expect the city to fix their problem.

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DefaultSubsAreTerrib t1_j6faqtg wrote

The way you write it, it sounds like you are calling pedestrians a problem that needs to be dealt with

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prestondoom t1_j6g54oe wrote

We’ll that’s not exactly how I’d put it, but I guess a little. Large amounts of pedestrians are a “problem” that needs a solution. I don’t in anyway mean to fault the individuals or VCU really but VCU at this point is benefiting from not having a true campus and utilizing the cities infrastructure. That said they are state funded so who am I to bitch.

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oddistrange t1_j6ftrlc wrote

Those pedestrians are almost guaranteed to shop in Richmond and contribute to sales tax and likely have jobs that would also be taxed. What are taxes for?

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