PERSPECTIVES BY MODE?

The Center for Active Design states that “Humans will make mistakes, but a welldesigned system should help minimize the impact of those mistakes.” While this may be the case, engineers and planners alike agree that well-designed systems that elicit lower speed limits, increased visibility of pedestrian crosswalks (wellmarked), and separated bike lanes are just a few design solutions that can reduce the incidence of crashes at a site specific location or poorly designed intersection. But when Vision Zero is implemented systemically across the community through a variety of approaches including policy, design, education, outreach and communication, and implementation, that is when a community will move the needle on reducing crashes and injuries eventually eliminating them all together.

Vision Zero assumes that everything is to be done in order to prevent people from being killed or seriously injured while near roads and traffic – but also that no one person is perfect, and that accidents and crashes will happen regardless of road safety infrastructure and design. Roads should be designed for multiple modes and with the intention of people in mind (not just cars) to reduce the possibilities of crashes from happening that result in serious injuries and fatalities. One way of looking at the true mission of Vision Zero is to realize that accidents cannot be complete eliminated, because humans are involved, but the consequences of human behavior should not result in serious injuries or death.

To learn more, click here.

Vehicular

Each community has so many miles of roadway that has been constructed and maintained. Most of these roads are used daily by cars and trucks of all sizes, morning and night. Depending on the driver and where they reside, the community and thereby roadways maybe familiar or may pose a challenge because the driver is unfamiliar with the area and roadway network. This familiarity, as well as the choices a driver makes on a route, is a primary cause crashes and fatalities. This increases in an urban environment where there are more distractions and a driver is unfamiliar with the area.

It is the driver’s responsibility as the operator of a motor vehicle to follow traffic laws and be alert for motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians. The driver should always give these other modes the benefit of the doubt because oftentimes, in a crash, they sustain more injuries. So what are some things vehicle operators can do:

/ Pause and wait before turning

/ Slow down and drive the speed limit. Go slow in school zones.

/ Avoid distracted driving

/ Look for bicycles or scooters before opening your door

/ Give bicyclists and pedestrians the right of way in crosswalks

/ Use caution when approaching bicyclists and leave at least three feet of passing room

Motorcyclists

While Vision Zero places emphasis on the need to focus on the drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians of the world, many people who focus on road safety in Sweden have noticed a missing piece to it: motorcycles. The Swedish Motorcyclists’ Association (SMC) was founded in 1963. They realized the need

What is Vision Zero? / to work with road safety and inform motorcycle owners, safety officials, and elected officials in order to be able to influence decisions.

There was some initial controversy when Vision Zero was established. Since the focus was on vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians and motorcycles were not specifically stated, advocates wondered if motorcycles would be accepted as a vulnerable mode similar to bicycles and pedestrians instead of like a vehicle. Although motorcycles have been accepted as a vulnerable, there is still a lack of focus on them in Vision Zero initiatives including I policies and when designing the transportation system.

While this is pre-establishment of Vision Zero and could be considered a very early form of working with officials to increase road safety to reduce collisions, motorcyclists are sometimes overlooked due to the nature of the vehicle they ride. While the vehicle itself is harder to drive because it has two wheels, the driver of a motorcycle understands the increased risk of danger that comes with driving a motorcycle instead of a vehicle. Along with this, motorcycles must think and act differently while in traffic.

While admirable to put focus on the design of the road for vehicles and pedestrians to increase safety, motorcyclists must pay attention to the changing environment of the roadway in areas that are implementing these strategies as they are often overlooked when it comes to an education group. While the Vision Zero campaign works to ensure that motorcyclists are not restricted nor discriminated against, many of the plans that have been completed in the U.S. do not have anything specific related to motorcycles or motorcycle safety. Questions about universal helmet laws, high visibility attire, and the future of motorcycling have been raised by motorcycle advocates and are still unanswered.

San Francisco might be the first city to begin to look at motorcycle safety as an addition to their Vision Zero Plan. Motorcycle usage has increased and therefore has resulted in an increase of serious injury or death. Educational campaigns targeting motorcycle riders have been started, but often these educational campaigns are better served for vehicular drives and the community as a whole to increase awareness of motorcycles on the road. San Francisco’s campaign educates targeted populations about defensive driving and other measures to alter individual behaviors to prevent crashes, unsafe speed, unsafe passing, and driving under the influence.

To learn more about San Francisco’s program, click here.

Montana is another state working to address the same issues with motorcycle crashes. “More than 80 percent of all reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death and motorcycle riders are almost 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than a passenger vehicle occupant.” Motorcycles often take the blame for a crash with a vehicle but driving defensively could be a solution for motorcyclists and vehicle drivers alike. Montana has offered safety tips for both drivers and riders. These include the following:

Tips For Drivers

/ Keep your full attention on driving and avoid distractions.

/ Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.

/ Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

/ If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful and always ensure the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.

/ Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.

/ Always allow more following distance — three to four seconds — when behind a motorcyclist, which gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

Tips For Riders

/ Take a motorcycle safety course.

/ Wear reflective or brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet.

/ Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.

/ Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn.

/ Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.

/ Use caution and slow down when approaching left turns or intersections.

/ Observe speed limits.

/ Never ride distracted or impaired.

For more information, click here.

BIKE & SCOOTER SHARE

Bike and scooter sharing have become a popular method of transportation for people within urban areas. Where owning a personal vehicle and driving might not be desired in highly walkable areas, or where someone might not have the means, bike and scooter sharing has provided a quick, easy mode of transportation to supplement public transportation or to use for short trips. This has also been a solution in solving a problem called “the last mile.” Where public transportation might take a person close to their final destination, the final destination could still be a 15 –20-minute walk away from the nearest stop. Bike and especially scooters have been a quick and affordable way of helping people get to their destinations conveniently.

Electric scooters were introduced back in 2012 with a moped-styled vehicle design but did not take off until 2017 when Bird and Lime introduced dockless electric kick scooters. In 2018, scooters became so popular that the year became known as “the year of the electric scooter” due to the increasing popularity, fundraising, and value. Uber and Lyft has now added their own electric scooters. Uber and Lyft are the largest ride-sharing companies in the United States and Bird and Lime are the largest scooter-sharing companies on the market right now.

Now that more cities are placing emphasis on multimodal uses, electric scooters have been the perfect addition to test how well they work. The theory of it makes sense, but in practice and reality, there are increasing issues that have left local government officials developing ordinances to set parameters under which scooters can operate in their community. Parking scooters has been a controversial issue across the country as many people have just left them laying on the ground where they ended their destination. At times that was in the public right-of-way jeopardizing safety for pedestrians and vehicles. Many communities now limit where parking of scooters can occur in the public right of way to ensure there is enough space for pedestrians to safely.

Multiple personal stories involving injuries, crashes, and even fatalities have left city officials looking for ways to ensure safety when using electric scooters. Many community ordinances set rules on where they can be used, where they are restricted from going, where they can be parked, how they had to be parked, whether they can be on sidewalks and trails, and whether helmets are required. Some communities have even considered the complete elimination of their use due to the inability to determine where they belong. The introduction of this technology has been very controversial despite the increasing popularity and use of them. Are electric scooters more of a safety hazard than a solution to equitable mobility?

While scooters increase mobility opportunities for people, not everyone in a community has equal access to scooters. Mobility inequity occurs when access to scooters are limited to underserved areas due to location placement or requires a cellphone to access the scooter. Many companies locate scooters and bike shares in parts of the community that have more ease of accessibility and typically are destinations. Though the ease of use and low prices of using the electric scooters and bike share increases equitable transportation, equitable use is reduced as location, parking, and other restrictions limit access.

Safety is the number one concern that communities are looking at for all people and mode users. While ordinances may vary from community to community, generally the same rules apply across the nation involving safety. Websites encourage users to be aware of their surroundings, wear helmets for safety, and obey the local ordinances and rules of the road. Specifically, the City of Indianapolis, passed an updated ordinance that prohibited the use of electric scooters on sidewalks, greenways, and trails such as the Monon and Cultural Trail. They are required to be used on the road and in bike lanes.

The world of electric scooters is new for most people and especially local governments for addressing safety concerns. Electric scooters can reach up to 15 miles per hour which arguably is too fast to allow on sidewalks and trails but could be considered dangerously slow when sharing a lane with a vehicle. Many communities look to their police force for enforcement, but it is low on their priority. Pedestrians may feel unsafe if users of scooters are traveling past them at a relatively high speed, drivers might feel unsafe sharing the road, and specifically scooter users during peak travel times might feel unsafe riding in the road with increased drivers.

Psa On How To Use The Electric Scooters

/ Cannot ride on the sidewalks, trails, or greenways

/ Must ride in the streets following normal traffic laws:

/ Can ride in the bike lane

/ Cannot travel the wrong way down a one way street

/ Like a car, you must ride with the flow of traffic. You cannot ride the electric scooter in the oncoming traffic lane

/ Helmets are recommended by not yet required

/ Electric scooters must be parked leaving four feet of clearance on the sidewalk

Additionally, the Bird and Lime scooter websites say:

/ Must be 18 or older to operate the electric scooter

/ Must have a valid driver’s license

/ Should wear a helmet

/ Follow traffic laws

For more information regarding the usage of electric scooters in Indianapolis, please click here.

To read about Indianapolis scooter laws and accident laws, click here.

Electric scooters are pretty easy to use. Although Bird and Lime are the only available scooters available in Indianapolis, other scooter brands all basically operate the same when using them.

/ Register with the app

/ Scan the QR code to unlock (usually $1)

/ Pay a fee per minute of use

/ When you are done, scan the QR code to stop using Bird’s website states that are committed to the Vision Zero mission of making mobility safer, healthier, and more equitable for everyone on the road. Scooters are provided as alternative modes of transportation while potentially reducing the total number of vehicles on the road. Such alternative encourage cities to invest in safety infrastructure that is beneficial for everyone.

For more information about this topic, and sources used, check out these articles:

/ Lyft Launches a Scooter Service. Uber is Close Behind.

/ After more than 20 Injuries in September, Scooter Rule Enforcement begins in Indianapolis.

/ How Scooters have Changed Indianapolis after 1 Year.

/ Scooters Banned from Indy Sidewalks.

/ Scooters are a Huge Problem for Cities. No One knows how to Solve it yet.

/ Scooter-Sharing has Problems. When will American Cities Solve them?

/ E-Scooters Captivated IU Students. But more than 75 have been Hurt so far.

/ Scooter aren’t the Problem, User Behavior is say Councilor.