Low density, disconnected development patterns—or sprawl—peaked in the mid-1990s, then declined by as much as 9 percent in the following decades, according to a new analysis of street patterns published by the National Academy of Sciences.
research
It’s not all about the mode: Race and gender bias in yielding to non-motorized road users
Two recent studies suggest that bias in driver behavior toward other road users could be contributing to enhanced stress levels for certain groups of pedestrians and bicyclists. Recent research documents a difference in drivers yielding to pedestrians based on race in Portland, OR. A second study out of the UK concludes women cyclists are more likely than men to experience “incidents” (passing too closely, verbal harassment, etc.).
New study links low-cost and free recreation facilities near work sites with active commuting
A recently released study has added further detail to our understanding of the link between commuting mode choice and workplace and environmental variables. The study linked residential proximity to transit stops and employer-provided free or reduced-price transit passes to commuters’ likelihood of choosing transit. It also linked shorter commuting distances and the availability of bike parking at workplaces to commuters’ decisions to bike or walk to work.
Insurers taken to task for ignoring drivers’ mileage when setting rates
A recently released study from the Consumer Federation of America has found that insurers rarely give low-mileage drivers much of a break on their rates despite the fact that mileage driven is one of the best predictors of insurance claims, and most consumers feel that basing rates on mileage is fair.
Major cost overruns common among megaprojects
Megaprojects, which have been in the news lately due to issues with Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement projects, frequently experience significant delays and cost overruns, according to researchers at Oxford University. But this outcome it is largely avoidable, they say.
Drivers more likely to ignore crosswalks at speeds above 30 mph
According to a new study published by the Transportation Research Board, drivers traveling at higher speeds are also far less likely to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The study, conducted in Boston, reveals that drivers are nearly four times more likely to yield for pedestrians at travel speeds around 20 miles per hour than at 40 mph.
Learning from better bicycle/vehicle crash reporting: Improving safety and infrastructure
A recent study published in the journal Injury Prevention makes a strong case for better bicycle/motor vehicle crash reporting as a way to improve bicycling safety. The quality of these crash reports currently varies widely, with helmet use and use of other protective equipment being the only data consistently recorded across all fifty states. Additionally, inadequate reporting that leaves out essential crash-site details results in a poor understanding of the causes and remedies for these crashes. This knowledge gap limits the ability of facility designers and transportation planners to respond with improved facilities for all road users.
Research shows the indirect economic benefit of public transportation
A study done by Cambridge Systematics for NCHRP Project 20-65 examined the indirect economic benefits to society of state investment in public transportation. The study found there are substantial cost savings to other government programs due to increased access to jobs, health care, and education. In many economic impact analyses, these indirect benefits are less well-documented than job creation through capital and operational spending, effects on local development patterns, and direct benefits to riders such as cost or time savings leading to increased productivity.
New critique identifies troubling errors in FHWA’s report on driver distraction from digital signs
The federal government began allowing the construction of digital billboards along interstate highways in 2007. In response to concerns over the potential effects on driver attention, FHWA conducted a study and found that while drivers may look at digital signs slightly more than they look at standard billboards, this was not associated with a decrease in drivers’ attention to the roadway or an increase in unacceptably long glances away from the roadway. However, an extensive, peer-reviewed, January 2015 critique has raised concerns about both the methodology and results of the FHWA study.
Real-time transit data in demand
A recent study has shown that real-time arrival data for buses does indeed boost transit usage. And several cities have discovered that they don’t have to do all the work of getting the information into riders’ hands.