American Dream

Urban planners in Columbus, Ohio, have joined those in Austin, San Jose, and many other cities in wanting to convert one-way streets to two-way. According to this amazingly well-written and persuasive op ed, such conversions will increase congestion, air pollution, and traffic accidents, including accidents involving pedestrians. Yet planners say they want to do this to create "pedestrian-friendly environments."

This thoroughly researched op ed notes that conversion of one-way streets in Denver to two-way led to a 37-percent increase in accidents. Conversion in Indianapolis led to a 33-percent increase in accidents. Yet, as the op ed brilliantly points out, planners are still intent on creating auto-hostile and pedestrian-deadly environments in many cities.

The above link requires a subscription to the Columbus Dispatch, but if you would like to see the op ed (which I wrote with the help of Michael Cunneen), you can download it from the American Dream Coalition web site.