The League of Women Voters of New Castle County (LWVNCC) President Richard Johnson's message for February 2023 is included below...

would encourage anyone who is curious about the future of cities and how they can be more pedestrian friendly and walkable to attend the League’s Virtual Book Club, hosted by Anna Quisel. It is a great opportunity to listen, share and network with other league members. If you missed our first session, there is still time to tune into our future discussions. You may have seen the invitation in an earlier announcement to members to discuss Jeff Speck’s book titled Walkable City. I was particularly curious because I live off Silverside Road. If any of you have travelled on this road which has a posted speed of 40 MPH, you quickly learn the true speed is 50 to 60 MPH if not higher. The road is also posted no passing on the right lane and of course that is ignored, and the road continues to be a racetrack. The other road I travel frequently is Foulk Road which is another high-speed thoroughfare. One of the key solutions that I learned about was a term called traffic calming or road diet. Traffic calming measures are intended to reduce traffic speed, reduce motor-vehicle collisions, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. I understand that the Delaware Department of Transportation is looking at implementing this process on several roadways in New Castle County.

Traffic Calming goals are intended to slow vehicle speeds by:

• providing room for a pedestrian crossing median,

• improving safety for bicyclists when bicycle lanes are added,

• providing an opportunity for on-street parking (which also serves as a buffer between pedestrians and vehicles),

• reducing rear-end and side-swipe crashes,

• improving speed limit compliance, and

• decreasing crash severity when crashes do occur.

These measures can improve the health of our neighborhoods. It can have health benefits by encouraging more physical activity as residents feel safer jumping on bicycles or going on walks. And traffic calming can improve the air in which that physical activity takes place. Slower moving vehicles generally emit fewer pollutants, leading to better air quality.

The Walkable City book is full of many good ideas and suggestions. I encourage you to attend our next session on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 PM. We will be covering pp.36-63--Why Johnny Can’t Walk, and The Wrong Color Green.

-- Dick Johnson