Austin drivers ignore environment

Date:   11/3/2006 12:46:16 PM ( 18 y ago)

Tuesday Morning I went for an early morning walk and I noticed how many cars were driving Downtown on South Congress.

I had some time so I Decided to Count the cars and how many had a passenger. I was very surprised that I was able to count one thousand cars so fast.

I was also surprised that out of the 1000 automobiles, there were only 164
cars that were carrying a passenger. In that time I noticed only two people heading downtown on a Bicycle and three heading down on a motorcycle.

In Austin, Texas, A city that is alleged to be progressive and supposedly cares about the environment. October is also supposed to be Commute Solutions Month.
I did not see too much going on in the way of commuter solutions.

It is not difficult to get Downtown in Austin, Texas. There are many alternative methods of transportation. In Austin, one can even take the Dillo, a motorized vehicle that resembles a trolley. It is free of charge. Also in Austin, Texas. Monthly bus passes are only $10 a month. I cannot imagine the price being lower anywhere else in the USA.

At this point I am doing my part to curb pollution by taking mass transit full time. I have not purchased a gallon of gas in quite some time. Taking mass transit and walking is a great way to get around and is a way to also stay healthy.

Austin is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Our roads are congested and getting worse. Travel times are lengthening and tempers are fraying. These facts are confirmed by Capital Metro's Austin In Motion (AIM) study in which seventy percent of respondents stated that congestion/traffic is the most serious problem that has come from fast growth in the Austin area.

What is causing this? There is simply not enough capacity in our current transportation system to handle the increasing number of trips in Austin. Whether this is due to insufficient capacity being built or too much growth, the simple fact is that we currently do not have enough capacity in our transportation infrastructure to meet the growing needs of our city.

The city has catered to automobiles and the use of automobiles is definitely on the rise. The safety of Pedestrians and Bikers has been compromised by many of the motor vehicle operators refusal to yield the right of way to passengers and bicyclists.
Almost every day in Austin , I hear a radio report of a hit and run driver. I have seen road rage from Austin drivers directed at pedestrians and Bicyclists

Drug use and alcohol alcohol was the most common factor in many traffic fatalities.

The Austin Police Department Highway Enforcement Command is announcing a new plan to review traffic fatalities that will focus on making roadways in Austin safer.

Traffic fatalities will be placed in the following categories: driving culture, impairment and bizarre/medical.

Each fatality will be reviewed to determine contributing factors along with other elements that resulted in the collision. Once the fatalities have been reviewed then personnel will determine the best response that can include education, enforcement, engineering or any other appropriate measures.

The Austin Police Department say they are greatly concerned that lives are being lost on the streets and highways in Austin. The department is dedicated to making the roadways of Austin safe for residents and visitors through education, enforcement and engineering.

In a city that calls itself progressive and one can find an anti war march almost every week. There seems to be little anger directed at the amount of tragedy that can be linked to driving a motor vehicle. More deaths can be linked to traffic fatalities than to war. The statistics are not even close.

In Austin, Texas just this week toll roads opened to absorb some of the tarffic congestion in the State Capitol. Yet, that will just mean more traffic and more pollution and less regard for the environment









 

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