Streetsblog posted this video of a disguised Volvo S60 prototype that the company is testing in Copenhagen that has a computer system which can essentially detect possible pedestrian collisions and prevent them from happening.
The system basically uses a series of sensors that detect objects around the car and if the car seems to be headed for a collision, the vehicle will either 1) slow down significantly if it is going over 25km/h; or 2) stop completely if it is already going under 25km/h.
Certainly an interesting idea and I really wonder how well this system would hold up in a city as crowded and fast-moving as NYC. Volvo hopes to have some sort of pedestrian detection system in their S60 vehicles by 2010 if all goes well in testing.
Just north of the city of Poughkeepsie in New York on the Hudson River is a massive rehabilitation and construction project that is on schedule to be completed by October 3, 2009. The project is called Walkway Over The Hudson and it takes the former Poughkeepsie Bridge and turns it into the world’s longest pedestrian and bicycling bridge.
Anyway, it’s a bit far from the city, but I would love to go there and just stand on the bridge especially with Fall colors coming up. I’m keeping October 3 on my calendar.
As Prolly says, this is very unnecessary. I mean, even if the pedestrian was wrong in harassing you on your bike, you don’t go beating him with your friggin’ U-lock. You’re on a bike. Just ride away. Shame on you, cyclist. I hope somebody finds you and turns you in.
Take a look at this video of a Ferrari jumping the curb and hitting pedestrians in the middle of Times Square. Believe it or not, this happened during a filming of a Nicolas Cage movie and the two pedestrians that were hurt were NOT actually part of the film set/cast/crew.
Who approves a high-speed car chase scene in the middle of Manhattan without closing off the blocks to all pedestrians not associated with the film???? That’s crazy.
Every day I ride my bike along Broadway into Madison Square and then onto 5th Avenue. It’s my daily route to school and also to any point downtown from where I live. Every time I pass the area, I see people sitting, taking pictures, and thoroughly enjoying the wide-open public space that is safe from vehicles on both sides of the square.
I remember coming home last Summer from Australia and being utterly surprised by the drastic changes in traffic patterns in that area. From a bicyclist’s perspective, the area is a lot more convenient to travel through, and from a motorist’s perspective, it’s definitely less confusing to get from one avenue to another (Broadway and 5th Avenue split here).
Some of you know this already, but I’m a pretty big sucker for visual data sets, especially when the data sets are Google Maps mashups, like this one from Transportation Alternatives.
TA has updated their CrashStat map showing pedestrian and bicycle accidents in the New York City area from 1995 to 2005. That’s a whole decade’s worth of crash statistics all laid out on a map with larger circles indicating higher risk areas. Midtown seems to be the most dangerous place to walk or bike in all of NYC, but this is of course because there are more people, cars, and bicyclists in Midtown than any other area in NYC.
As a pedestrian or bicyclist in NYC, you should always be in your highest guard, but this map shows you where you definitely need to heighten your senses…OR RISK DEATH.
