Petru S. 🚄🚦🚲

Ice and snow in bike lane covering flex post

@streets.boston.gov any chance you could plow the bike lanes on Columbus by @northeasternu.bsky.social ? Totally get this was a big storm but would be nice to have something to use. Thanks!

Chickened out both days. Miss it though ):

That snow topped NTOR sign is 🤌

Thanks!

Me in a high vis jacket working at a traffic signal cabinet in Cambridge, MA

I love my new job !

Yes I believe so

Inman square traffic signal

What a gorgeous signal.

US Traffic Safety Is Getting Worse, While Other Countries Improve The rising rate of road deaths in the US continues to defy global trends. Here’s what traffic planners in other nations could teach their American counterparts.

Actual causes of the US road safety crisis:
🔹 Car bloat
🔹 Failure to enforce traffic laws
🔹 Fast urban roads
🔹 Suburbanization of poverty/jobs

Blaming smartphones is lazy thinking.

Come! Talk with me and other staff about this project on Wednesday evening!

Arlington is really working to reduce speeding on Lake street.

✅ Speed limit is now 25 instead of 30
✅ 25 MPH reminder signs installed
✅ Signal at Minuteman now has pedestrian recall for the trail so the signal gives vehicles red more often (and provides less delay for trail users)

I’m mixed on those. I see the benefit I suppose but at that point you should just provide a protected pedestrian crossing

True. Hate the salt makes it so hard to read pavement markings

RRFB activated with a light flashing on a crosswalk. Photo taken in the dark, but thanks to the illumination from the device the crosswalk is lit.

Loving Arlington’s newest RRFB crosswalks that come with this white light that illuminates the crosswalk and pedestrian when the button is pressed. Makes the crossing so much more visible!

Totally agree. Something I’ve prioritized in designing signals is adding that in when we can’t make protected crossings. Expect more this year (:

Maybe a study at a signal first with base line turn on red. Then a red arrow. Then just a no turn on red sign. Then a red arrow and sign. I’m guessing in that order compliance will increase, but maybe not? And maybe by varying values. Something I’ll be thinking about more in 2026!

I’m curious about this and maybe will look into this for future projects. Red arrows communicating no turn on red may have some advantages and could be useful at signals where no turn on red compliance is especially poor. Would love to study this further.

Traffic signal approach to tee with “NO TURN ON RED” marked.

Traffic signal with right turn signal red arrow but no no turn on red

Witnessing a funny phenomenon on Hammond Pond Parkway today.

I saw more or the same level of drivers wait at this red arrow without a No Turn on Red sign as I did see wait for the no turn on red sign.

There’s something psychological about a red arrow that is stronger than a sign.

I’m sure you looked into this too, but I remember seeing an article that Tesla employees were told to ignore complaints about Tesla FSD ignoring “No Turn on Red” and “No U-Turn” signs as well. It’s unbelievable how this system is permitted.

Tesla’s ‘Mad Max mode’ points to a big problem for self-driving cars Mad Max mode exposes a risk for AV innovation. To stay competitive, computer-powered cars are emulating human drivers.

Cars are now being programmed to violate traffic rules. What could go wrong?

Me, in @fastcompany.com. (no paywall)

🧵

On foggy mornings like today, I’m reminded of America’s lack of a rear fog light requirement. Cars in America are simply less safe than in Europe.

Pedestrian fatalities reach 17-year-high. This trend could be why Fifty-one pedestrians had been killed on the state’s roads this year as of Saturday – the most in any calendar year since 2008.

SUVs and big Utes "are 44 per cent more likely to kill an adult pedestrian or cyclist in a crash compared with a sedan, and 82 per cent more likely to kill a child" www.theage.com.au/national/vic...

EV4 would have been nice. EV3 is just another SUV. I’d rather have something cheaper in the sedan/hatch market to oppose SUVs!

Yes, more dials and knobs please! I hate cars where you need to go into the screen to adjust your climate controls or defrosters

Thanks!

Very thoughtful blog, Joan!

This is a bad time of year to install flex posts because the epoxy needed to stick them in has a harder time being applied and it looks like they were in a rush to get it installed as soon as possible. Hoping next year they can try again in warmer weather and the should stick better.

Faded no turn on red sign on a traffic light

Can anyone read this?

Cc @massdot.bsky.social please replace the no turn on red sign at concord turnpike and park ave in Arlington!

These are not automated enforcement cameras. They only read licenses plates. It’s important to distinguish the difference between the two.

Difficult to see raised crosswalk with “SLOW BUMP AHEAD” sign

Raised crosswalk with crosswalk layout markings on it

Arlington’s first “raised crossing”. It happened by accident while installing new curb cuts, but it’s a happy one IMO! Excited to see more in the future with Mass and Appleton and others coming soon.