Hoboken Hasn’t Had a Traffic Death in Four Years. What’s It Doing Right?

https://www.curbed.com/2022/06/hoboken-traffic-deaths-none-vision-zero-streets.html

by ingve • 4 years ago

31 15 4 years ago

Wander down the wide, busy sidewalks of Washington Street, the city’s main strip, past the poke joints and (so-so) bagel shops

I will not stand for this slander against my favorite city!

Jokes aside, when I lived in Hoboken I was told that pedestrians have right-of-way no matter what. If someone looks like they're trying to cross the street you have to stop for them. I didn't really see how that could be true but most everyone I drove with acted like it was. I'm not sure how widespread this was but I think it definitely contributed to less traffic deaths.

EDIT: I should mention that this was on the side streets. Nobody stops for you on Washington. Almost got hit once or twice on that street.

anikom15• 4 years ago

Pedestrians have right-of-way everywhere in the United States.

b3morales2• 4 years ago

As a matter of law, yes. In practice, very much not. Often including when they are standing in a striped and signed crossing.

mc32• 4 years ago

Streets yes, but not all kinds of roads. Controlled access highways and freeways are exceptions. From time to time you will see signage stating so. Also train tracks, except for clearly marked crossings.

SamReidHughes2• 4 years ago

This is not true at all. It's not true here in California, for example. Pedestrians have right-of-way in crosswalks or at intersections. Not when jaywalking.

dizhn2• 4 years ago

Hoboken is famously a tiny town with a mile square total area. Perhaps it's not right to compare it to just any town.

(Most bars per square mile as well so that should maybe increase traffic related incidents.)

_dain_• 4 years ago

Well every city is the conglomeration of many square mile towns.

cafard• 4 years ago

Yes, but does e.g. New York break out traffic deaths by neighborhood--so many in Alphabet City, so many in Riverdale?

dizhn2• 4 years ago

Hoboken is the city. All of it. There is no other town in it. The comparison should be on number of incidents divided by area (or a similar thing to normalize the output). That wouldn't be perfect either since some towns are more densely populated and some are basically empty/green.

msftie• 4 years ago

You need to keep your head on a swivel walking around Hoboken. My son got hit in his stroller in a well marked crosswalk by someone improperly passing a car that had stopped for us; I couldn’t even see it coming. Luckily he was not injured but it was extremely close to severe injury or death.

The last paragraph rings absolutely true for me. Me and my wife stagger walking in the street now, or I walk out first and the pull the stroller behind me if I’m alone.

I do commend them for making safety improvements, it is clear there’s been investment in pedestrian safety … but stay vigilant.

Hoboken Hasn’t Had a Traffic Death in Four Years. What’s It Doing Right?

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