[Vision2020] "Liberals" Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?

[Art Deco]

Matt,

Thank you for your question.

I lived in Southern California in the 70's during both the so-called "Arab 
oil crises."   Gassing up for many people entailed waits in line for as many 
as 12 hours and with no assurance that there would be gasoline once they got 
to the pumps.

Hence, the behavior patterns of many people changed.  One of these changes 
was a great increase in the number of pedestrians, skaters, and bicyclists. 
This change was motivated by the necessity of some to get to their places of 
employment, shopping, recreation, etc without the availability of gasoline 
without great hassle.  The change was also in part motivated by desires to 
reduce dependence on gasoline, to reduce air pollution, to decrease traffic 
congestion, to avoid parking hassles, and to increase healthy activity.

Increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic unfortunately led to an increase in 
accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles.

Several smaller cities in the LA area then implemented changes in 
ordinances, enforcement policies, signage, public awareness education, etc 
designed to encourage more people to walk, roller skate, bicycle, etc to 
work, shop, etc and to make such activities much safer.  Since this was more 
than 30 years ago, I cannot recall the particular cities with any hope of 
accuracy although I think San Marino and Arcadia were two of them.

As a result of these efforts, various programs were formalized into pro 
forma models and proposed for other cities all over the U.S., some of which 
were implemented.

In the last few years Sandpoint, Idaho has at least put up some of the 
"Pedestrian Friendly" signage, increased enforcement in this area, and made 
a few other changes.  I do not know if the Sandpoint City Council used a 
formal program as a design model or not for this change of city policy.

Both others and myself have made suggestions on this forum and directly to 
selected city councilpersons urging at least consideration of adopting a 
tested "Pedestrian Friendly" program.  I received only one response from a 
councilperson, part of which was a quasi-agreement but also a claim that 
they were doing a lot already.


Implementing such a program is a major undertaking in terms of effort and 
very careful planning.  Such programs call for changes in the driving habits 
of many people.  Such programs, no matter how well designed and planned, are 
not popular with everyone, hence there is political risk for incumbents to 
aggressively pursue this idea.  If you have spent much time walking and 
shopping in downtown Moscow, I am sure you are aware that their are numbers 
of drivers who are quite pedestrian unfriendly, especially among those just 
passing through.  I have not seen any enforcement emphasis in this area 
during the almost 16 years I have lived here despite that on occasions 
egregious violations of crosswalk law occurs on the corner where the MPD 
station is located and on some occasions when there is a MPD vehicle waiting 
to enter traffic there.


One would normally expect research in this area to be done by the Community 
Development Director.  We all know that the problems in that office are so 
appalling that to expect competent research and/or leadership from there is 
a hopeless pipedream.

I would be glad to do some initial research in this area and forward it to 
those both interested and in a position to act or to influence action. 
However, unless there is a genuine, enthusiastic show of interest by the 
city council, such an effort would not likely bear fruit, hence my offer of 
research is contingent on a show of genuine interest and intention whether 
expressed publicly or privately.

Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com








----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>
To: <deco at moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] "Liberals" Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?


> Art,
>
> You wrote. "The city council could enthusiastically adopt and implement 
> one of the "Pedestrian Friendly" programs that have worked well in other 
> locations".
>
> Art could you give some ideas where. It sounds like a decent idea but with 
> a few concerns.
>
> Thanks, Matt
>
>
>>From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
>>To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] "Liberals" Slammed For Pro-Business CBD Stance?
>>Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 18:30:16 -0800
>>
>>Perhaps this solution is way, way too far out to help a little with 
>>downtown Moscow's parking problem:
>>
>>
>>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
>>deco at moscow.com
>>
>>>