The War on Cars Killed by a Traffic Engineer
8 snips
Jun 25, 2024 
A professor of civil engineering challenges the notion that traffic engineering is based on science in the podcast. Topics include the historical influence on safety standards, the relationship between speed limits and road safety, and the conflict between safety and traffic flow efficiency. The guest calls for a shift towards prioritizing safety in transportation design and discusses the evolution of traffic engineering perspectives over time.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cleverhood at Velo City
- At Velo City, Doug Gordon noticed many attendees, including Sam Balto, sporting Cleverhood gear.
- Balto considers his Cleverhood jacket a symbol of the bike bus movement, sparking recognition and conversations.
Traffic Engineering's Delusion
- Traffic engineering, despite its name, isn't always based on scientific principles, argues Wes Marshall in his book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer.
- Marshall suggests the field needs a mindset shift, prioritizing safety over other factors like capacity.
Manuals Over Science
- Traffic engineers often follow manuals, assuming they're scientifically backed, without questioning their rationale.
- This blind faith in established practices contributes to the high number of traffic fatalities.