Vision Zero and Complete Streets

Goal of Vision Zero is to reduce road-related deaths and injuries and "Complete Streets" is the preferred approach to implement Vision Zero.

Goals for Complete Streets

Safer
Accessible and equitable for all
Reduced dependence on single-occupancy vehicles
Promotes heathy options such as walking and biking
Promote high quality of life
Better for the environment

Common Vision Zero Approach

Redesign streets using "Complete Streets" strategy
Adds protected bike lanes, crosswalks, pedestrian islands, speed bumps, and protected intersections.
Note: Costly and reduces parking and travel lanes
Reduce speed limits and add speed limiters
Makes for slower (longer) trips
Education and public awareness campaigns
Stricter traffic enforcement
Data collection and analysis

Articles on Vision Zero

While Vision Zero is a great goal, it hasn't been effective

In the U.S., safety has seen little improvement from Vision Zero.
Solutions are often to the detriment of car owners with less parking and slower speeds.
Re-designing streets is costly and spends precious tax dollars.
Bike ridership remains low in U.S.

Why does Vision Zero fail?

Cell phone use has been increasing, thereby making people less attentive to their surroundings (and safety)
Americans keep buying larger vehicles and those vehicles are more deadly to others.
Most Americans won't ride bikes because they don't feel safe around large vehicles.
Americans regard "personal freedom" as a right without the responsibility to protect other people’s freedom & safety

Most Vision Zero initiatives in the U.S. have not significantly improved safety — and are costly to implement. Following the same path as others and expecting different results demonstrates zero vision.

A privately-financed podway network is the lowest cost and most effective method to implement Vision Zero and Complete Streets

Everyone Benefits

Benefits to Community and Quality of Life

Can safely use a cell phone while traveling. Can expand green space and open space. No additional tax burden. Improved quality of life: safe and quiet. Achieve Vision Zero and Complete Streets.

Benefits to car drivers

Eliminates congestion (fewer cars on road). More parking available. Less disruptive than "Complete Streets"

Benefits to riders of bikes, ebikes, etc

More bike lanes and pathways. Separated from pedestrians and cars

Benefits to pedestrians

Safer because bikes in separate lanes and fewer cars

Benefits to public transit riders

Convenient: no waiting, 24 hour, complete coverage. Podways are accessible and affordable to everyone

Benefits to Government

Privately-funded public transit system without using public funds or tax dollars. Less wear on roadway

Benefits to Environment

Less water runoff and water pollution. Lowers air pollution from transportation

Benefits to schools

Less expensive than buses. Much faster trips to school. Better safety and security. All hours

What is a Podway?

2-minute video: transitx.com/video
Automated vehicles run on elevated guideway
Provides car-like convenience without congestion, crashes, or carbon emissions.
Stops located at every block and parking lot
Good for the environment
Makes cities safe, quiet, green, and walkable.
Privately-funded (no public $$)

Podway safety

100% automated vehicles (pods) run on a separate, dedicated podway network
This type of system (PRT) has been proven to be thousands of times safer than roadways - and even safer than elevators.

"Are podways in operation?"

Yes, podways are PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) and the first PRT system has been operating for nearly 50 years. The lead engineering firm, Capgemini, is the largest engineering services company in the world and they have designed, built, and operated dozens of these types of systems. A comparison between PRT and Podways is available.