This North America Transportation Prodigy is Inspired by Dutch Design (Podcast)
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- čas přidán 11. 04. 2024
- In this episode, I connect with Petru Sofio, a passionate young transportation prodigy who is currently a high school senior in Arlington, MA, a small Boston area community next to Cambridge and Somerville. We discuss why and how he got engaged in advocating for Dutch-inspired cycle network and intersection signal design. Petru demonstrates how anyone in the community can get involved, get educated, and help create a safer, more inviting environment for all ages and abilities.
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Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- Ep 224 feat. Megan Ramey: • See How Safer Routes a...
- Ep 217 Steffen Berr: • A look inside Dutch st...
- Steffen's article about Traffic Engineering in the USA vs The Netherlands: bit.ly/3xxWO8e
- My Ride with @BicycleDutch Part One: • Exploring 's-Hertogenb...
- My Ride with @BicycleDutch Part Two: • Exploring 's-Hertogenb...
- Cambridge Western Ave video: • Safer Street Designs I...
- @OntarioTrafficMan signal phasing video: • How to shorten red lig...
- Nearside Signals Video: • Near Side Signals: How...
- Ep 227 feat. Joshua Funches: • How to engage more you...
- Toole Design Group: tooledesign.com/
- Mobycon: mobycon.com/
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Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman
Music via Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/3rFLErD
Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: bit.ly/35DBDDU
For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
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Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.
Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."
The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.
Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.
Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2024
This budding traffic engineer holds promise for future bicycle transportation in the US!
He sure does, Humphrey. Hopefully this video can inspire more Petrus to emerge. Thank you so much for watching. Much appreciated. Cheers! John
@@ActiveTowns According to the latest reports, there is an increase of aprox. 45% fatal accidents of cyclists caused due to the electric bicycle. Many elderly people seem to have difficulty stopping in front of traffic and/or crosswalks. Have you taken note of that? Some traffic aroundabout are also being modified because they are not safe enough for cyclists. - sorry for my poor english I'm Dutch-.
@@humphreyterveer1338 Yeah, I've been hearing about the disturbing numbers over there. Here in North America much of the concern (even bordering on hysteria) is actually surrounding young teens using very powerful and fast throttle e-bikes that are more akin to electric motorcycles. It's great to see them on two wheels but they also are having a difficult time keeping them under control. Many cities/states are scrambling to pass laws to manage the emerging situation. Your English is way better than my Dutch so we're all good. hehe 😂
I wish Petrus all the luck in his work to implement the Dutch style of road design. He shows that he understands the concepts of safe roads. 👍🇳🇱
He certainly does! Thanks so very much for tuning in. Much appreciated. Cheers! John
Great interview! North American traffic engineering is definitely lucky to have Petru joining the effort to build safer streets and cities! It's also very cool to have found someone who is as nerdy about safe traffic signal operations as me!
Hehe, I knew you'd appreciate this one, and I was delighted that Petru brought up some of your work. I have profiled a couple of your videos in the video description below. I hope all is well. Look forward to connecting in person one day soon. Cheers! John
@@ActiveTowns I noticed the video links in the description, thanks! Yes, meeting up in person should be easier now that I'm living in Canada again
@@OntarioTrafficMan Hehe, although I'll be attending Velo-city in Ghent and hanging out in The Netherlands for the better part of a couple of months this summer. 🤣
Thrilled to see you connected with Petru. It was a pleasure meeting and working with Petru on street design and safety improvements in our neighborhood and seeing him grow these past four years. In memory of Charlie Proctor. Anne DiNoto
Thanks for watching, Anne. He is truly a bright light and y'all are lucky to have him in your area. Cheers! John
Good to see someone from the younger generation being passionate about the infrastructure. Keep going Petru. Thank you John!
You are quite welcome, Kees! Thanks so much for tuning in. Cheers! John
got one here! i'm 18 and have been advocating for better and more priority for cyclists in Ede, Gelderland, Netherlands.
even here in The Netherlands there's still a lack of total awareness and caring about cyclists especially in towns, cities are much better at prioritizing cyclists and people on their streets than towns.
@@miles5600 That's awesome! Yes, it's important to recognize that there's always work to be done. Thanks for stepping up to help make your community there in Ede safer and more inviting for all ages and abilities across all mobility modes. 🙌
Getting any bike lanes is the threshold that most drivers buck against. Once they are accepted, the kind of bike lanes is just a matter of talking a community into installing the best if you get bike lanes anyway.
I’m so glad to see Petru continuing with traffic planning and I’m so glad he is chasing some of the best designs.
He's a shining star to watch closely in the coming years for sure
I live right in the same général area and have biked on all the places Petru showcased, and it is all as described!
Inman Sq has become an absolute pleasure relative to its previous (and horrifying state) and I'm glad to be able to bike through some of these various and improved trails and lanes.
Thank you to the work you do Petru! I'm happy to do my small part of advocating nearby 😊
I look forward to a return visit. Sounds like a lot has changed since my explorations there in 2019. Thanks for watching. Cheers! John
I’m a letter carrier, which means I’m a professional pedestrian. But also have to deliver packages so that means I’m also a professional driver. And I also became a bike commuter last fall here in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I have about 80% of my ride with separated bike lanes. 10% shared pathways and 10% service road. There a couple of very risky intersections on my ride. But I’m impressed with how aggressive the city has been at implementing bike infrastructure in the past few years. In a province fuelled by oil this is pretty impressive. Without the protected lanes I would never have thought cycling to work would have been a safe option. The paths aren’t all connected yet, and some of the designs are not great. They are trying several different models. But it is pretty impressive progress in a short amount of time
Yes! I've been hearing some great things about Edmonton's progress, and I'm so happy to hear that you can commute by bike. Given your job, it seems as if you also have a keen understanding of what it means to create safe streets for everyone of all ages and abilities across all mobility modes. Thanks so much for tuning in and for sharing your perspective with us. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John
Wow! Would it be an over statement that Petru might be a prodigy? His passion, skills, maturity suggest a person wise beyond his years. He sounds ready to begin grad school.
I bet y'all could put him to work in the Denver metro area. Thanks for watching and commenting, Gary. Cheers! John
Gee. I wonder if Denver could afford Petru. We will probably get outbid by Boulder.
@@garyharty1902 Boulder could desperately use him as well. 🤣
In the NL motor vehicle drivers are also cyclists, and the other way round. People use the mode of transport most suitable for the trip. Every mode is considered normal and the infrastructure is designed for that. Someone in a car knows what it feels like riding a bicycle in traffic, and vice versa. It's just as annoying having to watch out for cyclists on a dangerous, open roadway, as it is for the cyclists not feeling safe and a target for anger. There is a lot more mutual respect between the different road users in the NL because of these insights. It is an enormous benefit for everyone that the infrastructure is designed to fit every mode of transportation according to the purpose of the area. Very active planning is required instead of being considered an enormous irritation, which is such a shame and waste of opportunity to promote a healthier lifestyle and a more dynamic community.
Yes, very well said. Thanks so much for watching and for contributing to the conversation. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John
💯percent. 👏🚲🚵♀️
Fantastic podcast once again, John!
This one and the previous one about Utrecht are great, all are to be honest!.
You also do a great job giving abundant video resource links in the descriptions.
I'll drop a line to my city hall about Petru, to tell them about him and ask if they can maybe invite him or something for an international exchange summer internship or at least to make contact, as such a dedication and will must be commanded.
I'm just a basic citizen, so my voice won't have much wait, but I've heard that they have some sort of exchange program or international internship program as part of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (of which Mayor Hildalgo was the head from 2016 to 2019) and other proactive engagements in the urban renewal geared towards people.
Enjoy your weekend,
Greetings from Paris.
Thank you so much! That would be amazing. I'll be meeting up with Professor Billy Fields (I've had him on the Channel a couple of times) in Paris the weekend following the Velo-city Conference in Ghent. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Cheers! John
From Minecraft to Strategy Games to City Builders to Real City Design. When it comes to world design, I have a good feeling about today's youth.
I hear ya. Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John
So great to see him with such knowledge and passion! Please come work in Florida! the infrastructure needs you! Jus this past month...they painted a bike on the road on US 1 which is literally a highway....
I’m sure he’s going to be in high demand 😂
Always glad I support Active Towns...
Thanks, Preston! 😀
Wise beyond his years! 😀
Indeed! 😀
Route 16 summerville...Perfect place to start with a roundabout...😉
well done Petru...this is how you change a community....always sad an accident had to happen...here in the Netherlands too many of these kinds of accidents are the main reason it is designed the way it is ...🇳🇱
Yes! My thoughts exactly, as long as it is more along Dutch design standards versus the typical North American roundabout which prioritizes motor vehicle throughput over the safety of people walking and biking. Thanks so much for watching and for this contribution to the conversation. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John
Petru is a super star! ⭐️
He is indeed! Thanks for tuning in. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John
I like the idea of bike lanes a couple of inches below sidewalk level, to mark them as separate from pedestrian traffic. The edges would have 45 degree slopes on each side in case the rider misses.
The outer edge would discourage parked cars from encroaching on the bike lane. An issue I"m a little sensitive about.
Yep, this is a pretty sweet design.
One thing that needs to be taught to drivers is don't expect to get anywhere fast in an urban area.
Start your drive earlier.
Yep. For sure. Thanks for watching. Cheers! john
I can tell a lot of times when a driver is turning from a parking lot or whatever, they aren't looking both ways.
Oh, yeah.
Wonderful , very inspiring. Keep going.o
Thanks so much, Julie.😀
Stop signs and traffic signal lights they call them controlled intersections. Not having any signs or lights is called uncontrolled. I love uncontrolled.
In certain contexts, uncontrolled rocks
The kids are alright.
Indeed! Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John
Minute Man trail!
Yes indeed!😀
@@ActiveTowns Every time I'm back in that area it's wonderful to see the progress. We'll see how much longer I can take central Florida lol. Hope the good infra work continues, now to tackle housing.... 😅
@@seantroy3172 Oh yeah, ain't that the truth. Housing affordability is at a critical level there for sure. 😀
Right turn on red makes drivers careless. Right turn on red in application doesn't involve any stop. Turning right, stop, look, then turn. It needs to be banned.
No arguments here. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John
Green bike lanes it is!.
Hehe 🤣 Definitely there in the conflict zones. Thanks for tuning in. Cheers! John