What are streets 4

Reading with interest Peter D. Nortons book:

The dawn of the Motor age in the American city.

4 pedestrians fights

In 1920 there were already movements representing the interests and rights of pedestrians:
Book reading:City Streets, like city parks where public spaces and people on foot, including children at play, had a rightful claim to street space.

At those times there were few cars in the Streets and "when motorists first intruded upon city Streets, annoyed pedestrians found epithets for the more aggressive ones. Some called them "joy riders", others "speed Maniacs". Both Terms connoted irresponsibility and reckless disregard for the rights and safety of other street users."

After World War I, the scale of death on Streets in America grew fast. In the first four years after Armistice Day more Americans were killed in automobile "accidents" than had died in the battle in France. In 1925 in the US, cars and trucks killed about 7.000 Children- about one-third of the total Motor death toll.

"Automobiles were newcomers that moved few people at heavy cost to street capacity."

Fighting traffic: Aren´t we trying today to get again a shift away from motorised traffic in our towns, towards a living, healthy city and more active mobility, like Walking and Cycling.

4 Innocent victims

Another text reminds me the "no Liability law" we saw introduced in some EU countries ( France, loi Badinter 1990, Belgium, Luxemburg ) which means that vulnerable road users cannot be hold responsible when hit by a motorised Vehicle and it is the responsibility of the driver (or his insurance Company)

1920 New York Times: "claimed that pedestrians rights to the Streets were so extensive that as a matter of both law and morals they are under no obligation to exercise all possible care. The greater share of responsibility lay with the motorist.

Campaign "Be visible" in Luxemburg: Pedestrians Reflect :-(

Instead of urging parents to keep their children out of the Streets, a Philadelphia Judge attacked motorists for usurping children’s rights to them.

I always wonder when our neighbors children are playing outside in our street and a car is approaching their parents cry: "pay attention a car."

At those times it was the contrary: motorists pay attention, there are Children out there.

An automobile is a dangerous weapon (1925) Still true today (if no responsible/respectfull driving)

Not 4 SUV´s

Another sentence reminds me also on the SUV discussion today, should they be allowed in city center Streets?
It was observed by the New York Court of Appeals (1913 !) that it was common knowledge that the great size and weight of automobiles could make them a most serious danger.

Those days there was also a demand of restriction of the cars in city Streets, the same many of us want today to have more livable cities and a better air quality.

Avoid & Shift: Instead of asking for MORE safe cars we need FEVER (safe) small cars in urban areas and prioritise public transport and sustainable active mobility.

No need 4 speed

To police at these times speed was the factor that made automotive traffic deadly.

Since most traffic fatalities were pedestrians struck by Motor vehicles, the safety problem, in this view, was not to make streets safe for motorists but to make them safe FROM motorists,

And a Philadelphia Judge declared: This mad desire for speed must be checked and I am going to do everything in my power to stop it.

After 100 years we will finally have ISA, Intelligent Speed Assistance ( in all new cars from 2022)

Funereal parades and public ceremonies of grief drew attention to the grim toll and spurred demands for mechanical limitations of car speeds (These times cars could not go faster than 10-15 mph

Average speed of a car in urban areas = 14 km/h

Speed alone makes the difference between life and death (1920) and as the resistance of the human body to cinetic forces is the same today so this is still true today even if there may be some other factors related to the design of the car, infrastructure, driving under influence or being distracted ( pedestrians included)