“Federal safety regulators have known for years that SUVs, with their higher front-end profile, are at least twice as likely as cars to kill the walkers, joggers and children they hit, yet have done little to reduce deaths or publicize the danger.”
2. Best illustrated article (Natasha)This is the final article in a series that follows a bracket of reader-submitted, sorry-looking bus stops. I enjoy making brackets when I make decisions or when I’m learning about new things (example: I made a state flags bracket…anyone else have weird hobbies?) The fun and utility of brackets has to do with the opportunity to directly compare your options and playfully discuss the pros and cons. The really cool thing about this series is that it actually motivated cities to take action on some of the “sorry” bus stops. Who knew brackets could bring about infrastructure change?
6. Best opinion piece—and favorite title (Emiko)
“Road diet deniers akin to anti-vaxxers” by David Azevedo (Pasadena Star-News)
Ok, I admit that I first read this article for the title. But after a chuckle, I started to dig into this great opinion piece out from the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition. It is hard on facts and high on persuasion. I loved this piece because the authors dig into how the fact shows that Complete Streets are better and safer for communities. But I love even more how they reframe road diets as “speed diets,” pointing out speed kills.
“Uninformed opinions, like the flu, can kill…Speed kills. If you argue against that, you’re arguing against physics.”
7. Best collection of short stories (Natasha)
Right of Way by Andrew Wingfield
This collection of short stories revolves around a neighborhood outside of Washington, DC that is going through gentrification and displacement. Since coming to the Coalition, I have been learning more and more about the intersection of community planning and the challenges of displacement, so reading these intimate, human stories was a refreshing complement to that. In the office, we are discussing the ways that we can adjust to preserve communities. I say “discussing” because this is something we don’t have an answer for, and it is going to be a continuing conversation in 2019 and beyond.
8. Most tweet-able article (Mae)
“Safe streets are the best tool we have to combat climate change” by Alissa Walker (Curbed)