Institute of Transportation Engineers Takes An In-Depth Look at Roundabouts

The Institite of Transportation Engineers' Journal published an in-depth look at roundabouts by Ken Sides, PE, who has built more than 20 roundabouts in the City of Clearwater.  You can find the article at this LINK.

Roundabout constructed next to a school in the City of Clearwater. 

Senators Rubio and Nelson Vote for Complete Streets

During "mark-up" of the Surface Transportation and Freight Policy Act last week in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) joined their colleagues in voting unanimously for an amendment offered by Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) to “ensure that the design of Federal surface transportation projects provides for the safe and adequate accommodation…of all users of the transportation network.”  This key language, promoted by proponents of "Complete Streets," should find its way into the Senate Transportation Bill.   Transportation for America explains:

Under this bill, USDOT will work with states to develop standards to ensure that any surface transportation project built with federal funds provides safe and adequate accommodation for all users. Senator Thune [(R-SD)] offered an amendment to this that would give states discretion as to what is safe and adequate. States have the option of developing their own standards which would then apply instead of the federal standards. This will help states have been leading the way on policies to improve street design.

Thank you, Senators, for looking out for your constituents, young and old.  

Republican Pro-Cycling Bills

Companion Republican pro-cyclist bills are making their way through the Florida legislature this year.  This from biking advocate Mike Lasche:

SB 390, sponsored by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach...would revise the much-reviled “mandatory lane law” which unnecessarily restricts cyclists from leaving the bike lane, even when safety dictates it. With Bogdanoff’s bill, cyclists would be allowed to leave the bike lane if a potential conflict existed. ....  Similar language to SB 390 is included in HB 4017, sponsored by Rep. Ritch Workman, R- Melbourne and SB 1122, a Transportation Committee bill.

Both bills passed the Transportation Committee and were referred to the Budget Committee. This activity, preliminary to the Legislative Session, bodes well for eventual passage of the language in these bills.

UPDATE - MARCH 22, 2012 -- Mike Lasche advises that the Florida legislature passed the legislation which "allows the cyclist to leave the bike lane for any 'potential conflict.'”
It made sense to give cyclists flexibility to leave a bike lane if safety requires, as the video below illustrates: