Billboards, business signs, school zone signs, street-name signs, for-sale signs, vote-for-me signs, no-dumping-here signs — speed zone ahead, speed limit, pavement narrows, open trench, caution, intersection ahead, right turn only, no stopping or standing, stop! — when are there too many signs?
 
England uses far less traffic signs than America and they use more on-road indicators, under the assumption that it is safer to keep your eyes on the road, or so says John Staddon in a recent article, Your Divided Attention, printed in the Dallas Morning News. "I began to think that the American system of traffic control, with its many signs and stops, and with its specific rules tailored to every bend in the road, has had the unintended consequence of causing more accidents than it prevents."
 

Left to right: (a) the buildings and urban edge of a street help to form the place; (b) the kerb line can be used to reinforce this; and (c) the remaining carriageway space is tracked for movement and for the provision of places where people may park their vehicles. Source: Manual for Streets (U.K.)

Refuge islands can be used at mid-block locations, channelized right turns, or at long intersection crossings. Source: ITE's Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities and Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc.

The gateway to a neighboring city has signs lining both sides of a four-lane, divided, no-access road. Except for the missing shoulders, this road could be any 70-mph stretch of roadway in America yet it is posted as only 40 mph. Unfortunately, the speed limit sign is behind the tree on the right. Only by not paying attention to the roadway and other signs would a driver have a chance of spotting it.

With less signs, he says, "Detailed statistics show that as of 2003, fatalities per mile traveled were 36 percent greater in the U.S. than they were in the U.K."
 
He continues, "Attending to a sign competes with attending to the road. The more you look for signs, for police and at your speedometer, the less attentive you will be to traffic conditions."
 
Mr Staddon observes, "What matters most for road safety? The quality of the roads themselves? The engineering of the cars that travel them? The speed limit? The answer may be 'none of the above.'"
 
Not an engineer, instead Mr Staddon says he has studied adaptive behavior his whole professional life, and it is from that perspective that he offers his observations on safety and distractions.
 
However, what would a U.K. traffic engineer say? The Manual for Streets, prepared for the Department of Transport and Communities and Local Government, advocates emphasis on the geometric design, rather than the speed zones and stop signs we use. Studies found two primary factors influenced speeds: forward visibility and street width. The more forward visibility, the more a driver feels comfortable increasing his speed. Similarly, wide streets also invite faster driving. Now consider many of our neighborhood streets that are wide and straight and that draw complaints that people are driving too fast. It's only natural. Then set houses and other structures further from the street and remove on-street parking. Speeding gets much worse. It's an inefficient use of land and it brings tons of headaches.
 
On signing, the manual advises caution: "Some streets feature few, or no, signs or markings. This may be appropriate in lightly-trafficked environments. It reduces sign clutter and the relative lack of signing may encourage lower vehicle speeds." Later, "It is not appropriate to use smaller signs simply because the sign is informative rather than a warning or regulatory sign. If the sign is necessary, motorists need to be able to read it; signs are most effective when not used to excess. Designers should ensure that each sign is necessary."
 
Checking "Down Under," emerging guidelines are similar. In a publication of the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Livable Neighbourhoods, an objective of street design includes: "to enable roads and verges to perform their designated functions in the street network, recognising that streetscapes that are too wide encourage higher vehicle speeds; and to provide street geometry which is safe and appropriate to the street function."
 
Progress is being made in this country, too. The Institute of Transportation Engineers has prepared Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. CSS is "a process of balancing the competing needs of many stakeholders starting in the earliest stages of project development. It is also flexibility in the application of design controls, guidelines and standards to design a facility that is safe for all users regardless of the mode of travel they choose."
 
CSS brings stakeholders and affected parties into the design process early. When the Texas Department of Transportation started to design a new freeway along I-30 near downtown Fort Worth, CSS was used and resulted in the freeway being located further south, re-opening the old post office and other historic structures to downtown. The raised deck that was removed allowed the re-creation of Lancaster Ave, which is enjoying new development that would never have faced a freeway.
 
It is encouraging that American engineers and designers are working to build public streets that address the needs of users, but still missing are those basic observations from England and Australia about the importance of the geometric design. There are many good American design guidelines coming forward but it seems the street cross section has greater influence than the grid design.
 
American designers look to continue channeling you through town from A to B, while the English and Australian models empower you to guide yourself through.
 
The final point: we can do a much better job designing streets than we have in recent decades, whichever of the models above we choose to follow. Neighborhood streets deserve much more attention to provide safer travel for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians.
 
One way to spot the signs that we are improving our streets may be when we see less signs and more attention directed to the road.
 

In the mid-1990's, the Internet was growing astronomically and the expectations of what it would ultimately deliver were growing as rapidly. Chicago convinced itself that libraries would soon be extinct, replaced by instant access to books and research materials through people's personal computers. Funding dropped dramatically and the whole system immediately began to starve.
 

Katrissa Taylor used a computer to search for work last week at the South Garland Branch Library. 'Any time the economy is bad, people need their libraries more than ever,' said Claire Bausch, director of the library system. Source: DMN and MIKE STONE/Special Contributor

To its credit, by the early 2000's, Chicago realized its mistake and funding was restored at higher levels than before. New branches were constructed. The new branches had community meeting rooms, places were afterschool children could be tutored, and — the ultimate irony — lots of computers. Chicago had learned that instead of libraries being replaced by computers, people used libraries to access computers.
 
Chicago's libraries became more than a place to check-out books; they became community centers, places where people gathered, meetings were held.
 
I can no longer find the report I read that described this turnaround but I've discussed it with Claire Bausch, director of Garland's libraries. She is an adamant supporter of the central role libraries play in many residents' lives.
 
A recent front page article in the Dallas Morning News extols the crowds headed to North Texas libraries and featured front and center were Garland's libraries. A large photo showed rows of computers with patrons surfing the Internet. The computer has become an integral part of libraries. In Garland, the virtual walls of the library extend to the home where patrons can access electronic books, homework help, research sites, and much, much more (take a few moments to browse our library website). In sync with the growing electronic activities, Garland residents are borrowing more books than ever before.
 
On a cautionary note, the article also covers the budgeting concerns that exist across regional cities. With an extremely tight budget expected this year in Garland, most, if not all, departments will be impacted, including libraries. We'll need to be lean because it is our best defense for tight budgets expected for the next few years, but we must also be careful that we don't make the mistake that Chicago almost made in the 90's.
 

More are flocking to North Texas libraries

12:00 AM CDT on Monday, July 21, 2008
By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
bformby@dallasnews.com
 
Whether they're looking for work, taking online college courses or seeking affordable summer activities for their kids, North Texans are turning to one place in increasing numbers this year – the local library.
 

Computers are in demand at the South Garland Branch Library, with many looking for employment. Some patrons return to thank librarians when their search is successful. Source: DMN and MIKE STONE/Special Contributor

Not that area librarians are surprised.
 
"Any time the economy is bad, people need their libraries more than ever," said Claire Bausch, director of Garland's Nicholson Memorial Library System.
 
But the state of the economy doesn't affect just residents – it also influences city budgets to which library finances are tied.
 
"It's kind of ironic that we're increasing our numbers as our budgets are being cut," said Dona Weisman, a consultant for the North Texas Regional Library System.
 
* * *
 
Garland city officials are also looking at ways to cut their budget. Ms. Bausch said she couldn't comment on whether library funding was at risk. A budget official could not be reached for comment.
 
More …
 

I reported a couple weeks ago that trash rates would probably be increasing. No probably anymore. The Council approved the increased rates that will soon go into effect.
 
No one wants higher fees but the increase is a direct result of higher expenses related to fuel prices. It is a cost of doing business, as we are seeing in food prices and most other goods.
 

City of Garland News Release:

Increasing Fuel Costs Prompt City of Garland
Environmental Waste Services Rate Increase

Due to significant escalations in fuel cost, mid-year rate increases are required for residential and commercial solid waste collection customers. The disposal gate rate charged to non-Garland residents and commercial customers using the City’s landfill and Transfer Station will also be increased. The new rates take effect August 1, 2008.
 
New rates will be as follows:

• The current monthly residential sanitation rate of $16.25 will increase by $1.84 a month for a total monthly rate of $18.09.
   
• Commercial solid waste collection rates will increase by 10% based on the size(s) and type(s) of container(s) and the collection frequency
   
• Landfill disposal gate rates will increase by $5.00 per ton (non-Garland residents and commercial customers).
  • New rate for automatic dumping vehicles: $35.00 per ton
  • New rate for trucks and trailers that do not automatically dump: $52.50

   

• Transfer Station disposal gate rates will increase by $5.00 per ton (non-Garland residents and commercial customers).
  • New rate for automatic dumping vehicles: $52.50 per ton
  • New rate for vehicles that do not automatically dump: $78.75

The Dallas Morning News has posted an article online that addresses the number of reported rapes this year in Garland. The article does an exemplary job of explaining that reports are often not recent, are maybe years old. The article also does a good job of offering advice to victims from professionals and from Garland Police Dept's Public Information Officer Joe Harn.
 
Over the last six months, there were three such reports in District 1, one each in Jan, Feb, and Mar, but none since.
 

Garland rape reports up 139% so far this year

11:31 PM CDT on Friday, July 18, 2008
By WENDY HUNDLEY / The Dallas Morning News
whundley@dallasnews.com
 
Halfway through 2008, sexual assault reports in Garland are up 139 percent over the same period last year, but police officials aren't worried that assaults are the work of an elusive serial rapist.
 
Instead, many of the rape reports – there have been 43 through June compared with 18 at this point in 2007 – are old attacks and the victims are just now coming forward. Some of them date back to 2001 and 2002, and in the majority of cases this year, the victims knew their attacker.
 
Out of the 43 cases, 17 involve offenses at least a year old. Many of the victims are children, and most of the alleged attackers were family members or acquaintances.
 
Only three victims said they were attacked by strangers.
 
That's very typical, said Dr. Susan Clark, crisis response coordinator for Parkland Memorial Hospital's Victim Intervention/Rape Crisis Center.
 
"Stranger rapes are very rare," she said. Most rapes are committed by people the victims know, she said.
 
And Dr. Clark said she isn't surprised that some victims wait months, even years, before reporting a rape. "Most of our counseling is for historic ones," she said.
 
After a woman has been raped, she often wants to push the crime out of her mind, Dr. Clark said. But these dormant memories often come flooding back when she experiences a significant event in her life – a marriage or the birth of a child. That's when she finally seeks counseling and feels safe enough to report the crime.
 
As for this year's increase in Garland, Dr. Clark said one possible explanation for it is better outreach and education about the crime to the area's Spanish-speaking population. More than a quarter of Garland's population is Hispanic, according to the census estimates reported by the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
 
Officer Joe Harn, Garland police spokesman, said he understands why many sexual assault victims might be slow to come forward immediately after an attack. But he said there are good reasons to contact police as soon as possible.
 
If too much time elapses, evidence and details of the crime may be lost and it may be harder to locate the perpetrators, he said. Also, police can refer victims to counseling, he said.
 
"One of the reasons we like them to come forward early on is to get them help to deal with the trauma," Officer Harn said. "If they wait five or six years, they haven't dealt with it."
 
While Garland is seeing an uptick in reported rapes, that's not the case in some neighboring communities. Richardson reports a 45 percent drop from last year at the same time. In Dallas, rape cases are down almost 12 percent this year. Mesquite police are not seeing any fluctuation in the number of these crimes.
 
But Garland's experience may not be far off the mark.
 
In June, the crisis response team at Parkland hospital reported 78 sexual assaults and 81 domestic violence cases – a 26 percent increase over the same time period last year.
 
"We're seeing an increase in violence overall," Dr. Clark said. "We don't have hard numbers as far as where the people are coming from. We draw from across the area."
 
Dr. Clark also sees a link between the slumping economy and growing rates of domestic crimes. "As we see financial stresses increase," she said, "we also see a steep increase in domestic violence and sexual violence."
 

I posted yesterday about the Council's decision to not go forward with a cell phone ban in school zones. And I've posted updates on the progress of the issue as it was considered (links below).
 
Mayor Ron Jones said other cities were considering such a ban and asked the Public Safety Committee to review it. As the chair, we did review it with Chief Mitch Bates and other Police Dept personnel. We were unable to find a single report anywhere of someone hitting a pedestrian in a school zone while on a cell phone. There were numerous reports of accidents in school zones being reported by cell phone owners.
 

Work session testimony by Police Dept

The Chief also reported that in Garland since 2005, there were maybe eight cases where a cell phone was suspected of contributing to an accident.
 
The Committee recommended to Council that no action be taken at this time. Everyone on the Council seemed to accept that recommendation.
 
Then Mayor Jones said he had received citizen requests, so he scheduled the item for a work session. Comments were made but no action was suggested by anyone. There did not appear to be support for ineffective but emotionally-directed ordinances.
 
Then the Mayor chose to have a public hearing. Only three people spoke: one for a ban, one against all cell phone use while driving, and one against. Speakers were questioned and Council members made comments, but no action was suggested.
 
Then in a surprise move, Mayor Jones asked the City Attorney to draft an ordinance and he placed it on last night's agenda. Two of the same people spoke again. When no other speakers were present for the item, in a space of about five seconds, he noted that no Council member had indicated a desire to speak and he moved on to the next item. I think reluctance to jump in and repeat all the previous comments once again, to recap at least two opinion pieces by Council members in the media, and several news articles and editorials, was not an attractive option when no one had expressed support for the proposal or advocated having another public hearing.
 
Over 25,000 people live in District 1. I heard from almost no one on this subject even though I've been very forward on reporting about it and about my concerns with the inappropriateness of a ban that addresses only a fraction of the possible distractions — and then carves down that one distraction to only those drivers that use the phone as a handheld, exempting hands-free and text-messaging. I also posted on my preference that we use proactive ways to protect our children from all distractions, which I think we are doing well presently, but I've suggested ways we can do more. No one has asked to explore those suggestions.
 
I have heard from a few people on the item that live in Garland and virtually all were opposed to the idea, with one even suggesting it was a plot to raise money for the budget.
 
I had expected to let this sleeping dog slumber but an article, currently posted online, will apparently appear in Thursday's Dallas Morning News, probably the Metro section. I was actually surprised to hear Mayor Jones express such strong sentiments about the ban because he did not express those same feelings to the Council during any of the times the item was discussed.
 
I'm also surprised that Mayor Jones, as reported, disparages the Council's actions. It is incumbent on all Council members to respect the actions by other Council members, whether we agree or not. Like in District 1, those other members sit as the representative of over 25,000 people. To disparage a member is to disparage those that selected the representative, the citizens we swore to serve.
 
I feel the Council showed a great deal of maturity and principle not acting on the ban at this time. Even though the DMN article lists other cities that have enacted bans recently, there are over 100 cities and towns nearby in North Texas. The vast majority have chosen to not enact such a ban. Enacting the ban just because others have invites the fate lemmings too often share.
 
I'll admit this for the record: I have no herd in me. I think the Council has demonstrated time and again that each member is an independent thinker that reports only to his or her constituents. You see friends on this Council but you don't see blocs. Having the principles and fortitude to resist passing "feel good" ordinances bodes well for Garland, that this Council will do the hard work and make the hard decisions so we can accomplish the work that we were elected to do.
 
The Council not reacting to this "hot potato" demonstrates leadership and I am anything but disappointed.
 

Garland steers clear of a cellphone ban in school zones

09:02 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
By FRANK TREJO / The Dallas Morning News
ftrejo@dallasnews.com
 
Garland isn’t jumping on the bandwagon to ban the use of handheld cellphones by drivers in school zones.
 
City Council members Tuesday night took no action on a measure brought to them by Mayor Ronald Jones, effectively killing the proposal for now.
 
“I was surprised and disappointed that eight people on the council chose to not even debate it,” Mr. Jones said, referring to the fact that no council member moved to vote on the issue. As mayor, Mr. Jones cannot make such a motion.
 
The failure to act on an agenda item was a rarity in Garland, he said.
 
The North Texas movement to ban the use of handheld cellphones in school zones began when Highland Park approved a measure in November, followed a month later by University Park. Officials in both cities stressed that the ordinances were aimed at improving public safety, though some critics noted that no major problems had been reported in school zones and that the laws did not address cellphone use in other parts of the cities.
 
Dallas and Duncanville approved similar laws in February, followed by Flower Mound in March, Highland Village in April, Rowlett in June, Wylie several weeks ago and Sachse last week.
 
Mr. Jones said he first brought the issue to the Garland council in April, when he referred it to the council’s public safety committee. He said numerous residents had expressed concern about the safety of children in school zones because of drivers distracted by use of handheld phones. And he noted that other area mayors also were looking into similar measures.
 
Last month, after the council discussed the matter in a work session and held a public hearing, Mr. Jones said that cellphone use in school zones was a major concern for him and that the best approach would be for all cities in the region to tackle the problem.
 
The mayor noted that the Garland school district also serves students in Rowlett and Sachse, cities that have approved bans.
 
But some Garland council members expressed reservations about how big a problem cellphone use in school zones was, and some questioned whether a ban only in school zones was the right way to deal with a distraction that happens on roads everywhere.
 
Council member Douglas Athas said it would be improper for the city to enact an ordinance to address a problem for which there is no documented proof.
 
“It was a preventative law at best, for something we apparently don’t have a problem with, which is cellphone users running over pedestrians in school zones,” he said.
 
Last month during a work session, Police Chief Mitch Bates told council members that in the last 2 1/2 years, the city had recorded eight traffic accidents in which cellphone use was a factor. None occurred in a school zone.
 
Mr. Athas also said the proposed cellphone ordinance would address only one of many possible distractions, from reading newspapers to putting on makeup while driving.
 
Fellow council member Rick Williams said last month that the proposed ordinance would address the problem only within school zones, and not outside them. He said the danger comes from drivers who are so distracted while using cellphones outside school zones that they speed through the zones without slowing down.
 
Mr. Jones expects the issue of cellphone use in school zones to come up again sometime.
 
“I think a future council, or maybe even this one, will approve such an ordinance,” he said. “It will happen one day. It just didn’t happen this time.”