traffic violence Archives - The Handbuilt City

The term “carbrain” is well-established in left-urbanist circles. According to one academic study, it’s actually a real thing– and, the authors of that study say, it threatens to undermine safety and sustainability as we think about the future of the built environment and the technology we use to move through it.

car truck and bicycle speed traffic fatalities

Cars Public Safety

July 24, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

It’s Time To Talk About Speed. No, Not The Adderall Shortage.

A society with 40,000 deaths each year from traffic violence can’t claim to be virtuous, progressive, or innovative– at least, not when we have plenty of proven solutions to reduce the rates of traffic fatalities.

Book Reviews Movements & Organizing Policy Public Safety

November 29, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

Book Review: Rise of the Warrior Cop, by Radley Balko

A new book looks at the militarization of police forces in the United States, how it costs taxpayers a staggering amount of money, threatens American democracy, and, above all else, doesn’t actually do much to reduce crime.

Cities & Urban Planning Public Safety Transit infrastructure

July 20, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

MSP: Seat Belt Use Drops To Lowest in 17 Years

The Michigan State Police released data from a study today that showed that fatalities are on the rise, while seatbelt usage is on the decline. We look at how this plays out across a few jurisdictions.

Infrastructure Public Safety Small Business Streetscaping

May 4, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

New Grand River Streetscaping: Safer, Slower, Greener

New streetscaping improvements have turned portions of Grand River Avenue, on Detroit’s West Side, from a street-level freeway into something more closely resembling a real city street that people might be able to safely hang out and shop on.

Public Safety Transit infrastructure

May 3, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

Morning Coffee, Detroit Traffic: The Post-COVID Craze Is About To Be Wild

Yesterday, Detroit was a whole traffic jam, as an increasingly vaccinated cross-section of, well, everyone, emerged from the cocoons of Michigan winter and lockdowns.

Policy Public Safety

April 23, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

Police Reform: Imagining New Roles For A Safer, More Functional Society

We expect police to respond to, well, everything. And they’re not suited for it. Rethinking policing in the United States will require us to figure out alternatives for who is responding to what issue.

Public Health Public Safety Transit infrastructure

April 19, 2021 Nat M. Zorach

Lethal Projectiles: Car Culture, Gun Violence, and Police Shootings

Matthew Lewis points out that departments of transportation and police departments are two of the least democratic institutions in American society right now– and are two of the biggest threats to public health.