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Concrete planters for calming traffic removed after frequent collisions

https://bikeportland.org/2024/07/30/concrete-planters-for-calming-traffic-removed-after-frequent-collisions-388923

Some might think they worked as intended.

The gist is that Portland drivers couldn't stop hitting crucial safety infrastructure (proving its necessity) so PBOT gave up on it.

As one of the commenters pointed out: Since a pedestrian/bike fatality costs PBOT nothing and replacing a concrete planter a car has demolished costs them more than nothing, to balance the budget they're going to go with more pedestrian deaths.

26 comments

ingalls

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Frequent collisions show there needs to be more, not less.

protist

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It also shows that the layout of these calming devices was poorly designed. There are lots of ways to calm traffic without causing continual accidents

linkhidalgogato

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are they really accidents if they are predictable

protist

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Yes, otherwise they'd call them intentions lol

No one's like "I'm going to ram into this giant concrete barrier now," they do it accidentally

Edit: I don't understand why this is so unpopular

NightAuthor

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No, they’re just like “let me check this text while I make this turn”

linkhidalgogato

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if u make shitty street designs, give driving licenses to people who shouldnt even operate a tricycle let alone a 2+ ton metal vehicle, let such people drive at reckless speed, sdont enforce traffic laws, and then put a concrete planter in the middle of the street that isnt an accident.

Intrama

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Learn how to drive. Jfc.

trk

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Imagine being so bad at driving that you can't avoid hitting a bright yellow concrete cylinder sitting in the middle of the road when you're doing 25kph.

lauha

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They should just replace it with steel planter so they have to replace it less often

tankplanker

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Just fit them with IEDs and gradually eliminate the problem drivers

NauticalNoodle

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TLDR; They didn't actually expect them to work. Every time they get hit, they move and they require a crane or forklift to put back into position.

Perhaps they should double the weight of them so they're less likely to move when struck.

TBi

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In the UK if you crash and cause damage to the road infrastructure then you need to pay to fix it. They should bring in that law in US…

n3m37h

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But that would impede their freedom to destroy stuff because of their terrible driving

Nastybutler

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Alternative: recycle old, large pipeline and pour concrete between two different diameters of it. Should hold up better to being struck by idiots in vehicles

onlooker

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If drivers couldn't stop hitting the planters, then the planters aren't the problem. But hey, at least Portland is accomodating to maniac drivers.

femtech

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You need a real roundabout, not this half assed giant plat pot.

Jumi

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They just give everyone a license over there, don't they?

Ostrichgrif

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Quite literally yes. Without one it's incredibly difficult to live in most of the country.

Reddfugee42

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Everyone I know has to drive around a half an hour just to get to a job. It's a ten minute drive to the grocer. Public transportation is "just for the poors" and doesn't stop anywhere useful to most, and Ubers etc cost 6 hours minimum wage labor for a round trip.

almar_quigley

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We have a pretty decent transit system in pdx. Maybe not as good as some euro cities but you can live without a car and still do just fine. I did it for 5 years.

lurch

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They calmed the traffic alright though 🤣

BigBenis

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We really need a higher standard for possessing a drivers licenses if people can't be trusted not to hit large, stationary objects on the regular... All of the forced incentive to drive in this country has made it into something people take for granted. It's easy to forget you're operating heavy machinery capable of high speeds.

ArbitraryValue

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I'm not sure why the people who put these in didn't expect there to be lots of collisions. There's a reason why obstacles are generally not placed in the middle of the road...

pacmondo

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They're usually placed in such a way to prevent people turning far too sharply risking hitting someone in the oncoming lane, usually near the crosswalk. If people are having trouble with this they're having trouble with pedestrians too

ArbitraryValue

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I think I understand what you're getting at but your terminology is backwards - what you're describing is a wide turn. The obstacle is actually making people turn very sharply. Maybe my sense of scale is off, but the intersection in the picture looks it might even force some larger vehicles to make a three-point-turn.

Cethin

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From the look of these roads, there shouldn't be any vehicles so large they have to make a three-point-turn. If there are, then that's yet another indication these were needed.

5714

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Stopping with 30 kph puts a pressure of over a metric ton via the seat belt on your body for a short time.