 |
|
Update on Raquel Nelson: 2nd Trial on Hold
|
The conviction of Raquel Nelson, a mother whose four year old son was killed as they attempted to cross from a bus stop to their home, of vehicular homicide and other charges sparked national outrage. At a hearing after the trial, Judge Kathryn Tanksley sentenced Nelson to community service and a year of probation. She also offered Nelson the option of a second trial, which Nelson accepted a few days later.
In August, attorney Steve Sadow filed a motion to nullify all charges on due process grounds and a plea requesting a hearing to challenge the sufficiency of evidence at the first trial. At the hearing, the judge dropped the charge convicting Nelson of reckless conduct, but allowed the other challenges to stand. Sadow, who is working pro bono for Nelson, appealed the ruling. The second trial, which was scheduled for November 28, is on hold. This case raises two important issues. How could Cobb County locate a bus stop a third of a mile from the nearest crosswalk and not expect people to cross outside a crosswalk? And why is the County wasting money trying to convict grieving mothers instead of installing safe crossings?
|
|
Safe Routes to Transit Initiative
|
During the summer, PEDS President Sally Flocks used Cobb Community Transit to travel back and forth to Marietta to observe Raquel Nelson's trial and hearings. Doing so raised her awareness of the need for better regional guidelines on bus stop location and crossing facilities near bus stops.
 At the Marietta [bus] Transfer Center, for example, fences block access to the street for over 1/4 mile. Victory Drive, which is unsignalized, intersects Marietta Parkway between the two signalized intersections, which means it's legal for pedestrians to cross anywhere they want. Yet instead of installing HAWK signals or other devices that make it safe to access the shopping center and government building on the other side, engineers installed "no pedestrians" signs to discourage people from attempting to cross the five-lane street.
T hanks to a $25,000 grant from Kaiser-Permanente, PEDS is stepping up our efforts to create safer pedestrian access to transit.
In the year ahead, PEDS' Safe Routes to Transit Initiative will increase transportation professionals' knowledge about pedestrian behavior and about engineering changes that increase safety. The project will also facilitate collaboration among transit agencies and transportation engineers and planners that results in better guidelines on bus stop location and installation of crossing improvements. We expect these guidelines to prompt state and regional agencies to increase their commitment to fund and install safe crossing facilities at bus stops.
Andy McBurney, a Georgia Tech graduate student who conducted several Pedestrian Road Safety Audits for us this year, is helping us kick off this project by researching best practices for bus stop location and access and by gathering information about local guidelines and practices.
We're also looking for a part-time Project Manager to organize trainings, participate in focus group and task force meetings, and help prepare reports. Please spread the word if you think this job description would be a good fit for others you know.
|
|
PEDS' Golden Shoe: Who's wearing them now?
|
At our recent Golden Shoe Awards Celebration, PEDS recognized people, projects and places that are making communities in metro Atlanta safer and more enjoyable places to walk. The annual event provides a terrific opportunity to demonstrate the wide variety of issues involved in creating a pedestrian-friendly environment.
PEDS thanks Perkins+Will for hosting the event and DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon, right, for serving as Master of Ceremonies.
We recognized Transportation for America Communications Director David Goldberg, left, for drawing national media attention to Raquel Nelson's trial and the relationship between road design and pedestrian risk. Learn about other awardees and see photos from the event here.
|
|
Membership Matters
| We, at PEDS are grateful to our members - for your financial support, your confidence in our work, and for championing pedestrian safety and access in neighborhoods throughout metro Atlanta.
Not yet a member of PEDS? Join today and add your voice to the hundreds of metro Atlantans who support our efforts to increase pedestrian safety and access in the region.
|
 Help make metro Atlanta walkable!
  
PEDS is a member-based advocacy group dedicated to making metro Atlanta safe and accessible for all pedestrians. 404-685-8722 peds.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
