What is Daylighting? (And How This Intersection Adjustment Saves So Many Lives!)

Рет қаралды 15,321

Ай бұрын

I have been making Streetfilms about Daylighting for over 15 years. Around that time period Streefilms put together the first film ever on the topic: 2010's "Daylighting: Make Your Crosswalks Safer" (vimeo.com/12796910) featuring a number of prominent New Yorkers on the topic.
I have always tried to work in daylighting into everything I can. It just makes sense to not have cars parked all the way up to crosswalks (or in some cases right up until the intersection!). By eliminating cars being parked from the first 10 to 15 feet (in some places they use 20!) you create a safer environment for drivers to not only see peds & bicyclists but OTHER drivers.
During a meeting after I had assembled together a blog post for Open Plans on some of the work I had done over the years (www.openplans.org/blog/street...) we talked about coming up with a new version for 2024. And so the idea was born and we got a dozen folks to talk to us about daylighting and the really cool movement from NYC Community Boards now passing resolutions asking the Mayor & NYC DOT for #universaldaylighting!
Oh, and this video features prominently Emily Chingay who really made this video come alive with her enthusiasm and great script she penned! Enjoy and please circulate and use it wherever you can. Though it is NYC based, it provides a model for other cities & communities to make daylighting happen.

Пікірлер: 78

@Danutzz2010 27 күн бұрын

I love that Americans take their country back from the car industry. Go get them people!

@werecatOmega 28 күн бұрын

I have to peek around parked giant trucks all the time just to see if it's safe to cross. I don't want to think about what would happen if I leaned too close and a car sped by. Daylighting would make it so much safer!

@bruceclark7198 28 күн бұрын

Thank you, Mr Eckerson, for promoting this concept. It is literally a blind spot for cities across the country. These dangerous crossings should be an easy fix, and I am glad NYC is recognizing the problem and doing something about it.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 28 күн бұрын

Bruce, You are very welcome. Just keep watching and help spread the word. I have been making films about Daylighting (or at least making sure to squeeze in a mention) for 15 years. Things are moving along in NYC. But other cities are still far behind even us, and we need to get more serious. I gotta say I was worried this film wouldn't get much attention, but only 90 minutes in, it is already doing about 2x usual average. I think it will be well spread around too!

@Zedprice 27 күн бұрын

But are people's lives REALLY more important than my ability to store 2 tons of my personal property on public land?

@StreetfilmsCommunity 27 күн бұрын

I always love these creative replies. Thank you! LOL! I had a character in a fun video we did way back who basically claimed the same.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 28 күн бұрын

So many nice visuals in this film from NYC. They need to do LOTS more, but they are making a game effort to make them and put obstacles (like planters and granite slabs) in them.

@connorparadis4804 27 күн бұрын

Great video! Absolutely a no-brainer for NYC. The argument that it “takes away parking” is ridiculous. With a bike rack, 5+ people can park their bicycle in the space that a single car can fit, therefore actually ADDING parking spaces for more efficient vehicles.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 27 күн бұрын

Also important is to create loading zones in this time and age where deliveries are such a high percentage of car traffic.

@tcolbert1962 27 күн бұрын

people who complain about parking being taking away should honestly consider moving to Wyoming or Kansas

@mindstalk 25 күн бұрын

@@StreetfilmsCommunity Wouldn't a delivery truck stopped at the corner wipe out the daylighting?

@owlyus 25 күн бұрын

Atlanta needs these

@qazatqazah 24 күн бұрын

That makes so much sense to me (a Dutchman). Single lane crossings, keeping drivers' sightlines open and reducing the distance pedestrians have to cross are all no-nonsense measures. Well done so far, and good luck with all that still needs to be done.

@timisaacson5509 26 күн бұрын

Yes, more safe streets!

@Dave-my1we 27 күн бұрын

Good to see that we can actually learn from the Extension in Barcelona which was designed 150 years ago with clipped building corners.

@cobaltblue42 27 күн бұрын

Awesome video, I was very confused at first, since the term "Daylighting" is usually used to describe the process of taking streams/creeks/rivers which are buried in culverts under cities and "daylighting" them so they have more natural channels and are exposed to air and can have riparian zones again. It's incredibly beneficial to urban ecosystems and water quality. But this civic/urban design form of "Daylighting" makes sense too, it's just for people instead of fish! : ) It might be worth mentioning in the video or video description that the term Daylighting has other common uses that are also very beneficial to cities and the environment? Just so people don't get confused and think this is the only type of 'Daylighting" out there. Regardless, great job!!! This practice needs to be implemented in a lot more cities across the US!!!

@StreetfilmsCommunity 27 күн бұрын

Indeed. Daylighting has meant both things for a while now. When I started making films and including daylighting in them, that was 2010 and the term - though not often used - had been around quite a while.

@cobaltblue42 27 күн бұрын

@@StreetfilmsCommunity Wow, I didn't realize the term was used in this way for so long. I've been doing stream restoration work since the 1990's and that's around the time I'd first heard of stream daylighting, kinda embarrassing to think it took me a decade and a half since 2010 to hear about this alternative type of daylighting. I absolutely love it though! I am definitely going to be advocating for this in my local communities in the Pacific Northwest! : )

@eugenetswong 27 күн бұрын

@@cobaltblue42 Don't be embarrassed. 🙂

@craigmerkey8518 23 күн бұрын

I love this! IDK how many times I cannot see to merge when driving! Even more frighting when I see people and their eyes are not on the road!

@bearcatfan24 24 күн бұрын

What a great video, we need this everywhere!

@StreetfilmsCommunity 24 күн бұрын

We do! Many places in the USA are starting to get it (some have always had it)

@simonwood1461 25 күн бұрын

Brilliant idea!

@JustinJamesJeep 27 күн бұрын

I hope this will move swiftly and you can all help to set an example for other cities to follow. I hope this catches on in Ontario ASAP!

@twgood5882 28 күн бұрын

Only some daylighting daylight designs maintain space for cyclists through the intersection, allowing passing with 1.5+ meters of clearance. Other designs create chokepoints. pushing cyclists onto curbs or under the wheels of adjacent automobiles.

@dutchman7623 28 күн бұрын

Correct! They have seen a nice idea, and try to copy it, without knowing how it works. Time to get real street designers over to the US. This is messy!

@epicnamepwns1242 26 күн бұрын

I think that's partly the result of the well-intentioned but clearly flawed supposition that bicycles are vehicles. Yes, cyclists are just as entitled to travel publicly as drivers but it's negligent to abandon them to the risks of vehicular traffic and pretend that a bicycle is an equal hazard to pedestrians.

@dutchman7623 25 күн бұрын

@@epicnamepwns1242 If every street would have train tracks and you could buy a locomotive to commute, car drivers would soon be on their knees to ask for separate lanes. Safety lies in separation of modes. Pedestrians, bicycle users, and car drivers need their own operating space. Especially in potential conflict zones (crossings). So squeezing the street at those areas is bad, unless separate lanes for each are provided.

@BaiZhijie 28 күн бұрын

Great video Clarence! Everyone should see it!

@StreetfilmsCommunity 28 күн бұрын

Thanks my friend. I am so glad people are already tuning in to it!

@realityblooms 27 күн бұрын

It’s so easy yet so effective

@sarahrose9944 25 күн бұрын

This video is fantastic!! I love the variety of perspectives.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 25 күн бұрын

Sarah, thanks so much for watching. I actually got a little annoyed after I finalized it and realized there were a number of favorite daylighting shots I did on another day I forgot to load up. Oh well, there is always the SEQUEL!!

@bruce8443 28 күн бұрын

fantastic video

@lovewenwin 25 күн бұрын

Thank you for the video 🙏🏼

@StreetfilmsCommunity 25 күн бұрын

You are most certainly welcome. I hope it brings about change for many communities.

@NickCronDeVico 26 күн бұрын

Great video. Need more of this in LA too!

@francikaa1 27 күн бұрын

4:14 British (UK reg) van life people in the converted VW Crafter/Merc Sprinter.

@ttopero 27 күн бұрын

This concept & tool is important to have & use. Knowing how & where to use it though is important as blanket policies are typically ineffective in creating the environment we desire. For example, in Denver we have a standard 20’ setback from the radius of the curb curve, but unless the street is narrow enough to slow cars down, it’s still not enough to see fast moving cars without pulling into the intersection & blocking pedestrian & ‪bicyclist‬ spaces. Also the way drivers have been programmed to blast through the pedestrian crossing areas, far beyond the stop sign, creates a conflict situation that daylighting only partially resolves. Unless we get drivers to stop BEFORE the pedestrian crossing, THEN SLOWLY proceed up to the intersection to check clearance, we’re still going to have many unreported near misses & uncomfortable spaces.

@connorparadis4804 27 күн бұрын

Fair point, but a near miss is a lot better than a hit. We have to start somewhere.

@cmmartti 26 күн бұрын

Near-side traffic signals would help a lot.

@ttopero 24 күн бұрын

@@cmmartti I’d love to see a video showcasing where they exist, especially in the U.S. I’ve seen them in California for left turns but in addition to far ones, not in lieu. I don’t know of ANYWHERE that allows exclusively near signals‪❓❔‬

@cmmartti 24 күн бұрын

@@ttopero Near-side signals are standard in most of the world. In North America it is common to have repeater signals on the near-side in certain situations (left turn lanes, corners), but usually they are only at the far side. Canmore, Alberta has one recently rebuilt intersection with near-side signals, as well as protected bicycle paths and crosswalks. There's a video about it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aNiUidZ83LbanZc.html

@WhereWeRoll 25 күн бұрын

NYS law requires intersection to be daylighted? We definitely don’t have that in Buffalo. 😢

@BrandtAbsolu 28 күн бұрын

What do you recommend for an intersection of two arterials controlled by a state DOT that doesn't care about the safety of vulnerable road users?

@WilliamAkins-rw2hv 26 күн бұрын

Great for pedestrian safety but it also makes side streets inaccessible to larger delivery trucks. Businesses, especially groceries and restaurants, may find deliveries harder or more expensive to get.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 26 күн бұрын

But that is why they should be paired with Delivery Zones or 7am to 7pm Neighborhood dropoff zones. They actually have done many of them along the 34th Avenue Open Street (where about 25% of this video was shot) and it has helped with deliveries. We actually need more, but a good start!

@mariusfacktor3597 28 күн бұрын

Great video! It's messed up that this concept needs to be publicized to the public instead of the street designers just implementing it by default. American "traffic engineers" are totally incompetent. Their design standards are terribly outdated. Entire DOTs need to be laid off and hired fresh. We have people who have been designing streets for decades who don't have the slightest education on street design. Why is it like this.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 28 күн бұрын

I like your message. Some cities do need to purge much of their staff. NYC is trying, and have said they are going to try to do daylighting at 1,000 intersections per year - which is definitely not nothing. But even at that rate...20+ years to get them all.

@odess4sd4d 28 күн бұрын

I'm an incompetent DOT engineer. I was trying to learn but guess I'll standby for the purge.

@mariusfacktor3597 28 күн бұрын

@@StreetfilmsCommunity That's for the reply! NYC is definitely one of the better ones. Still a lot of work ahead though.

@mariusfacktor3597 28 күн бұрын

@@odess4sd4d I'm an engineer in a different field. I don't expect the general public to learn about safety protocols for my field and teach it to me. I took courses and studied the best system designs in order to be qualified to have my position. Why is traffic engineering any different? I'm sorry but if you're a DOT engineer working on streets and you just learned about daylighting now, somebody else should have had your position.

@odess4sd4d 28 күн бұрын

@@mariusfacktor3597 wow this is super depressing. But thanks for the honesty

@harlanerskine 24 күн бұрын

We need metal bollards and curbs that are a part of the daylight.

@chasekwas 27 күн бұрын

New New Amsterdam

@anastasia10017 20 күн бұрын

you have to admit that the street design in the boroughs is insane in the first place. it is no wonder pedestrians get killed and that there are car accidents.

@jetfan925 27 күн бұрын

Meanwhile in Chicago 2085.😢

@brooklynbri7572 26 күн бұрын

Not happening in behind Southern Brooklyn

@StreetfilmsCommunity 26 күн бұрын

It's coming. Lots more Community Boards are interested!

@bearcatfan24 24 күн бұрын

Where do you live!? I'd love to help you make it happen in S. BK.

@mungmungie 25 күн бұрын

The most obvious design flaws that I see here are: 1) the confusing amount of painted road markings. I really don't think all drivers will slow down because of the visual chaos. If the driving lanes are well defined spacially AND with sensible markings, the desired effect will be achieved; 2) missing the opportunity for areas of ative plantings. these can be defined by boulders, curbs, planter boxes and seating. There is a serious need for porous surfaces and native plant life in most cities.

@StreetfilmsCommunity 25 күн бұрын

Most of these places featured have really only gotten the daylighting treatments in the last year or so. Thus it is likely they'd still be deemed temporaty. Porous surfaces, bioswales and trees are definitely preferred but you could probably do price wise for 1 of those a dozen of what they have made here. So hopefully as the program expands and gets more popular future designs will be improved.

@wimahlers 25 күн бұрын

As a Dutch the term "daylighting" confuses me as much as the term "jaywalking". The former because, to my experience and knowledge, every intersection having cycle lanes or footpaths in The Netherlands is "daylighted". We simply have no special name for that. As to the latter, jaywalking, this simply does not exist. When you want or need to cross a suburban street you just cross whenever possible. Then again, none of the Dutch suburban roads have the ridiculous dangerous width of a landing strip that seems to be present in many American cities.

@mindstalk 25 күн бұрын

On the off chance that you want to geek out about US street widths, search for "Street Standards as Parking Policy: Rethinking the Provision of Residential Street Parking in American Suburbs"

@wimahlers 23 күн бұрын

@@mindstalk Downloaded this study. I have a look at it ... Thanks for the reference.

@mindstalk 23 күн бұрын

@@wimahlers oh, cool. There seem to actually be two versions, one longer and later then then other.

@wimahlers 23 күн бұрын

@@mindstalk The version I have is titled: chapter 9 Rethinking Residential On- Street Parking marc schlossberg and dave amos It is paged from page 181 to page 198. I only have chapter 9 and do not have nor know the other chapters.

@mindstalk 23 күн бұрын

@@wimahlers The one I read has Zhan Guo as the lead author, and with the exact title I gave. The longer one I haven't read yet is "AMENITY OR NECESSITY? STREET STANDARDS AS PARKING POLICY", same lead author, from the Mineta Transformation Institute. I'll give a link in my next commment, but I don't know if KZfaq will allow it.