The story is more personally covered over on Homergrown Evolution in a blog post entitled "City Repair LA".
To keep the spirit of this improvement alive, I'll offer up this web-page, written by Michael Wright and Dom Nozzi for the City of West Palm Beach, Florida, "Sustainable, Unbiased Transportation Terminology" (hat tip to "How We Drive"):
"Much of the current transportation language was developed in the 1950's and 1960's. This was the golden age of automobiles and accommodating them was a major priority in society. Times have changed, especially in urban areas where creating a balanced, equitable, and sustainable transportation system is the new priority. The transportation language has not evolved at the same pace as the changing priorities; much of it still carries a pro-automobile bias. Continued use of biased language is not in keeping with the goal of addressing transportation issues in an objective way in the City."
What sort of biased language is no longer used in West Palm Beach (but still alive and well in even the LA Bike Plan)?:
"Biased --
The following street improvements are recommended.
The intersection improvement will cost $5,000.00.
The motor vehicle capacity will be improved.
Objective--
The following street modifications are recommended.
The right turn channel will cost $5,000,00.
The motor vehicle capacity will be changed."
So, even the word "improved" needs to be worked on here in L.A.! Let's hope that along with the streets, we're able to re-take our language as well.
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1 comments:
It's not just transportation - all the concrete we see was "Los Angeles River Improvements"
(and though Erik's story is better written, and Damien's is read more broadly, how about some link love to the Eco-Village blog coverage which I wrote which has the most pictures: http://laecovillage.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/intersection-repair-event-12-june-2009/ )
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