Flat earth theories among engineers
It's time to educate the industry out of some common practices.
Imagine your neighbor with advanced degrees saying this to a child:
We can’t see the eclipse from here because the earth is flat. Scientists don’t know why. They just don’t.
Now imagine the same neighbor saying this:
We can't build protected bike lanes on arterials. Engineers don't know why. They just can't.
That’s exactly what’s happening. Highly schooled people with impressive degrees and certifications routinely “pfft” away the idea of something like protected bicycle infrastructure. The industry has a pile of common practices that should be filed with flat earth and fake moon landing.
I know there’s hope, because people are capable of solving problems. But too often we (in any context) get stuck in the rut of following rules and process instead of thinking about whether or not it’s time to abandon a process.
Unless you’re a solopreneur, you’re going to need some reference material to reassure your colleagues that human-scale design is in fact legal. Here’s a list to get you started:
Flexible Design is Key to Improving System Performance (FHWA)
Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares (ITE/CNU)
Designing Streets for Kids (Global Designing Cities Initiative)
Urban Bikeway Design Guide (NACTO)