For the Children

I came upon this site through the BOB list and it harkened back to a discussion I had with Sarah about air quality and cigarette smoking versus auto exhaust.

Mission to adopt road diet

According to a KCStar article:

A Mission task force has given the tentative green light to a narrower Johnson Drive.

The mayor-appointed task force had reached a deadlock about whether Johnson Drive should remain a four-lane thoroughfare or be narrowed to two lanes with a dedicated turn lane. Several consultants have suggested the city transform Johnson Drive into a more pedestrian-friendly district with wider sidewalks.

But the three-lane approach was able to gain a majority on Wednesday when hesitant members learned about potential to make the change temporary at first by simply re-striping the road.

Jake Clough Foundation promotes helmets

KCStar:

Jake Clough always wore his bicycle helmet, his aunt, Molly O’Connor said.

Although the Fairway boy died from complications in the weeks following a February 2005 bike wreck, the helmet ensured he was protected from the initial impact, she said.

Jake’s family had that in mind when they created the Jake Clough Headstrong Foundation, dedicated to promoting bike safety for youth.

“It’s extremely important to us,” O’Connor said. “We know that the helmet saved Jake’s life that day, no question about it.”

More info on the foundation's web site.

1 in 36 drivers drunk on Ward Parkway

According to an entry on the KC Crime Scene blog, at a recent police checkpoint on Ward Parkway, 1 in 36 drivers (16 out of 585 or 2.7%) were drunk.

And we wonder why our roadway injury rate is high?