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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · 16d

While road user education isn't the complete solution, providing basic safety knowledge to everyone starting at a young age will save lives. Dismissing education as a partial solution completely will not. The key, though, is it has to start early. PSAs to adults have little impact.

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · 16d

Posts like this constantly get negative reactions from pedestrian and cyclist advocates, but there is a lack of this basic knowledge among road users due to the lack of road user education in the US. Yes, drivers have the majority of responsibility, but everyone should be informed how to be safe.

NPR @npr.org · 16d

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

8 walking and biking safety tips that just might save your life

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

n.pr

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · 17d

I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with the folks of Kyle, TX. It's great to see another city see how roundabouts save lives and make communities a better place to live. #RoundaboutsWeek

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · 18d

#RoundaboutsWeek
Ronda is heading to Texas to help folks in the City of Kyle with an education campaign about their roundabouts!

Hear from Kyle's mayor, Travis Mitchell, on why Kyle chose to be a roundabouts-first community: youtu.be/j-Na_pbg59U

Mayor Mitchell talks roundabouts in Kyle, TX

YouTube video by Travis Mitchell

youtu.be

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Aug 28

A letter is not a law. FDOT, however, can ban artwork in the roadway as the MUTCD refers to states and local governments to regulate asphalt art. Banning artwork that provides a sense of community and has been found to slow traffic and increase safety, however, is not making people safer.

Ken McLeod @kenmcld.bsky.social · Aug 28

"Both the federal and Florida Departments of Transportation now prohibit asphalt art of any kind in streets, intersections, crosswalks and roadside sidewalks."

What did they cite for that @wgcunews.bsky.social?

www.wgcu.org/2025-08-26/s...

Sarasota sidewalk murals to be removed under state and federal DOT asphalt art ban

Last week, Fort Myers Mural Society Executive Director Shari Shifrin learned that the City of Sarasota is removing more than 200 hand-painted sidewalk panels that line Pineapple and Orange avenues in ...

www.wgcu.org

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Aug 20

Not only would a reduction in the top national speed limit make us safer, but it would also reduce overall US consumption of fuel, which would cause lower gas prices.

Families for Safe Streets @familiesforsafestreets.org · Aug 20

.@IIHS_autosafety estimates the U.S. could save 8,500 lives a year just by doing 3 things:

#1. Lowering top national speed limit to 65 mph
#2. Achieving 100% seat belt compliance
#3. Lowering DUI limit to .05% (from .08%)

www.iihs.org/news/detail/...

As Vision Zero hopes fade, a 5-year goal can help us reset

It’s time to get serious about reducing the toll of crashes. Let’s commit to cutting road fatalities 30% by 2030.

www.iihs.org

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Aug 14

I don't think I recall Pete saying anything negative about Elaine Chao while he was in his capacity as Secretary even though she was one of the least effective officials in the history of the Department under the first Trump administration. Pete OTOH has been the most effective to date.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 14

it wouldn't be a Sean Duffy interview unless he attacked Pete Buttigieg for "having a focus on DEI" and "climate crap"

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Reposted by Jonathan French

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · Jun 12

Day 4 at the @trb.org International Conference on #Roundabouts !

Ronda & @jtrea81.bsky.social made lots of national & international connections for @buildtheera.bsky.social . Donors, you helped make our presence possible, so once again, thank you!

www.instagram.com/reel/DKxuWp8...

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Reposted by Jonathan French

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · Jun 11

During a powerful and moving session about what Georgia DOT is doing to reach #VisionZero they challenged the conference participants to do more, especially in the education space, to save lives. It's a challenge we at Build The Era welcome, and must meet.

www.instagram.com/reel/DKvdXW2...

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Reposted by Jonathan French

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · Jun 10

Day 2 is in the books from the TRB conference in Atlanta! It was presentation day for #RondaLovesRoundabouts. Thanks once again to our donors for helping to make our attendance possible. Stay tuned for Day 3!

www.instagram.com/reel/DKsxfN3...

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Reposted by Jonathan French

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · Jun 8

At the TRB 7th International Conference on Roundabouts in Atlanta.Thank you to those who have donated to help get us here!

Looking forward to presenting with Ronda about her book tomorrow afternoon. Follow us for more updates! #roundabouts #rondalovesroundabouts

www.instagram.com/reel/DKp88ca...

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Jun 4

Such terrible news. These TRB committees did so much research to advance both safety and innovation in transportation. People will suffer and possibly be harmed because of the void of research that will occur.

Alex Karner @alexkarner.bsky.social · Jun 1

TRB is dissolving all committees. This wasn't unexpected, but they're couching it in a technocratic need to "get back to basics" and ease administrative burden when in fact it's a great big shit sandwich that we're all expected to eat and not make a fuss about.

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · May 27

While the Highway Trust Fund has been bailed out, there's still a possibility to implement mileage-based user fees to eventually replace gas tax revenues. Or the bailouts can continue. But ending or scaling surface transportation programs down and spending less is simply not an acceptable option.

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · May 27

Ending the surface transportation programs as we know them is a terrible idea because this Congress won't replace them and instead will try to kick everything back to the states. At least with federal programs, vulnerable road users are addressed in some way.

t4america.org/2025/05/22/t...

The highway trust fund isn’t on life support—it’s been dead since 2008 - Transportation For America

Our failing federal transportation program is supposed to be completely paid for with gas taxes, but since 2008, Congress has taken an additional $275 billion from taxpayers (on top of all gas taxes) ...

t4america.org

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · May 9

Promoting roundabout and road safety education to save lives is one of our core missions. I look forward to our opportunity in Atlanta and would greatly appreciate any contribution you could make to help us get there.

Build The Era LLC @buildtheera.bsky.social · May 9

We have an incredible opportunity to present Ronda & her book to an international audience of transportation professionals & educators - but we need a bit of financial help.

Trying to save lives - 1 book & 1 reader at a time. #roundabouts

Find out more at: buildtheera.com/fundraiser?f...

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · May 9

Europe has shown it is possible to significantly reduce road user deaths if it becomes a priority to do so, and steps are taken to actually implement a #SafeSystemApproach. #VisionZero

ETSC - European Transport Safety Council @etsc.eu · May 9

This Europe Day let's celebrate the incredible success story of road safety in the EU. Thanks in no small part to EU vehicle safety standards, road deaths have declined substantially over the last 25 years. Let's keep working together to turn all those bars green!

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 29

I'm pretty sure you have a much higher chance of being seriously injured or killed in a car crash commuting than you would riding on a subway. US roads are much more dangerous than the NY transit system.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Apr 29

Duffy: "She wants to take people off the road and she's taxing people to do it, raising money for the subway system in New York. But then, to put people in the subway -- the subway is dirty! There's violence. There's criminals. It's not safe ... By the way, I like freedom. Let me drive my car."

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 28

I'm ready to see Buck Britton. He's developed these guys in Bowie and Norfolk. If anybody can figure out how to get Adley, Gunnar and others from being untracked - it's him.

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 18

I wrote this op-ed almost three years ago for @enotrans.bsky.social and it still applies. We need universal road user education in the US, and funding it should be part of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

enotrans.org/article/gues...

Guest Op-Ed: America Needs to Invest in Universal Road User Education - The Eno Center for Transportation

March 25, 2022 - Road user education in the United States is most commonly thought of as driver education, but it is that word “driver” that automatically makes it inequitable and insufficient at the ...

enotrans.org

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 18

No, it does not because our driver education system is inequitable and inadequate and targets the wrong age group. The US instead needs to switch to road user education that covers usage for all modes, is freely available to all, and starts in early childhood.

streetsblogsf.bsky.social @streetsblogsf.bsky.social · Apr 18

Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer? - usa.streetsblog.org/2025/04/18/d...

Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer? — Streetsblog USA

States like Georgia are taking a critical look at their drivers education programs — but some say the whole concept of driver's ed deserves scrutiny.

usa.streetsblog.org

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 15

Harvard and other universities should move to revoke the degrees of any GOP graduates who continue to go along with these higher-ed fund freezes. Obviously, they aren't demonstrating competency of their studies and just through complicity - seeking to harm their alma mater.

MaTT FLaMMaBLe @mattflammable.bsky.social · Apr 15

Who is going to do something?

This is Kim Jong-Un shit.

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 11

We will have to earn our place in the world again, and part of that could and should include adopting the practices in countries that are far superior to ours.

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 11

The only thing potentially positive for the US after this destruction is the chance to remake our country better than what it was - in terms of health care, transportation, education, etc. But these next few years of watching it all crumble will be painful indeed because it has been our reality.

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Apr 4

Small and safe is better than "big and beautiful" when it comes to the US network of roads and streets.

Kea Wilson @keawilson.bsky.social · Apr 4

The fact that this bullshit was buried on page 54 of a 70+ page government document, and that reams of government-funded research about why road diets are essential to saving lives were recently erased, tells you everything you need to know about how accountable this administration is to the public.

US DOT Doesn't Want to Fund Road Diets Anymore — Streetsblog USA

The feds say they will look "unfavorably" on applications that reduce lane capacity for vehicles – even in urban areas where speeds kill.

usa.streetsblog.org

Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Mar 31

A key difference from the prior NOFOs - Projects with lane capacity reduction are now being looked at less favorably by USDOT.

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Jonathan French @jtrea81.bsky.social · Mar 22

Even my rep in Congress, Jared Golden, who is as bluedog, center-right as they come, is helping to re-introduce the PRO Act to strengthen organized labor and worker rights. Democrats have their follies, but they have never abandoned the working class in my lifetime.

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