Metrobus and pedestrian deaths

Metrobus plush toy
Originally uploaded by rllayman.

I'm very bothered by this, but don't believe there is enough information in any of the articles that I've read to be able to make the kind of statements I'm normally comfortable making. One needs to read the accident/accident reconstruction reports in order to really understand.

E.g., my sense is that the person got out of the car last night, without looking, and the bus was just about on top of her, and unable to stop in time.

The deaths on Pennsylvania Avenue NW? That intersection is very dark.

The biggest thing that bothers me about all of this is that such accidents are indicators of a need for change.

Just as I write that speed bumps and the like are under-adequate measures for traffic calming--instead, change the materials with which the streets are constructed--intersections such as ata Park Road and 16th Street NW or Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW likely need to be reconfigured to better balance the needs of pedestrians, transit, and through traffic.

Always pedestrians (and bicyclists) get the short end of the stick.