R2R MiniAwards!... Rossella 12th winner!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Rossella for identifying a new high risk site. You may remember that Rossella was unfortunate because she did identify one dangerous intersection initially but works started there to improve the safety after a few weeks without her intervening (the authorities had had the same idea as Rossella!)…

Rossella’s new site is a junction in the heart of Brescia that is particularly dangerous because there is a lot of congestion there. Rossella would like to convince the responsible authorities to change the traffic light phasing there as she thinks this will improve the traffic flow. We wish you the best of luck!

R2R MiniAwards!... Beata11th winner!!!

Nice to hear from Poland...congratulations to Beata for her progress! It's a good thing that you took your time if it works out better for you in the end. I really hope that you can be instrumental in helping the local authorities to choose the best solution to fix this dangerous road (I had a look at the pictures...very spooky indeed!!).

For those of you who didn't have a look at Beata's site just click on the title of beata's previous post and zoom in on the picture to see more details.

All the best,

Gabriel

Some action in Gdansk

Dear all,

I have chosen my black spot site, but kept it a secret for a WHILE... First I went to talk at the University and whey gave me some useful data (but not so new, I will try to search the latest one if it's necessary). I chose my black spot according to obtained data and advices of very nice Mrs. Magda from the university. Then I went twice to investigate my street (it’s really dangerous, so I try not to walk there too much), and when this was done I went to the administration.

The situation is quite complicated, because the administration is aware of the problem, but bureaucracy takes it’s time… They are preparing to make a contest on the works for the improvement of the situation on the street so I can do my project as a support for them to evaluate the company’s offers (well, this is what I hope, because sadly, the criteria is price in most cases).

I prepared a map with comments to give you in short the situation that I am going to face myself with.

To read the map click on the title ('some action in Gdansk')...

If you would like to send me some comments, I will be happy to receive them on my email: bmordawska@gmail.com

Lots of love,

Bea

R2R MiniAwards!... Piotr and Iwona 10th winners!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Piotr and Iwona for their joint effort to make this linear village safer (this is a village near Cracow).

Piotr and Iwona believe in 'participative democracy' and therefore asked the local citizens, through a questionnaire and a series of informal conversations, whether they were concerned about the hazard caused by the main road crossing their village. On this road cars regularly exceed the premitted speed and serious accidents regularly occur (3 deaths in the recent years).

One of Piotr and Iwona's professors will now arrange an appointment with the administrator of the 'inter-regional roads' in Cracow and this will be an opportunity for them to present their results and propose some traffic calming measures to improve the situation.

...ETSC wishes you good luck in advance!

Linear villages are a recurring road safety concern, particularly so in Poland where many can be found.

R2R MiniAwards!... Lorena 9th winner!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Lorena for her efforts to fix this monster junction. Lorena is collaborating with people from the City Hall in Valencia who will help her find the best solution to render this junction safer. One of the solutions envisaged is to move a bus stop and this involves convincing the municipal transport company... so these days, with the support from the city hall, Lorena is trying to obtain that.

Keep up the good work Lorena!

ETSC also takes this opportunity to congratulate Lorena for her new job as an engineer... in the construction of the new Formula one circuit in Valencia! Remember: Speed on the tracks not on the roads!!

R2R MiniAwards!... Olga 8th winner!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Olga for her efforts to treat a dangerous site for pedestrians in Rome near the Colosseum (photo above).

Olga presented her project at her univeristy department and managed to speak to the director of Mobility of the Lazio region who promised her he will put her in touch with the person in charge of transports for the city of Rome...let's hope that this goes forward!

Olga also spoke many times with people who can get her traffic accidents data for this spot and she should finally manage to get the data that will help support her case.

Keep on struggling Olga!!!

Pisa is here!

Hi guys! I hope you are all fine. As Gabriel said, Finally I've identified my risk site, after some changes... It's a very dangerous junction near Pisa, it connects important roads between the city and the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the freeway for Florence. As you can see in the photo, there are many conflict points especially in the curve where the visibility is poor because there are the trees in the roadside. In this place several accidents occured, fatal also. In particular a boy, who studied in my university, died some years ago. Last week I knew his father, we want to project a solution to increase the safety of this site. The idea is a roudabout...now I'm working on that and I think to do it as degree thesis. I post a video so you can see the hazard. I remember all of you with pleasure. A lot of kisses. Linda

R2R MiniAwards!... Linda 7th winner!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Linda for her efforts to fix a site near Pisa. Linda identified the site together with her professors. It is an intersection known to be particularly dangerous in which a student from her university, Jacopo, died a few years ago. Linda was brave enough to meet Jacopo's father who was happy to learn that she wants to fix this site, and hear about R2R.

Linda will now design a roundabout solution for this site and propose it. The civil engineering faculty of the University of Pisa has close links with local authorities and we can hope that this site will be fixed soon.

Good luck Linda!

R2R MiniAwards!... Stefano 6th winner!!!

This week the MiniAward goes to Stefano (the boy who only drinks Coke!).

This award is well deserved as Stefano put a lot of efforts into gathering info on his site, a dangerous intersection in Milan, and prepared a presentation that he will deliver to the chief of mobility in Milan this week.

Stefano's presentation includes some strategic elements about his site that can serve as inspiration for others' work too:

-traffic volumes on his site

-accidents records (picture attached)

-analysis of further risks

-a number of proposed measures (mostly low cost)

With background research of such quality I would be surprised if Stefano didn't manage to get some results... Good Luck!

R2R MiniAwards!... Biagio 5th winner!!!

Dear all,

This week the MiniAward goes to Biagio for getting an agreement from the authorities in Naples to install variable electronic road display devices on this dangerous motorway. The displays will inform drivers of the traffic conditions: during peak hours 'queues' of cars tend to form just after a steep curve, and these preventive displays would do much to improve safety by informing the drivers of incoming danger. Looking forward to hear about your progress in implementing this!

I also want to congratulate the other students who made some important progress last week (Stefano, Olga, Beata...). Well done to you all and thanks for keeping the R2R alive!

Hello!

Dear all
I wanted to apologize for my absence but lately I wasn't feeling too good and had to return home to Reggio Calabria for surgery.
I'll be back next week in Rome (I hope!), to continue my work and the report on my high risk site.
After finishing the report I will have to translate it and then send it to you. In the meantime I hope to be able to make contacts with local authorities.
A beloved greeting to all
Olga

News from Napoli

Hi everybody,
I hope all of you are fine. I'm very sorry for my silence, but, at the moment, I'm very very busy for the end of my PhD and for other activities. However, yesterday evening I've met again the local authority in order to define the final strategy of intervention and at the end, after several discussions, I have obtained their final agreement. So, during the next week I will carry out the solution design and thus we will be able to implement the strategy. The only problem could be the timeline, but however I think that almost all could be ultimated before the end of the year.
A big kiss to all,
Biagio

Mario's achievement

On this video you can see Mario's achievement: the traffic light at this dangerous junction in Valencia now has a transition phase between the pedestrians green and the cars green light. Congratulations again!

R2R MiniAwards!... MAŁGORZATA 4th winner!!!

This week's MiniAward goes to Gosia for her decision to fix this dangerous site for cyclists between Krakow and Tyniec . This is a popular cycle path interrupted by a section of road that has no facility for cyclists, resulting in conflicts with fast moving cars. There is no data for how many cyclists use this path so Gosia went to count them herself and counted 244 cyclists confronted with dangerous cars in only one hour!

Congratulations for choosing a site that has a large potential for casualty reduction. As you may know cycling has a fatality risk per distance travelled 7-9 times higher than car travel. Now we hope that you will succeed in convincing some key peopel to fix this problem and save these vulnerable road users...

For more information on a European wide campaign to protecty vulnerable road users: http://www.etsc.be/Voice.php

R2R MiniAwards!... Alberto 3rd winner

This week the MiniAward naturally goes to Alberto (the ladies man on the photo above)! Congratulations for getting a commitment from the authorities in Motril to turn your junction into a roundabout... let's see how things evolve now.

I want to congratulate Mario for getting his site fixed too of course (what a fast outcome... a premiere in the history of road safety lobbying!), I wish that all of you can have such success stories to share by the end of the competition.

Have a nice week,

A very big problem

Hi Gabriel!
I'm sorry for my silence about my dossier and my project, I'm writing you on the blog because for two weeks my server doesn't let me send e-mail...But it lets me receive them... I don't know why...
Anyway, I have a very big problem: I found accident data on my intersection and I prepared the questionnaire for the citizens, and I had met almost 50 citizens (bank director, workers, shop owners and inhabitants), but 2 days ago my local administration began works on this intersection before I can reach it, so I have no merit in its solution.
All my work gone... I'm so sad...
Now I have to find a new black spot and begin to work on it, but I need time to search...
Can I have it without you think that I am a scoundrel...?
Thank you, bye!!!!!

Alberto and the 'crossroad from hell': job almost done!

After Mario, good news from Alberto:

This week Alberto spoke with a lot of people in Motril (Mayor, Transport Council, Urbanism council, Police chief) who told him that they will help him turn his 'crossroad from hell' (see picture) into a roundabout!

This is even more than what Alberto asked for because he originally thought of installing new road markings and traffic signals only. This goes to show that initiative pays off and that you can have unexpected success.

Alberto was given a lot of materials (maps, accident data) and he will now design and propose a roundabout solution for this croosroad. The people Alberto talked with told him that fixing this crossroad is a 'necessity' and that a roundabout is the best solution at one condition: that it comes with a fountain and the name of the village in capital letters in the middle of it! It seems that local politicians want to inaugurate something beautiful before elections time! This confirms our 'win-win' theory.

Alberto concludes that it is easier to get things done in small villages because it is simple to meet the authorities and get them to help you.

it is possible, the authorities listen

Hello all

After speaking to several people, the local authorities said that they would change the traffic lights phasing. They have surprised me because they did it yesterday already, improving the safety of pedestrians on that crossing.
This afternoon I will go to see the changes and take a video of it.

Mario

R2R MiniAwards!... Mario 2nd winner

Congratulations to Mario for winning the second MiniAward!!! Last week Mario has been very active talking to business and local authority people and identifying more people that could help him get started on his quest to fix all the traffic lights in Spain (starting from a junction in Valencia)!... Despite facing some initial difficulties I really hope that you will be heard also by the next people you contact, it is important that you find the motivation to keep on going!

Congratulations to those of you who have also taken important steps forward in your projects (Maciej, Rossella, Gabriele, etc... ) keep up the good work!

Guys and girls:

We have a new week ahead now, a new opportunity to fix some dangerous roads.... good luck and don't forget about the R2R, the clock is ticking and we're counting on you!

Advice

Hello
I would like to tell you something about my project, because I think that it can be useful for all of you. I have been able to speak with the technical manager of the company that produces, installs and maintains the traffic lights in Valencia. Unfortunately, although he agreed with me, apparently he has more important things and he has told me that the programming of the traffic lights, although they make it, depends directly on the city.
After that, I have spoken with the person in charge of the traffic control center of Valencia who has given more attention to the case, but he told me that I have to speak with his boss, because it is necessary to make an entire process to be able to solve the problem. I hope that, next week, I will be able to talk to him.
My point is: In order to have more effectiveness in the solution for each one site, you have to find out who is the person that can take the appropriate decisions, because if it is somebody "very high", he will find the problem insignificant, on the other hand if it is somebody "below" he doesn't have capacity to make decisions to be able to solve the problem.
Good luck for every one

Mario A Romero R.

1st assignment!!!

No worries this is not too complicated...

Please all of you:

- send me an email with a short descritpion of your high risk site and any materials you have regarding it (pictures, maps, accidents data etc...). This will be the basis for the 'dossiers' which we will keep at ETSC to evaluate your work. If you have any video files you can post them on this blog (it would be too large to send them via email).

Everytime you take a step forward in your project please let me know and I will add this to your 'dossier' (every little step you take is worth letting us know, even if you think it's something minor).

Good luck with yoru work!

Participants' contacts

Hello to everyone,

I´m still in Spain till the end of the week so please don´t ask me about my progress... But I would like to ask to the organisers for the list of the emails of the participants (I don´t remember having it). There are two things at the moment I have to announce:

1. Luis, I think I´ve got your mobile charger, so please send me your address so I can still send it to you. The sooner, the better...

2. Olga, if you still want Tori, I will be glad to send it to you. I also have to ask for your address.

I hope I don´t destroy the blog with such a casual topic:) I know you are doing very well and will all be the winners of the competition.

Send lots of kisses

Bea

bmordawska@gmail.com

Started my big project!!

So Gabriel!!
I have written to 'Road and Safety', the Organisation in Poznan , to talk about our co-operation. I have also written an e-mail to a local website, the Poznan's information guide. Many people go to this website to look for almost everything happening in Poznan ( f.e. about location of pubs etc. ) I asked them whether it would be possible to put a questionnaire online to ask people if they think that my site is dangerous and if they want to rebuild it. So this is what I have done so far. Hope to have good answers.
Bye-bye

And now we have to start...

Hello to all of you!
Sorry for the delay in replying, but my lessons started yesterday and I have to stay in University 8 hours a day...
After the wonderful week, now I am working on my high risk site, I am making a more specific project in Autocad, and friday I am going to meet my professor to speak with him about it.
This week I hope to contact someone in my local administration to know if there are some guide lines about high risk site treatments.
So... Have a nice week!!!!
Bye!

FINAL CONCLUSION OF THE WEEK

Dear friends and boss, thanks for all for the fantastic week which will remember forever,for the fantastic people who i have known!!and i hope to see you another time maybe in brussels in january!!wednesday i will see my professor to speak about the week and my work programme.....start my project....you remember:Safe roads to save lives!!!(Key message)

R2R MiniAwards!... Iwona 1st winner

Dear R2R students,

Let me introduce the newest twist to the R2R Competition: the R2R MiniAwards!!! Weekly the ETSC secretariat (i.e.: myself) will award the student who has made the most significant step forward towards reaching his/her goal of treating a high risk site. This award is only symbolic of course and meant as a motivation to keep you going (sorry no gift this time)...

...this week's MiniAward goes to Iwona for being the first student to find her way to this blog (nice to see that you check your emails regularly)! The ETSC secretariat congratulates you, keep up the good work Iwona!

No quiches any more...

Hi Kids,

ETSC is already missing you! Jörg, Gabriel and I regret not having had more time to work and have fun with you.
We are sure you are already busy working on your high risk site: please remember that early action can mean early achievement and more lives saved!
So, roll your sleeves up: ETSC is counting on you!

Welcome to the R2R Blog

R2R Blog

Folks,

The Roads to Respect students have returned home after a week in Belgium. Getting to know each other was a great experience and goodbyes were sad and difficult....

But we can now rejoice: I am happy to introduce ETSC's Roads to Respect Competition Blog! The R2R students have a Blog of their own (how cool) to share experiences and keep in touch. This Blog belongs to all the students who participated in the R2R Camp and in the coming months they will have a chance to use this space to share their ideas and initiatives, and hopefully demonstrate their successes in getting high risk sites treated....

My only advice: work well and have fun in the process!...and now,

Let the Competition Begin!