Since it's come up on other platforms again, here's your semi-annual reminder that the term "Vulnerable Road User," or #VRU, is a #transportation catchall for "humans not safely ensconsed inside a motor vehicle," and it's lazy, inaccurate, offensive, and counterproductive.
The term #VRU implies that being in danger (e.g., in danger of being hit by someone driving a car on a poorly designed street) is a condition the 'vulnerable user' opted in to.
#VulnerableRoadUser is used to define people ouside of cars according to the dangers imposed by cars and the people who drive, design, and cater to cars.
It's textbook #VictimBlaming, characterizing people as vulnerable because they dare exist in public without a #car.
Vulnerability is not an intrinsic characteristic of anyone. It's a condition imposed on people by their environments (be those environments physical, social, economic, political, etc).
#VulnerableRoadUser language dehumanizes and makes it easy to shift blame and responsibility off those causing harm and onto those receiving it.
I just got back from a grocery run, and holy crap. The difference in temperature between a greenway in the woods and a sidewalk next to a multilane road is mindboggling. The greenway was almost pleasant. The road felt more like the surface of the sun.
It's almost* as if continuing to coddle drivers by building out more and more roads is actually contributing to the global heat wave we're living in right now. [*sarcasm]
Light reading in the garden this morning, thinking about that time our district engineer told me I should ride my #bicycle in the extra wide shoulder of a multi-lane highway and be grateful for it.
Look. I know I'm cynical, but I'm just not comfortable using my credit card to pledge money to a private company that will then coerce my child to run laps around a gym while calling it a "Fun Run" in order to increase the amount of money said company 'gives' back to my child's school.
But I'm trying to keep an open mind.
Anyone out here ever heard of a company called "My Booster" or maybe "Boosterthon" (it's unclear)?
There are also requests to submit a video of my child talking about how much fun they are having and vague promises of a grand prize trip to Disney. As well as "epic character building experiences" along the way.
All I have to do is register my child, submit a headshot, enter my credit card information into a secure portal "that's just like what major banks use" use, authorize a random 3rd party to charge an undisclosed amount my said card based on how many laps they make my kid run.
Them: We need your help on an upcoming matter. Me: Cool, whatever you need. Them: Specifically, in what ways will you help? Me: However you need. Just say the word. Them: You will need to make a formal request on our behalf. Me: Ok, for what? To whom? X office? Them: Surely you meant Y office, not X office. Me: I literally have no clue. What do you need? Them: Please submit your request in writing by COB, detailing specifically the help you are providing.
The kid's grown six inches in two years and still isn't tall enough to be seen over the hood of these ridiculous death machines prowling our neighborhood streets.
Over on threads, I'm doing that thing where I change my profile pic to a random white guy and wait to see how long before the reply guys stop being assholes to me.
/demanding to see my CV before they'll believe anything I say about bikes, streets, cities, urbanism, planning, transit, whathaveyou, and even then not allowing that my 2+ decades of research holds a candle to their opinions.
It wasn't how I'd hoped to spend my morning, but the honking issue has become absurd. Yes, I know you recognize us. Yes, I know you have a grudge against us. Yes, you have indeed succeeded in freaking us the eff out.
TransportPlanning & #MobilityJustice #research. Studying, teaching, learning, tooting about 🚶♀️🚲 🚌 & 🛣️, with occasional outbursts about #dogs, #kids, & #gardening. Searchable on tootfinder. Opinions my own. Not anti-car, just anti-carbrain. Fare-free transit is good policy. A person, not a data point. Lead tooter at https://fediscience.org/@JTLU