Why do some Jewish communities prohibit women from driving?

[aygart]

Are there more pedestrian car accidents in areas where women aren't allowed to drive?

There was an accident in Lakewood yesterday, a young girl was killed while crossing a very busy street (perhaps can even be called a highway) with her mother and sister in the late evening. I very often see chassidish women walking (with kids and pushing strollers) on the most unsafe roads. And I'm scared for them.

Keep in mind that this is specific to areas without pedestrian infrastructure. There are very few places where you have the amount you have seen with as little pedestrian infrastructure on as busy roads as you find in Lakewood.

[yelped]

To be honest, that intersection needs a pedestrian bridge.

[aygart]

To be honest, that intersection needs a pedestrian bridge.

Agreed. There should not be pedestrians crossing night or day.

[Dan]

Keep in mind that this is specific to areas without pedestrian infrastructure. There are very few places where you have the amount you have seen with as little pedestrian infrastructure on as busy roads as you find in Lakewood.

Time for the community to get behind making the city all pedestrian friendly?

[Euclid]

Time for the community to get behind making the city all pedestrian friendly?

ALOL. thanks for the laugh.


You make it sound like there's any actual long term planning in this town city.

[Dan]

ALOL. thanks for the laugh.


You make it sound like there's any actual long term planning in this town city.

I know nothing about Lakewood, but do frum people not have the votes to prioritize things like that?
Start from the beginning please

[Euclid]

I know nothing about Lakewood, but do frum people not have the votes to prioritize things like that?
Start from the beginning please

@YitzyS can you take this one? I promise to pay you back in likes

[S209]

do frum people not have the votes

They most certainly have the votes. 80% of the town is frum.

[Dan]

They most certainly have the votes. 80% of the town is frum.

So what's missing?

[ExGingi]

So what's missing?

אחדות?

[bochur22]

So what's missing?

In the case of major roads, the county or state controls most of them and don't make changes, probably due to prohibitive costs

[AMH]

To be honest, that intersection needs a pedestrian bridge.

Delivering Results from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

https://www.whitehouse.gov/build/

[S209]

So what's missing?

(Alleged) corruption. The claim around here is that the Vaad (made up of a few elites) select candidates and have a large enough bloc vote who mindlessly vote for who they tell them to. The politicians in turn reward special interests and developers at the expense of the townsfolk, and don’t actually care about the citizens. Nobody can successfully run against their chosen candidates without being buried and ultimately losing anyway.

IMO the above is partially true, but only partially. It has been my experience that although it’s certainly swampy many of the township officials do genuinely care about the citizens and try to help out, though they definitely kowtow to developers and special interests all too often. *

The short answer to why no pedestrian bridge will be built, similar to most roadway questions around here, is that it’s a County or State road, not a township road, and they are definitely not going to go out of their way to accommodate Chasidim. That answer is used too often for me to believe it’s completely true but there are probably truthful elements to it.

* I am friends with one of the committeemen (which is basically a Mayor by committee of five) so perhaps my viewpoint is clouded. However I can vouch for him personally that he’s a genuinely good person who likes to help and tries to help whomever he can.

[Dan]

In the case of major roads, the county or state controls most of them and don't make changes, probably due to prohibitive costs

If someone runs on a platform of making that happen and you have that kind of bloc, it will happen.

[S209]

If someone runs on a platform of making that happen and you have that kind of bloc, it will happen.

You are correct. There is no reason the largest township in the County (and almost the largest in the State) can’t work harder to lobby for it, so it’s probably not the whole reason.

[yelped]

That intersection happens to be lit up and crosswalk is clearly marked. But, for all practical purposes, it's a highway with a red light, and it really needs a pedestrian bridge.

[avromie7]

Time for the community to get behind making the city all pedestrian friendly?

There hasn't been as much demand for it until a few years ago when many chassidim started moving in.

The developers often use all kinds of tactics to avoid installing sidewalks, nevermind any other pedestrian improvements.

Rt 70 is a very difficult road to make pedestrian upgrades to, it's a 4 lane divided highway. Is there any solution other than a pedestrian bridge or tunnel?

[Dan]

The developers often use all kinds of tactics to avoid installing sidewalks

For cost reasons? Seems easy enough to legislate.
Can't imagine not having sidewalks.

[coffeebean]

Are there more pedestrian car accidents in areas where women aren't allowed to drive?

There was an accident in Lakewood yesterday, a young girl was killed while crossing a very busy street (perhaps can even be called a highway) with her mother and sister in the late evening. I very often see chassidish women walking (with kids and pushing strollers) on the most unsafe roads. And I'm scared for them.

I passed the intersection today, there's absolutely no crosswalk or pedestrian light. I have no idea how anyone can make it across that street even during broad day light.

[avromie7]

For cost reasons? Seems easy enough to legislate.
Can't imagine not having sidewalks.

Yes. It is required, but they try to get waivers or submit plans without them, hoping it will slip by.

I passed the intersection today, there's absolutely no crosswalk or pedestrian light. I have no idea how anyone can make it across that street even during broad day light.

There is a crosswalk, but no pedestrian light.