SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 20
Download to read offline
Finnish Cyclists’ Federation www.pyoraliitto.fi
Traffic Moralism
How to identify and overcome
Marjut Ollitervo
marjut.ollitervo@pyoraliitto.fi
Values in city planning
2
3
The goal: sustainable city
4
What is traffic moralism
5
Example: ride through a red light
6
What traffic planning isn’t
7
What traffic planning is
8
How should people behave?
9
How people actually behave?
10
False motives
11
Real motives
12
The question to ask
What problem are we trying to solve?
13
The question to ask
Keep the goal in mind
14
Example: Photo ID for cyclists
15
Example: Massive fines for cyclists
16
Example: helmet laws and campaigns
17
Why is it bad?
18
How to deal with it
19
How to deal with it
20
How to deal with it

More Related Content

More from Pyöräliitto ry / Cykelförbundet / Finnish Cyclists' Federation

More from Pyöräliitto ry / Cykelförbundet / Finnish Cyclists' Federation (12)

Heat – Valuing Cycling
Heat – Valuing CyclingHeat – Valuing Cycling
Heat – Valuing Cycling
 
Matti Koistinen: Winter maintanance - Cyclists' point of view - Riga
Matti Koistinen: Winter maintanance - Cyclists' point of view - RigaMatti Koistinen: Winter maintanance - Cyclists' point of view - Riga
Matti Koistinen: Winter maintanance - Cyclists' point of view - Riga
 
Pyöräteiden talvikunnossapitokysely raportti 2015
Pyöräteiden talvikunnossapitokysely raportti 2015Pyöräteiden talvikunnossapitokysely raportti 2015
Pyöräteiden talvikunnossapitokysely raportti 2015
 
Winter maintanance: Cyclists point of view
Winter maintanance: Cyclists point of viewWinter maintanance: Cyclists point of view
Winter maintanance: Cyclists point of view
 
Kaisa Peltonen: Jyväskylän seudun pyöräilyviikko - mitä, miten, millä r...
Kaisa Peltonen: Jyväskylän seudun pyöräilyviikko - mitä, miten, millä r...Kaisa Peltonen: Jyväskylän seudun pyöräilyviikko - mitä, miten, millä r...
Kaisa Peltonen: Jyväskylän seudun pyöräilyviikko - mitä, miten, millä r...
 
Simo Ulvi: Tampereen Pyöräilyviikko 2015
Simo Ulvi: Tampereen Pyöräilyviikko 2015Simo Ulvi: Tampereen Pyöräilyviikko 2015
Simo Ulvi: Tampereen Pyöräilyviikko 2015
 
Matti Kinnunen: HePon parhaat kokemukset tapahtumista
Matti Kinnunen: HePon parhaat kokemukset tapahtumistaMatti Kinnunen: HePon parhaat kokemukset tapahtumista
Matti Kinnunen: HePon parhaat kokemukset tapahtumista
 
Kaisa Peltonen: Kohti pyöräilevää elämäntapaa
Kaisa Peltonen: Kohti pyöräilevää elämäntapaaKaisa Peltonen: Kohti pyöräilevää elämäntapaa
Kaisa Peltonen: Kohti pyöräilevää elämäntapaa
 
Otso Kivekäs VeloFinland 2015 avaus
Otso Kivekäs VeloFinland 2015 avausOtso Kivekäs VeloFinland 2015 avaus
Otso Kivekäs VeloFinland 2015 avaus
 
Marek Salermo: Pyöräliikenteen keskeiset suunnittelutavoitteet suomalaisiss...
Marek Salermo: Pyöräliikenteen keskeiset suunnittelutavoitteet suomalaisiss...Marek Salermo: Pyöräliikenteen keskeiset suunnittelutavoitteet suomalaisiss...
Marek Salermo: Pyöräliikenteen keskeiset suunnittelutavoitteet suomalaisiss...
 
Kalervo ilmanen: Miksi Pyöräilen
Kalervo ilmanen: Miksi PyöräilenKalervo ilmanen: Miksi Pyöräilen
Kalervo ilmanen: Miksi Pyöräilen
 
Lars strömgen presentation_finland_151024
Lars strömgen presentation_finland_151024Lars strömgen presentation_finland_151024
Lars strömgen presentation_finland_151024
 

Recently uploaded

ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8
ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8
ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8Access Innovations, Inc.
 
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxCommunication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxkb31670
 
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxCommunication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxkb31670
 
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024Gokulks007
 
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54ZhazgulNurdinova
 
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024eCommerce Institute
 
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!Loay Mohamed Ibrahim Aly
 
Dynamics of Professional Presentationpdf
Dynamics of Professional PresentationpdfDynamics of Professional Presentationpdf
Dynamics of Professional Presentationpdfravleel42
 

Recently uploaded (8)

ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8
ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8
ISO 25964-1Working Group ISO/TC 46/SC 9/WG 8
 
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxCommunication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
 
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptxCommunication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
Communication Accommodation Theory Kaylyn Benton.pptx
 
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024
Machine learning workshop, CZU Prague 2024
 
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54
Burning Issue presentation of Zhazgul N. , Cycle 54
 
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024
Juan Pablo Sugiura - eCommerce Day Bolivia 2024
 
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!
The Real Story Of Project Manager/Scrum Master From Where It Came?!
 
Dynamics of Professional Presentationpdf
Dynamics of Professional PresentationpdfDynamics of Professional Presentationpdf
Dynamics of Professional Presentationpdf
 

Traffic moralism ECOMM 2016

Editor's Notes

  1. I will introduce a new concept, traffic moralism. It helps to identify this phenomenon when you can name it. And then you know how to deal with it. Since I am a cycling advocate, many of my examples a related to cycling. But this phenomenon is more general than just cycling.
  2. Sustainability, safety, efficiency, livability. Values in strategies. Choosing the values is an ethical question. Achieving the values is a practical question.
  3. Practical question: How to design the city so that it will be sustainable and efficient -> less cars
  4. Traffic moralism is reasoning that does not aim for a sustainable city, but for the fulfillment of moral standards. It often interferes or prevents building a sustainable city.
  5. Paris allowed the cyclists to ride against the red light in certain situations. It turned out that this actually improved safety. But we can’t do this in Finland. The reason for this is traffic moralism: riding against the red light is morally wrong, so it must be unsafe. It’s also unfair to the car drivers.
  6. According to a traffic moralist, traffic planning is to reward good people, punish bad people, to force people into being better people. They think of it as a moral question.
  7. Traffic planning is not a moral issue, but a practical one. City planning department is not a court of law. Traffic planner’s task is not to give out punishments or rewards or to change the human nature. It’s impossible to change the human nature. If it was possible, we wouldn’t have obesity, poverty or wars. And communism would work.
  8. According to moral standards, how should people behave?
  9. Reality: How do people actually behave? This is the relevant question in traffic planning. We want to design a city for real people, not imaginary people.
  10. False equality, false safety. For example, “same rules for cyclists and drivers”. Traffic safety campaigns for children. Promoting personal protective equipment for cyclists and pedestrians.There is no proven positive effect on traffic safety with these campaigns. So a traffic moralist appears to be promoting equality and safety.
  11. What they are really doing is promoting moral justice and being a good person. They want to see moral justice happen. Polishing one’s halo - appearing to be a responsible person. You appear to do something worthwhile for society.
  12. For example a new law: What problem is this action trying to solve? Is it really a problem? Does this action solve it? Does this action contribute to a sustainable city? Will it get more people cycling or walking?
  13. Keep the goal in mind. Does it contribute to a better city? Will it make people want to walk and cycle more? If not, it is a waste of energy.
  14. Photo ID for cyclists NSW Australia 2016. Next step is to require cyclists to carry their own body bags
  15. Massively increased fines for cyclists in NSW Australia. Helmet fine $71 ➞ $319 + 350% Running a red light $71 ➞ $425 + 500% Riding dangerously $71 ➞ $ Australia is the promised land of traffic moralism.
  16. Bicycle helmets and helmet laws. In Finland 2003. One must usually wear a helmet. Doesn’t matter how well it fits or protects your head, as long as you wear one. Primary motive is not safety, but being a responsible person. They knew about Australia. Motive not really safety, but false equality. Does that something really improve safety and how much?
  17. It’s a red herring. It diverts the focus from the main issue: sustainable city. It affects attitudes, political decision-making and traffic planning.
  18. Don’t start to defend people. Don’t try to change people. It’s irrelevant whether people are good or bad. Accept that people are lazy, selfish and break the rules.
  19. Keep the focus on the key issue. Design a city for the real, unperfect people. Don’t just expect people to change. They won’t. Restrict car traffic.
  20. Solution. Don’t try to defend anybody. Don’t try to change the human nature. It’s impossible. Accept that people are lazy and selfish and design a city for those real people. It is irrelevant whether people are good or bad.