Unlike at other beach resorts, the New Smyrna Beach traffic accidents happen on the beach itself. Sea turtles receive protection from the traffic allowed on the beach, but not children. On Sept. 5, a 4-year was run over fatally, the 2nd this year.
Beach front driving and parking here go back to the horse and buggy days, and even marked the first Nascar racing strips. Despite over 40 beach deaths by vehicles in the last 5 years, the town of 24,000 has no desire to change the practice, though the Volusia County Council agreed to installation of signs warning motorists of children at the entrances.
"Debates over the practice are nothing new. Over the decades, several lawsuits have been filed, either by environmentalists looking to protect sea turtles or by waterfront homeowners complaining about property rights. Turtle nests now mean that driving is prohibited in some areas."
"On weekends as far as you can see in either direction, there are thousands of cars," said Brandon McKenney, 39, whose family owns the Breakers (beachfront restaurant), which sits beside a tollbooth charging $5 for each car let onto the beach. "Where are you going to put them? They'd have to buy or build parking lots, and my taxes are high enough."
The speed limit is 10-mph. Neither motorist that ran over the two children this year were cited.
FULL STORY: A Challenge to Florida Beach-Driving Tradition
Watch: How to Remove Thousands of Parking Spaces
What the city of Amsterdam will gain by removing cars from on-street parking space.
In New Jersey, Beach Parking Located Right on the Sand
This summer, the seashore town of Wildwood is charging a fee for people with the right cars to park in a very convenient location.
February Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
Federal policy changes send shock waves through agencies at all levels of government as we continue to monitor the effects of the new administration’s slash-and-burn approach to government.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research