Jonathan French
@jtrea81.bsky.social
Transportation professional, author of Ronda Loves Roundabouts, President of Build The Era LLC, Roundabout advocate, Oregon Trail generation pragmatist, #Orioles fan, #TeamPete
buildtheera.com
rondalovesroundabouts.com
buildtheera.com
rondalovesroundabouts.com
Flying is the safest way to travel long distances. Driving is a far more risky option. Do we really want significantly more people on our roadways this holiday season? Expect more gridlock, road rage, unsafe behavior, and sadly more crashes, injuries and fatalities as a result.
TAPPER: Do you have any numerical idea of how many Americans will not be able to be with their families for Thanksgiving because of this?
DUFFY: I think the number is going to be substantial
DUFFY: I think the number is going to be substantial
November 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Flying is the safest way to travel long distances. Driving is a far more risky option. Do we really want significantly more people on our roadways this holiday season? Expect more gridlock, road rage, unsafe behavior, and sadly more crashes, injuries and fatalities as a result.
Posts like this constantly get negative reactions from pedestrian and cyclist advocates, but there is a lack of this basic knowledge among road users due to the lack of road user education in the US. Yes, drivers have the majority of responsibility, but everyone should be informed how to be safe.
In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.
8 walking and biking safety tips that just might save your life
In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.
n.pr
September 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Posts like this constantly get negative reactions from pedestrian and cyclist advocates, but there is a lack of this basic knowledge among road users due to the lack of road user education in the US. Yes, drivers have the majority of responsibility, but everyone should be informed how to be safe.
I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with the folks of Kyle, TX. It's great to see another city see how roundabouts save lives and make communities a better place to live. #RoundaboutsWeek
#RoundaboutsWeek
Ronda is heading to Texas to help folks in the City of Kyle with an education campaign about their roundabouts!
Hear from Kyle's mayor, Travis Mitchell, on why Kyle chose to be a roundabouts-first community: youtu.be/j-Na_pbg59U
Ronda is heading to Texas to help folks in the City of Kyle with an education campaign about their roundabouts!
Hear from Kyle's mayor, Travis Mitchell, on why Kyle chose to be a roundabouts-first community: youtu.be/j-Na_pbg59U
Mayor Mitchell talks roundabouts in Kyle, TX
YouTube video by Travis Mitchell
youtu.be
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with the folks of Kyle, TX. It's great to see another city see how roundabouts save lives and make communities a better place to live. #RoundaboutsWeek
A letter is not a law. FDOT, however, can ban artwork in the roadway as the MUTCD refers to states and local governments to regulate asphalt art. Banning artwork that provides a sense of community and has been found to slow traffic and increase safety, however, is not making people safer.
"Both the federal and Florida Departments of Transportation now prohibit asphalt art of any kind in streets, intersections, crosswalks and roadside sidewalks."
What did they cite for that @wgcunews.bsky.social?
www.wgcu.org/2025-08-26/s...
What did they cite for that @wgcunews.bsky.social?
www.wgcu.org/2025-08-26/s...
Sarasota sidewalk murals to be removed under state and federal DOT asphalt art ban
Last week, Fort Myers Mural Society Executive Director Shari Shifrin learned that the City of Sarasota is removing more than 200 hand-painted sidewalk panels that line Pineapple and Orange avenues in ...
www.wgcu.org
August 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
A letter is not a law. FDOT, however, can ban artwork in the roadway as the MUTCD refers to states and local governments to regulate asphalt art. Banning artwork that provides a sense of community and has been found to slow traffic and increase safety, however, is not making people safer.
Not only would a reduction in the top national speed limit make us safer, but it would also reduce overall US consumption of fuel, which would cause lower gas prices.
.@IIHS_autosafety estimates the U.S. could save 8,500 lives a year just by doing 3 things:
#1. Lowering top national speed limit to 65 mph
#2. Achieving 100% seat belt compliance
#3. Lowering DUI limit to .05% (from .08%)
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
#1. Lowering top national speed limit to 65 mph
#2. Achieving 100% seat belt compliance
#3. Lowering DUI limit to .05% (from .08%)
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
As Vision Zero hopes fade, a 5-year goal can help us reset
It’s time to get serious about reducing the toll of crashes. Let’s commit to cutting road fatalities 30% by 2030.
www.iihs.org
August 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Not only would a reduction in the top national speed limit make us safer, but it would also reduce overall US consumption of fuel, which would cause lower gas prices.
I don't think I recall Pete saying anything negative about Elaine Chao while he was in his capacity as Secretary even though she was one of the least effective officials in the history of the Department under the first Trump administration. Pete OTOH has been the most effective to date.
it wouldn't be a Sean Duffy interview unless he attacked Pete Buttigieg for "having a focus on DEI" and "climate crap"
August 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I don't think I recall Pete saying anything negative about Elaine Chao while he was in his capacity as Secretary even though she was one of the least effective officials in the history of the Department under the first Trump administration. Pete OTOH has been the most effective to date.
Reposted by Jonathan French
Day 4 at the @trb.org International Conference on #Roundabouts !
Ronda & @jtrea81.bsky.social made lots of national & international connections for @buildtheera.bsky.social . Donors, you helped make our presence possible, so once again, thank you!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKxuWp8...
Ronda & @jtrea81.bsky.social made lots of national & international connections for @buildtheera.bsky.social . Donors, you helped make our presence possible, so once again, thank you!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKxuWp8...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Day 4 at the @trb.org International Conference on #Roundabouts !
Ronda & @jtrea81.bsky.social made lots of national & international connections for @buildtheera.bsky.social . Donors, you helped make our presence possible, so once again, thank you!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKxuWp8...
Ronda & @jtrea81.bsky.social made lots of national & international connections for @buildtheera.bsky.social . Donors, you helped make our presence possible, so once again, thank you!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKxuWp8...
Reposted by Jonathan French
During a powerful and moving session about what Georgia DOT is doing to reach #VisionZero they challenged the conference participants to do more, especially in the education space, to save lives. It's a challenge we at Build The Era welcome, and must meet.
www.instagram.com/reel/DKvdXW2...
www.instagram.com/reel/DKvdXW2...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
June 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
During a powerful and moving session about what Georgia DOT is doing to reach #VisionZero they challenged the conference participants to do more, especially in the education space, to save lives. It's a challenge we at Build The Era welcome, and must meet.
www.instagram.com/reel/DKvdXW2...
www.instagram.com/reel/DKvdXW2...
Reposted by Jonathan French
Day 2 is in the books from the TRB conference in Atlanta! It was presentation day for #RondaLovesRoundabouts. Thanks once again to our donors for helping to make our attendance possible. Stay tuned for Day 3!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKsxfN3...
www.instagram.com/reel/DKsxfN3...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
June 10, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Day 2 is in the books from the TRB conference in Atlanta! It was presentation day for #RondaLovesRoundabouts. Thanks once again to our donors for helping to make our attendance possible. Stay tuned for Day 3!
www.instagram.com/reel/DKsxfN3...
www.instagram.com/reel/DKsxfN3...
Reposted by Jonathan French
At the TRB 7th International Conference on Roundabouts in Atlanta.Thank you to those who have donated to help get us here!
Looking forward to presenting with Ronda about her book tomorrow afternoon. Follow us for more updates! #roundabouts #rondalovesroundabouts
www.instagram.com/reel/DKp88ca...
Looking forward to presenting with Ronda about her book tomorrow afternoon. Follow us for more updates! #roundabouts #rondalovesroundabouts
www.instagram.com/reel/DKp88ca...
June 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
At the TRB 7th International Conference on Roundabouts in Atlanta.Thank you to those who have donated to help get us here!
Looking forward to presenting with Ronda about her book tomorrow afternoon. Follow us for more updates! #roundabouts #rondalovesroundabouts
www.instagram.com/reel/DKp88ca...
Looking forward to presenting with Ronda about her book tomorrow afternoon. Follow us for more updates! #roundabouts #rondalovesroundabouts
www.instagram.com/reel/DKp88ca...
Such terrible news. These TRB committees did so much research to advance both safety and innovation in transportation. People will suffer and possibly be harmed because of the void of research that will occur.
TRB is dissolving all committees. This wasn't unexpected, but they're couching it in a technocratic need to "get back to basics" and ease administrative burden when in fact it's a great big shit sandwich that we're all expected to eat and not make a fuss about.
June 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Such terrible news. These TRB committees did so much research to advance both safety and innovation in transportation. People will suffer and possibly be harmed because of the void of research that will occur.
Ending the surface transportation programs as we know them is a terrible idea because this Congress won't replace them and instead will try to kick everything back to the states. At least with federal programs, vulnerable road users are addressed in some way.
t4america.org/2025/05/22/t...
t4america.org/2025/05/22/t...
The highway trust fund isn’t on life support—it’s been dead since 2008 - Transportation For America
Our failing federal transportation program is supposed to be completely paid for with gas taxes, but since 2008, Congress has taken an additional $275 billion from taxpayers (on top of all gas taxes) ...
t4america.org
May 27, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Ending the surface transportation programs as we know them is a terrible idea because this Congress won't replace them and instead will try to kick everything back to the states. At least with federal programs, vulnerable road users are addressed in some way.
t4america.org/2025/05/22/t...
t4america.org/2025/05/22/t...
Promoting roundabout and road safety education to save lives is one of our core missions. I look forward to our opportunity in Atlanta and would greatly appreciate any contribution you could make to help us get there.
We have an incredible opportunity to present Ronda & her book to an international audience of transportation professionals & educators - but we need a bit of financial help.
Trying to save lives - 1 book & 1 reader at a time. #roundabouts
Find out more at: buildtheera.com/fundraiser?f...
Trying to save lives - 1 book & 1 reader at a time. #roundabouts
Find out more at: buildtheera.com/fundraiser?f...
May 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Promoting roundabout and road safety education to save lives is one of our core missions. I look forward to our opportunity in Atlanta and would greatly appreciate any contribution you could make to help us get there.
Europe has shown it is possible to significantly reduce road user deaths if it becomes a priority to do so, and steps are taken to actually implement a #SafeSystemApproach. #VisionZero
This Europe Day let's celebrate the incredible success story of road safety in the EU. Thanks in no small part to EU vehicle safety standards, road deaths have declined substantially over the last 25 years. Let's keep working together to turn all those bars green!
May 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Europe has shown it is possible to significantly reduce road user deaths if it becomes a priority to do so, and steps are taken to actually implement a #SafeSystemApproach. #VisionZero
I'm pretty sure you have a much higher chance of being seriously injured or killed in a car crash commuting than you would riding on a subway. US roads are much more dangerous than the NY transit system.
Duffy: "She wants to take people off the road and she's taxing people to do it, raising money for the subway system in New York. But then, to put people in the subway -- the subway is dirty! There's violence. There's criminals. It's not safe ... By the way, I like freedom. Let me drive my car."
April 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I'm pretty sure you have a much higher chance of being seriously injured or killed in a car crash commuting than you would riding on a subway. US roads are much more dangerous than the NY transit system.
I wrote this op-ed almost three years ago for @enotrans.bsky.social and it still applies. We need universal road user education in the US, and funding it should be part of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
enotrans.org/article/gues...
enotrans.org/article/gues...
Guest Op-Ed: America Needs to Invest in Universal Road User Education - The Eno Center for Transportation
March 25, 2022 - Road user education in the United States is most commonly thought of as driver education, but it is that word “driver” that automatically makes it inequitable and insufficient at the ...
enotrans.org
April 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I wrote this op-ed almost three years ago for @enotrans.bsky.social and it still applies. We need universal road user education in the US, and funding it should be part of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
enotrans.org/article/gues...
enotrans.org/article/gues...
No, it does not because our driver education system is inequitable and inadequate and targets the wrong age group. The US instead needs to switch to road user education that covers usage for all modes, is freely available to all, and starts in early childhood.
Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer? - usa.streetsblog.org/2025/04/18/d...
Does Driver’s Ed Really Make Roads Safer? — Streetsblog USA
States like Georgia are taking a critical look at their drivers education programs — but some say the whole concept of driver's ed deserves scrutiny.
usa.streetsblog.org
April 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM
No, it does not because our driver education system is inequitable and inadequate and targets the wrong age group. The US instead needs to switch to road user education that covers usage for all modes, is freely available to all, and starts in early childhood.
Harvard and other universities should move to revoke the degrees of any GOP graduates who continue to go along with these higher-ed fund freezes. Obviously, they aren't demonstrating competency of their studies and just through complicity - seeking to harm their alma mater.
April 15, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Harvard and other universities should move to revoke the degrees of any GOP graduates who continue to go along with these higher-ed fund freezes. Obviously, they aren't demonstrating competency of their studies and just through complicity - seeking to harm their alma mater.
Small and safe is better than "big and beautiful" when it comes to the US network of roads and streets.
The fact that this bullshit was buried on page 54 of a 70+ page government document, and that reams of government-funded research about why road diets are essential to saving lives were recently erased, tells you everything you need to know about how accountable this administration is to the public.
US DOT Doesn't Want to Fund Road Diets Anymore — Streetsblog USA
The feds say they will look "unfavorably" on applications that reduce lane capacity for vehicles – even in urban areas where speeds kill.
usa.streetsblog.org
April 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Small and safe is better than "big and beautiful" when it comes to the US network of roads and streets.
We've seen this movie before, and it did not end well for Democrats in 2016. Bernie and AOC are trying to build anger and resentment against the Democratic Party and that will not bode well for 2026 or 2028. We need to see a version of this that will bring the party together - not rip it apart.
BREAKING: 34,000 people have showed up in Denver, Colorado this evening to see Bernie Sanders and AOC fight oligarchy and authoritarianism.
March 22, 2025 at 3:46 AM
We've seen this movie before, and it did not end well for Democrats in 2016. Bernie and AOC are trying to build anger and resentment against the Democratic Party and that will not bode well for 2026 or 2028. We need to see a version of this that will bring the party together - not rip it apart.
I agree that Democrats could have done more to strategize or resist, but IMO, the GOP always wanted a government shutdown. I think they were hoping Democrats would resist so they could blame them and, at the same time, allow Trump to permanently destroy the federal workforce. Schumer saved jobs.
New in PN: Playing a bad hand badly
"Democrats left themselves with no good options, then justified their surrender on the ground that there were no good options."
"Democrats left themselves with no good options, then justified their surrender on the ground that there were no good options."
Playing a bad hand badly
Schumer's submission was months in the making.
www.publicnotice.co
March 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I agree that Democrats could have done more to strategize or resist, but IMO, the GOP always wanted a government shutdown. I think they were hoping Democrats would resist so they could blame them and, at the same time, allow Trump to permanently destroy the federal workforce. Schumer saved jobs.
Let's stop and think how a shutdown would have worked. Trump would have made many employees essential so most Americans would see no impact from a shutdown. They would also have to work without pay, indefinitely. Want to get people to quit? Don't give them a paycheck. It would have been a disaster.
March 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Let's stop and think how a shutdown would have worked. Trump would have made many employees essential so most Americans would see no impact from a shutdown. They would also have to work without pay, indefinitely. Want to get people to quit? Don't give them a paycheck. It would have been a disaster.
Once again, it's easy to say "no" when you know your vote is essentially meaningless toward the outcome of furloughing thousands of workers for an indefinite period of time or not.
Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
March 15, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Once again, it's easy to say "no" when you know your vote is essentially meaningless toward the outcome of furloughing thousands of workers for an indefinite period of time or not.
House Democrats had the easier path. There was no need for a bipartisan agreement to clear the House, so obstruction was not possible. Voting "no" was an easy choice. Senate Democrats, on the other hand, had to either choose obstruction and chaos, or capitulation and fighting the devil they knew.
March 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
House Democrats had the easier path. There was no need for a bipartisan agreement to clear the House, so obstruction was not possible. Voting "no" was an easy choice. Senate Democrats, on the other hand, had to either choose obstruction and chaos, or capitulation and fighting the devil they knew.
The Senate Democrats had no good options. Schumer's point about Trump being allowed to lay off more workers and not re-open certain parts of government was valid. Democrats are also terribly weak at messaging, so could they really pin a shutdown on the GOP with Trump and media against them?
March 14, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The Senate Democrats had no good options. Schumer's point about Trump being allowed to lay off more workers and not re-open certain parts of government was valid. Democrats are also terribly weak at messaging, so could they really pin a shutdown on the GOP with Trump and media against them?