Why a Transportation Users and Facilities Documentary?

1. I need exercise, have the technology and the passion for the project  
2. Capture anecdotal record of transportation users and facilities within geo-political areas
3. The results can assist others in setting priories for transportation safety, skills training, facilities and product design
4. Help reduce transportation's carbon foot print and improve quality of life
5. Safer more affordable transportation systems design
6. Meet persons with inquiring analytical minds 
7. Add to online resources related pedestrian, motorist, self-propelled vehicles and other transportation modes  

2012.05.20 Sunday. Blog Name changed from highwayusers.blogspot.com to transportationusers.blogspot.com.


This past week, as I was recording traffic, a gentleman near 15th and P Street, NW observed in essence that streets are not highways. That sparked awareness that I should rename both this blog and the project to describe the intended scope of content. 


The Power of One Person: Yes, one person spoke to share their observation and that prompted a needed change to a project on Transportation Users and Facilities Project - 2012. Thank you unidentified pedestrian! :-)

Many changes have occurred between 1972 and 1974 when Carry Shaw, WABA's founder and Justin R. Swain, a founding member of Washington Area Bicyclist Association used Super-8 mm motion picture cameras and audio recorders to document transportation users and facilities in the Metro Washington Area. My observation is that Cary Shaw's self motivation, creation of a business plan for a bicycle and comprehensive transportation research, planning and advocacy group attracted talent to increase knowledgeable public participation in urban planning and transportation.


Mr. Swain's films and still pictures provided original data on bicycle, motorist and pedestrian highway use and users behavior. Shaw and Swain combined audio-visual and written works, presentation and delivery skills before local and national government and user organizations was a valued contribution to an overall body of fresh data and advocacy contributed by The League of American Wheelmen (now, The League of American Bicyclist,) American Youth Hostels, Transportation Alternatives, Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, and others not listed at this writing.


In 2012, Mr. Swain, now an independent videographer-producer-editor-director, using a GoPro Hero 2 helmet mounted high definition camera is creating documentary footage on current transportation and pedestrian patterns. Works from the documentary are to be placed on online many will be listed in this blog. 


There may be similar or like documentaries made by or being made by others. Please email bicycle@videowashdc.org with information of other's work on this topic. 


Justin R. Swain, bicycle@videowashdc.org
Member of www.waba.org and www.bikeleague.org