Have you tried making it across the street in the scant seconds some of
these signs provide! In some cases they don't actually indicate walk, just
blinking a red "Don't Walk" as soon as the semaphore turns green.
Not to mention not all of these signs are in good working order. Waiting for
a walk sign that never comes can be frustrating This can actually be a
significant problem for those people who do use the Walk/Don't Walk signs,
for example developmentally disabled people.
What is needed is a bit of mutual respect here between the drivers and the
pedestrians. Drivers need to yield but pedestrians also need to be aware
enough of traffic not to create unreasonable delays. But, remain mindful of
the reason these ped friendly laws were passed - people were getting hit by
cars and often killed.
Megan Thomas
West Seventh
----- Original Message -----
From: "j burns" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 12:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Pedestrians
> I think having to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk regardless of the
> WALK/DON'T WALK sign (formerly known as jay-walking) has made the
situation
> worse. Drive through the intersection of Lowry and Lyndale Aves N and
you'll
> get the picture.
> Simply put: if the sign doesn't say WALK, DON'T.
> JHarmon
> Cleveland
>
>
> >From: Scott McGerik <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: Mpls-Issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: Re: [Mpls] Pedestrians
> >Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:17:04 -0500
> >
> >Jay Clark wrote:
> >
> > > In London, I saw pedestrian crosswalks that had two big yellow globes
> > > on two poles, one on either end of the cross walk.
> > >
> > > When a pedestrian wants to cross the road, she pushes the walk button,
> > > and then, and only then, the two globes flash on and off.
> > >
> > > The drivers are acclimated to expect a pedestrian in the crosswalk
> > > whenever the globes blink on and off, and automatically stop.
> >
> >Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to use a similar system in
> >Boulder, Colorado. The signs had lights on them, actually, attached to
> >the sign face. These lights would strobe when the pedestrian pushed the
> >crossing button. Most drivers came to a reasonably safe and fast stop.
> >
> >These signs remove the uncertainty of many pedestrian crossings and also
> >draw attention to the pedestrian. From my personal experience as a
> >driver, many times I have been uncertain as to whether or not a
> >pedestrian is intending to cross the street. Also, on occasion, I simply
> >have not noticed the pedestrian until it is too late to safely stop and,
> >instead, in chargin, I blow past them. Thank heavens, most pedestrians
> >are a watchful, careful bunch. And as a pedestrian, I believe that many
> >drivers simply do not see me. So in my opinion, having active signs like
> >the type Jay and I mentioned would make it safer to cross Minneapolis
> >streets.
> >
> >Scott McGerik
> >Hawthorne
> >Minneapolis
> >http://www.visi.com/~scottlm/
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >_______________________________________________
> >Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
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