[Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cutCrosswalknumbers

[Dick Schmidt]

Wayne,

There are quite a few crosswalks which are NOT at intersections  in Moscow. There are without a doubt too many crosswalks on main arterials. Paint over the white lines with black paint and take down the signs. It is very easy.

Dick



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Art Deco 
  To: Vision 2020 
  Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 6:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cutCrosswalknumbers


  Dick, et al,

  From the Idaho Driver's Manual, page 2-4 (emphasis added):

  Right-of-Way and Yielding

  Idaho law defines when a vehicle or pedestrian must yield the right-of-way,

  letting another vehicle or pedestrian pass through an intersection first.

  Always remember that right-of-way is something to be given, not taken.

  Pedestrians and Right of Way

  Motor vehicles must yield to pedestrians when:

  . The pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an

  intersection.

  . The vehicle is entering a street from an alley or driveway.

  . The pedestrian is a blind person walking with a white cane or

  seeing eye dog.

  Pedestrians must yield to motor vehicles when:

  . The pedestrian is crossing a street where there is no crosswalk or

  intersection.

  . Directed to do so by a traffic signal at an intersection or crosswalk.


   
 ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Dick Schmidt 
    To: Art Deco ; nchaney at moscow.com ; johnd at moscow.com ; pegh at uidaho.edu ; jon at n-k-ins.com ; jmack at turbonet.com ; lpall at moscow.com 
    Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
    Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 2:56 PM
    Subject: Re: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut Crosswalknumbers


    Wayne, 

    The only other town I have been in that has anything as severe or comes close to the number of pedestrian crossing as Moscow is Gatlinburg, TN a true tourist town. They have a sign when you enter town explaining that pedestrians have the right of way. I have traveled a lot of states and never have seen the amount of pedestrian crossings that Moscow has. It was fine when gas was $0.59 a gallon but it is more than 4 times higher than that now. I have never heard of a law that pedestrians have the right of way except for the above. Moscow may have some sort of horse & buggy law on the books but others don't.

    Dick Schmidt
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Art Deco 
      To: Dick Schmidt ; nchaney at moscow.com ; johnd at moscow.com ; pegh at uidaho.edu ; jon at n-k-ins.com ; jmack at turbonet.com ; lpall at moscow.com 
      Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
      Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 2:15 PM
      Subject: Re: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut Crosswalknumbers


      Dick,

      I am afraid I disagree with you on this one:

      1.    Unless the law has changed, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections in all 50 states.

      2.    To avoid the energy wasting stops (and reduce the probability of accidents):  everyone that can should drive less; walk more.

      Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
      deco at moscow.com


        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: Dick Schmidt 
        To: nchaney at moscow.com ; johnd at moscow.com ; pegh at uidaho.edu ; jon at n-k-ins.com ; jmack at turbonet.com ; lpall at moscow.com 
        Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
        Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 1:23 PM
        Subject: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut Crosswalknumbers


        All,

        I have noticed the huge amount of pedestrian crosswalks in the city. With gas prices at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut the number of crosswalks, where traffic must stop solely for a pedestrian, by at least half and you probably could cut 2/3 and still have adequate crosswalks. Every time you cause a 4,000 vehicle to stop it wastes gas and pollutes the air. Think of all the trucks that have to stop at the same crossings.

        I particularly noticed on 3rd street between Hayes St. and Line St. there are 15 crosswalks not including the 3 stoplights between them. In the main part of town there are 4 crosswalks on Jackson and 9 on Washington St. in addition to 2 stop lights on both streets. 

        There will be some who whine that we need to have them for our college students but these college students aren't paying my gas bills. This situation just adds more unnecessary costs to the cost of living in Moscow which is already very high. They can learn to cross where there is a light to get to the downtown area. 

        I hope you will look into this situation and right after school lets out next month would be an excellent time to implement this. 

        Dick Schmidt



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