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

[Dick Schmidt]

Cynthia,
Welcome!

Folks, I'm looking at the big picture here but you are only seeing across 
the street. I'm involved in shipping material from California to Oregon, 
Washington, Idaho and Montana. Also from Wisconsin and Minnesota to Montana, 
Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Freight is a big part of the cost the products 
I sell and every time that truck has to stop it costs money. We have a 
government that has absolutely no energy policy and because of it we need to 
do things on the local level to conserve energy. What will you do when gas 
is $5.00 a gallon. I suggested we start small by eliminating some crosswalks 
in Moscow but it seems to upset some people to think they would have to walk 
an extra block to be able to cross a 3 lane busy state highway. I would 
suspect that all the log and chip haulers and other delivery trucks who have 
to travel through Moscow would appreciate not having to stop so often.

Just to set the record straight, Wayne Fox said that "Unless the law has 
changed, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections in all 50 
states."
They do in marked crosswalks but most of the pedestrians in other states do 
not walk out in front of a car and will wait until traffic clears!

Dick Schmidt


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cynthia nichols" <cynthiann0 at mac.com>
To: "Dick Schmidt" <dickschmidt at moscow.com>
Cc: "peg hamlett" <peg_hamlett at msn.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>; "joann 
mack" <jmack at turbonet.com>; "Nancy Chaney" <nchaney at moscow.com>; "Linda 
Pall" <lpall at moscow.com>; "John Dickinison" <johnd at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time 
tocutCrosswalknumbers


> Dick,
> You said, "Pedestrians cross the road to get to the other side but they 
> need to do a little planning before they go so they don't stop my 3,500# 
> Taurus. If they don't hustle when they cross I will blow my horn and start 
> moving ahead. ;-))"
>
> When one takes a driver's test to get an Idaho driver's license, usually 
> he/she studies the vehicle code which states that cars must yield to 
> pedestrians at marked and UNmarked crosswalks. It seems to me that even if 
> the city removes crosswalks, you'd still have to stop for a person who is 
> crossing at an intersection. A crosswalk is really just a way of helping 
> drivers notice pedestrians. I walk all over Moscow and use the crosswalks 
> to cross. When I first moved here 3 years ago, people graciously stopped, 
> left lots of time for me to cross, even on the highways. It is not so easy 
> to cross now. People who know the law and respect it still stop. I am 
> grateful to them. But try crossing Washington at  the police station! It's 
> not easy.  I attribute that to a greater degree of  an "I'm more important 
> than you are (I'm in a hurry), (I need to save 4¢ gas)" attitude in recent 
> years. Something's happened to Moscow in 3 years for some people to become 
> so much less courteous (hmmm). When I hear people talk about drivers' 
> disrespect of pedestrians "back east" I wonder, are they advocating that 
> we become more like Philly? Is that what we really want? I don't.
>
> I hope that you and the city council come to  realize that crosswalks are 
> NOT a problem .
> Furthermore, if I am in a crosswalk and you don't stop your 3500# Taurus 
> and end up hitting me, I authorize my husband to sue you for the maximum 
> amount he can get.   ;-))   Wouldn't it be more prudent for you to brake 
> for me?
>
> Cynthia Nichols
>
> PS-Because I walk so much, I fill up my tank only once a month or so. You 
> might try combining your Winco trip with a few other errands and take 
> streets other than 3rd. I've only lived here 3 years and I know lots of 
> routes. It's a gorgeous little town and I drive slowly through pretty 
> neighborhoods when I drive, noticing the beauty as I go.
>
> PPS-I am a first time contributor to this list. I have begun writing many 
> replies but it really takes a brave person to add to this list if they 
> have a dissident view--and I realize that this e-mail may generate a lot 
> of vitriol. I may have to unsubscribe.
>
> On Apr 12, 2005, at 7:08 AM, Dick Schmidt wrote:
>
>> Pedestrians cross the road to get to the other side but they need to do a 
>> little planning before they go so they don't stop my 3,500# Taurus. If 
>> they don't hustle when they cross I will blow my horn and start moving 
>> ahead. ;-))
>
>
>