[Vision2020] Third Street Jam (was LMT Article)

[Richard Schmidt]

Wayne,

Compared to Greenville, NC, Moscow does an excellent job of having 
crosswalks AND sidewalks. Greenville can't even spell crosswalk. They do 
have them on campus but not in any other part of town and they are really 
backwards about sidewalks. I would guess that only about 1/3 of the town has 
sidewalks.

I bitched about all the crosswalks on 3rd St when I lived there but I will 
say that too many crosswalks are better than no crosswalks. (I can't believe 
I said that)!!!! I have traveled in all 50 states except Hawaii and North 
Dakota. The worst town to navigate through - Maryville, TN.

I will say that having crosswalks between stoplights on 3 lane and 5 lane 
streets/roads are dangerous. Local people will know about them but people 
from California or North Dakota may not see them as they are watching the 
road signs so they won't get lost. It is normal NOT to have crosswalks like 
that (between lights) across the country so that is something you are not 
watching for.

I would recommend the city put up signs at the city limits reminding people 
that pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks and which would make 
visitors more aware. Gatlinburg, TN has such a sign when you enter the city 
so people are forewarned. The cost of a few signs is peanuts compared to the 
life of a child or anyone else.

Dick Schmidt


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 2:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Third Street Jam (was LMT Article)


> Janesta,
>
> Here's some irony:
>
> This week Officer Carl Womack of the MPD wrote a short article for the 
> Daily News on the new crosswalks on Moscow-Pullman Highway/3rd Street.  It 
> was a very well written, informative article.  It clearly and simply 
> stated the pedestrian/crosswalk applicable law and offered tips on 
> courtesy.  I was very impressed.  That is, until the last sentence which 
> said to keep Moscow a pedestrian friendly town.
>
> Moscow is not a pedestrian friendly town.  Although I do not travel a lot, 
> we go to Canada at least once a year for two weeks, to northern Idaho 
> several times, to multiple destinations in Oregon two or three times a 
> year, and to Spokane several times.  As a pedestrian, I feel the least 
> safe in Moscow (and Pullman).
>
> Yesterday, a group of young ladies was trying to cross Washington from the 
> Anselm House corner to the new Co-op corner,  I was in the lane next to 
> the Co-op.  I stopped not only out of courtesy but because this group was 
> already in the lane closest to Anselm house -- it was thus legally 
> mandatory to stop.  A black SUV with Bluebird Idaho license plates in the 
> middle lane accelerated, narrowly missing the young ladies who had the 
> good sense to stop, and then pulled into my lane.
>
> Like Janesta, I have witnessed many violations of the pedestrian crossing 
> laws by arrogant, distracted (cell phones, babies, etc), and/or 
> inattentive drivers.  Some occur at 4th and Washington right by the MPD 
> station.  For a real adventure try using the crosswalk across Jackson near 
> the Daily News!
>
> Perhaps part of the solution is for the city council and MPD to educate 
> themselves on what "Pedestrian Friendly" really means.  The council could 
> then make policy recommendations to MPD and do the other things needed to 
> implement the "Pedestrian Friendly City" parameters.
>
> Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> deco at moscow.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Janesta Carcich" <janestacarcich at yahoo.com>
> To: "Andreas Schou" <ophite at gmail.com>; "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
> Cc: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Third Street Jam (was LMT Article)
>
>
>>I challenge any of you to be a pedestrian crossing
>> Third from the south to the North. The "walk" sign
>> stays on exactly eight paces from the curb. That is
>> eight paces of a lady 5'10", (prior to getting hit by
>> a car, I haven't tried it using my cane yet) then the
>> indicator turns to "don't walk". Cars are backed up,
>> swerving around pedestrians still in the walkway,
>> raring to save mere minutes in their trip to who knows
>> where, and get through the intersection before the
>> light changes.
>>
>> Many times, I have witnessed elderly people, mothers
>> with small children in tow, as well as people with
>> disabilities of all kinds, frantically attempting to
>> cross the street so a car won't hit them. Ask me about
>> getting hit by a car; it is no fun at all.
>>
>> This intersection is a huge mess, from a vehicle
>> standpoint to the pedestrian standpoint....
>>
>> And someone wants to put a bridge in on Third Street?
>> Someone in City   Hall thinks doing this will save
>> time? I say someone, because I am not sure who has the
>> idea to do this, (no I don't read the paper, or every
>> post here) but in my opinion the idea is a VERY bad
>> one.
>>
>>
>> Janesta Carcich
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________
>> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
>> http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
>>
>
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