[Vision2020] Third Street Jam (was LMT Article)
Chris Storhok
cstorhok at co.fairbanks.ak.us
Thu Oct 27 09:46:07 PDT 2005
Dick,
I will back you on this one, from my experience in Fairbanks, Moscow is
absolute heaven when it comes to sidewalks and crosswalks (and this is
coming from an individual who was run over three times in crosswalks in
Moscow). Moscow is such a pedestrian friendly town that cannot really be
understood until you are elsewhere, and I really hope that they city keeps
it that way! As an example, Fairbanks has a really large attractive park
downtown along the river yet it is accessible by a sidewalk with a legal
crosswalk from only one direction, every other approach involves jaywalking
or going way out of the most logical path to find a legal crosswalk.
Everyone knows of the problem but no one in government will champion a
solution (which would mean telling tour buses to park a block further down
the street - oh no hurting a business for community good - can't have that
you know)
For those of you fighting to keep Moscow pedestrian friendly - keep up the
good fight - the reward is worth it!
Chris Storhok
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Richard Schmidt
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:07 AM
To: Art Deco; Vision 2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Third Street Jam (was LMT Article)
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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