[Vision2020] Nobody Walks In LA! Or is it Moscow?

Ted Moffett starbliss at gmail.com
Tue Sep 23 21:09:31 PDT 2008 

I recall walking in Moscow in the late 1960s... What a friendly and relaxed
experience that was compared to the congested horsepower fiend rode rage
time is money rush rush streets are not for people or bicycling anyways
mentality now far more common on Moscow streets.

That Moscow has become more and more less pedestrian friendly, as we
model Moscow streets (the Chipman and Latah Trails are wonderful, but they
do not substantially address pedestrian safety inside the City of
Moscow) around the priorities of car and truck transportation, with small
concessions to walking or bicycling, is a trend that is so obvious, an
increase in pedestrian injuries crossing streets in Moscow is not a
surprise.

On foot I cross any street in Moscow assuming the drivers do not see me...
Be agile and fast, defensive and aware.  With the increase in lanes of
traffic on some streets, even well intended drivers sometimes do not see
pedestrians.  Large trucks can block visibility of cross walks and
pedestrians.  When I am driving I sometimes find my view of a cross walk
blocked by a taller vehicle.  Washington and Jackson streets in downtown
Moscow are pedestrian hazards.  The intersection of Hwy 8 and Hwy 95 is a
hazard for pedestrians, for sure.  Lately crossing on foot the intersection
of Styner and Hwy. 95 has become a sporting event... Drivers rush into
Moscow from the south often at 50 mph into this intersection... Speed
limit?  That's like asking Wall Street to play by the rules...The City of
Moscow could greatly improve their financial situation by issuing tickets
regularly for speeding at the intersection of Styner and Hwy. 95:

Missing Persons, "Nobody Walks In LA:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR3dgARIr6E

Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 9/23/08, Craine Kit <kcraine at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> State law (given below) does not  give pedestrians unilateral right-
> of-way when crossing a highway (or street) nor are drivers expected
> to stop when a pedestrian is waiting to cross. On the contrary,
> pedestrians are expected to yield to drivers except when actually
> crossing the highway within a crosswalk. Even in that situation, the
> pedestrian is expected to behave as if he/see was driving a vehicle
> which was stopped at a "stop" sign.  (see 49-702(2)  and excerpt from
> 49-807(1))
>
> Perhaps everyone would be safer if we followed the common rules, not
> the ones Moscow has invented.
>
> Kit Craine
>
>
> TITLE  49 MOTOR VEHICLES
> CHAPTER 7 PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES
>
> 49-702.  PEDESTRIANS' RIGHT-OF-WAY IN CROSSWALKS.
>
> (1) When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation
> the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or
> stopping, if need be, to yield to a pedestrian CROSSING THE HIGHWAY
> within a crosswalk.
>
> (2)  NO PEDESTRIAN SHALL SUDDENLY LEAVE A CURB OR OTHER PLACE OF
> SAFETY AND WALK OR RUN INTO THE PATH OF A VEHICLE WHICH IS SO CLOSE
> AS TO CONSTITUTE AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD.
>
> (3)  Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply under the
> conditions stated in section 49-704(2), Idaho Code.
>
> (4)  Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an
> unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross
> the highway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the
> rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
>
> (5)  Except where otherwise indicated by a crosswalk or other traffic-
> control devices a pedestrian shall cross the highway at right angles
> to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb.
>
>
> 49-704.  CROSSING AT OTHER THAN CROSSWALKS.
> (1) Every pedestrian crossing a highway at any point other than
> within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an
> intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the
> highway.
>
> (2)  Any pedestrian crossing a highway at a point where a pedestrian
> tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield
> the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway.
>
> (3)  Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals
> are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in
> a marked crosswalk.
>
> (4)  No pedestrian shall cross a highway intersection diagonally
> unless authorized by traffic-control devices. When authorized to
> cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the
> traffic-control devices pertaining to crossing movements.
>
>
>
> 49-803.  PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNALS.
> Whenever a pedestrian-control signal showing the words "Walk" or
> "Wait"  or "Don't Walk" is in place, the signal shall indicate the
> following:
>
> (1)  Flashing or Steady "Walk". A pedestrian facing the signal may
> proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal, but shall
> yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection
> at the time the signal is first shown.
>
> (2)  Flashing or Steady "Don't Walk" or "Wait".  No pedestrian shall
> start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any
> pedestrian who has partially completed crossing shall proceed to a
> sidewalk or safety island while the "Don't Walk" or "Wait" signal is
> showing.
>
>
> 49-807.  STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS.
> (1) . . . After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-
> way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another
> highway SO CLOSELY AS TO CONSTITUTE AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD during the
> time when such driver is moving across or within the intersection or
> junction of highways.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2008, at 8:51 AM, Sunil Ramalingam wrote:
>
> > Joe,
> >
> > I started of compiling a list of statutes making my point, and then
> > I came across this:
> >
> > 49-721. BICYCLES ON SIDEWALKS. (1) A person operating a bicycle
> > upon and
> > along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk,
> > shall yield
> > the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and shall give an audible
> > signal before
> > overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicyclist.
> > (2) A person shall not operate a bicycle along and upon a sidewalk or
> > across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, where the use of
> > bicycles is
> > prohibited by official traffic control devices.
> > (3) A person operating a vehicle by human power, or operating a
> > motorized
> > wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device upon
> > and along a
> > sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall
> > have all the
> > rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same
> > circumstances.
> > So I'm wrong on this.  Bike riders do have all the same rights and
> > duties that pedestrians do in that circumstance.
> >
> > I still think they shouldn't sail out; having the right of way
> > doesn't change the Newtonian principles in play.
> >
> > Sunil
> >
> > > Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:34:53 -0400
> > > From: joekc at roadrunner.com
> > > To: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
> > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one injured in bop-a-student crossing
> > > CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > >
> > > Don't bikers have the same right of way? In many of the cross
> > walks that I cross (usually on my bike) it says on the sign facing
> > drivers "Stop if intersection is occupied." I don't recall seeing any
> > > restrictions about whether it is a bike or a pedestrian.
> > >
> > > Mind you, I don't just cross and I always assume that I don't
> > have the right of way, just to be safe.
> > > I'm just wondering what the law is. And I'm not really talking
> > about this specific crosswalk, since
> > > I never use it. I'm speaking in generalities.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Joe Campbell
> > >
> > > ---- Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I see bike riders sailing out into the crosswalk as if they
> > have the same right of way as pedestrians.
> > > >
> > > > Sunil
> > > >
> > > > > Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:32:55 -0400
> > > > > From: joekc at roadrunner.com
> > > > > To: bevbafus at verizon.net
> > > > > CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one injured in bop-a-student crossing
> > > > >
> > > > > This pedestrian crossing is a total mess. The problem is that
> > half the people stop and half of them don't.
> > > > >
> > > > > And the kids, thinking they will live forever, cross no
> > matter what!
> > > > >
> > > > > You are right, at the very least a traffic light is needed.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Joe Campbell
> > > > >
> > > > > ---- Bev Bafus <bevbafus at verizon.net> wrote:
> > > > > > Sorry for the flip name, but that is what my family calls
> > this very
> > > > > > dangerous pedestrian crossing. I would like to see the City
> > of Moscow, the
> > > > > > University of Idaho and the Idaho State Transporation
> > Department work
> > > > > > together to solve this issue. Ideally, this would involve
> > construction of a
> > > > > > pedestrian bridge over Highway 8 - or at a bare minimum, a
> > stoplight.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The City created this mess by allowing all the apartments
> > on the north side
> > > > > > of Highway 8.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Bev Bafus
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > from the Lewiston Tribune---
> > > > > >
> > > > > > UI student seriously injured
> > > > > > Victim airlifted to Spokane following car-pedestrian
> > accident Tribune
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Tuesday, September 23, 2008
> > > > > >
> > > > > > MOSCOW - A Coeur d'Alene man attending the University of
> > Idaho was severely
> > > > > > injured when a car hit him in a Moscow crosswalk Monday
> > around noon, the
> > > > > > Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > James R. Hazelton, 20, is listed in satisfactory condition
> > at Sacred Heart
> > > > > > Medical Center in Spokane, where he was airlifted after the
> > accident, Moscow
> > > > > > Assistant Police Chief David Duke told the newspaper.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Duke didn't return phone calls from the Lewiston Tribune
> > seeking details on
> > > > > > the accident. Duke told the Daily News that Pullman
> > resident John P. Hunt,
> > > > > > 85, struck Hazelton with a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. Hunt was
> > cited for failure
> > > > > > to yield to a pedestrian.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Off-duty Lewiston Tribune reporter David Johnson was
> > stopped at the
> > > > > > crosswalk on West Pullman Road at the Stinker gas station
> > and witnessed the
> > > > > > accident. Johnson said he saw Hazelton enter the crosswalk
> > walking south.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The crosswalk's warning lights had been activated and other
> > motorists had
> > > > > > stopped, but one car traveling about 30 mph kept going,
> > Johnson said.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "It didn't brake and hit him," he said. "He flew up in the
> > air and
> > > > > > cartwheeled at least once."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hazelton landed about 50 feet from where he was hit, said
> > Johnson, who
> > > > > > immediately called 911 on his cell phone. He said Hunt
> > slowed and turned
> > > > > > into the Tri-State store parking lot while bystanders and
> > motorists rushed
> > > > > > to Hazelton's aid.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Johnson said a police motorcycle unit was on the scene in
> > about a minute,
> > > > > > and was quickly followed by other emergency personnel.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hazelton suffered massive leg trauma, Duke told the Moscow
> > newspaper. The UI
> > > > > > directory lists Hazelton as a junior in the School of
> > Journalism and Mass
> > > > > > Media.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > New warning lights and signs were recently installed at the
> > crosswalk to
> > > > > > help protect pedestrians.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > =======================================================
> > > > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > > > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > > > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > > > =======================================================
> > > > >
> > > > > =======================================================
> > > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > > =======================================================
> > >
> > =======================================================
> >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
> >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >                http://www.fsr.net
> >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>
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