Liked the old crosswalks better

After a few weeks of walking and driving over the new “raised crosswalks” in The Junction, we’re certain we liked the old non-raised crosswalks better. Under the streetlights, the slight bumps are such a subtle difference from the pavement, they’re not as visible as the old painted stripes were, and drivers seem less aware that they might need to stop. We almost got taken out ourselves the other night; feels like we’d be safer jaywalking. You suppose maybe the city could at least rustle up some sort of reflective paint for the sides of the “speed bumps,” so they’d be visible from afar, like this?

emsmom December 6, 2006 (12:07 am)

I totally agree. Seems less safe now.

ML December 6, 2006 (8:43 am)

They are not properly designed (need striping of some kind, google “speed hump” to see correct designs)–will the City wait until someone gets hit before they make this change?

Junction Dave December 6, 2006 (10:52 am)

SDOT is waiting for dry conditions to set down temporary striping in the elevated crosswalks & they will need much warmer air/surface conditions to lay down permanent markings. They are definitely on it.

Eric December 6, 2006 (10:54 am)

your tax dollars at work! reminds me of when the city decided it would be a good idea to make California Ave one lane in each direction through the Junction. What a mess that was!

Brendan December 6, 2006 (1:19 pm)

absolutely! As you noted, the raised portions are essentially indistinguishable from the pavement at night. Even hyper-aware drivers will easily miss them. The raised aspect is a good thing, but the bumps definitely need reflective paint; perhaps extra-wide traditional crosswalk stripes, and possibly several rows of those yellow semi-sphere speed dots fixed to the inclined surfaces on either side. I hope the city does this before something unfortunate or tragic happens.

Jiggers December 6, 2006 (1:59 pm)

In White Center, they have blinking Crosswalks so drivers can see you at nighttime. In the day, your better off Jaywalkng for sure. I remembered that a little girl maybe six years ago was killed while walking with her mom on 104th in the Crosswalk leading upto the Dairy Queen at night. A motorist didn’t even stop and killed that child. The mom survived. It always takes tragedy to make improvements.

K December 6, 2006 (5:55 pm)

I agree 100%! Let’s at least mark them in some way on the pavement!

WS Guy December 6, 2006 (7:46 pm)

Totally true. I had a really hard time seeing someone in that crosswalk earlier this week. I think it puts the pedestrians above my normal eye level, and the lack of stripes makes it hard to see them against the brown pavement.