The stretch of street where you have to run for your life

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle parks

Despite three crosswalks with pedestrian-activated lights, crossing Fauntleroy Way SW along the length of Lincoln Park remains hit-and-miss, at best. Sometimes literally. And right across from LP’s biggest parking lot, the city plans to take away a remaining non-signalized crosswalk, this one at Fauntleroy/Rose, while another problem percolates …

What makes this stretch of road more problematic than others, besides the presence of a big busy park on one side, is the traffic bound for the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Gary Dawson of the Fauntleroy Community Association says the crosswalks and ferry traffic aren’t mixing well, to say the least:

If you use any one of (the Lincoln Park crosswalks) during the afternoon commute period you put your life at great risk, stop lights or not. The reason is, the line to the ferry dock going southbound moves when queued, whether there are pedestrians in the crosswalks or not. Another near-miss (yesterday) afternoon. A neighbor going southbound stopped so a young boy could cross over to the park. The ferry queue did not. The lad had to run for his life. This, sadly, is more typical than not.

This time the Fauntleroy Community Association is contacting the Mayor’s office (the neighbor already has) to find out how serious he is with his pedestrian safety program.

We’ll stay in touch to find out what FCA hears back.

Cass Nevada August 28, 2007 (12:53 pm)

I’m so glad to see this post! The removal of Rose ST x-walk is craziness. What–just because there isn’t a x-walk, people aren’t going to cross where there are severalajor trailheads? Craziness. Thanks for the post!

Lou August 28, 2007 (12:53 pm)

I run a lot down to lincoln park and back to our house…crossing Fauntleroy is definitely painful. The ferry traffic makes it that much more dangerous since it blocks the view of traffic (or the view of you from the traffic).

I generally just bolt across the street when things look clear – definitely not a good thing to do.

Agen August 28, 2007 (2:19 pm)

Looks like another job for the street crossing flags from the Java Bean/Luna Park crossing.

westwood August 28, 2007 (2:21 pm)

Ferry riders in line just need to chill out. It is a line! If you wait for a ped, the line will still be there.

And everyone–please just slow down. You are probably not really that important that you need to speed up Fauntleroy 15-20 MPH above the speed limit. If you have trouble being on time, then perhaps ferry life is not for you…

chas redmond August 28, 2007 (2:34 pm)

You can always show up at Municipal Tower, room 4050/4060, and give your comments to the Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group. Their meetings through the end of the year are: September 28, October 26, November 30, and December 28. Meeting time is 8:00 am and runs through 10:00 am. Comments are limited to three minutes per person and may be given at the beginning or end of the meetings – or both (but the time total will still be only 3 minutes per person). I would suggest anyone with an issue such as this make an appearance. Not only will this help shape the pedestrian policy of the city, but members of SDOT attend, including SDOT Director Grace Crunican, and more often than not Pedestrian Safety Committee members Jan Drago and Nick Lacata from City Council also attend.

flipjack August 28, 2007 (2:38 pm)

More assinine “solutions” by the city. I always use that crosswalk and usually drivers eventually see you and stop if your are forward enough,,but they ain’t gonna do jack s**t if there’s absolutely no crosswalk markings at all. Thanks a**h*les.

Jan August 28, 2007 (3:47 pm)

“This time the Fauntleroy Community Association is contacting the MayorÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s office (the neighbor already has) to find out how serious he is with his pedestrian safety program.”

Hizzoner has a pedestrian safety plan? Really? (she says sarcastically)

Lou's Wife August 28, 2007 (4:04 pm)

I don’t like hearing that your regular running route includes a potential death-trap. Why don’t you run a little farther, like to a lighted crosswalk?

Jan August 28, 2007 (4:34 pm)

Lou’s wife…incredible how we have to look after them sometimes, isn’t it? :-)

JumboJim August 28, 2007 (5:08 pm)

Geez, Lou’s wife – couldn’t you wait until he got home to nag him… Actually, your comment was a little entertaining. But then I’m not Lou..

Lou August 28, 2007 (8:26 pm)

I can’t win.

JT August 29, 2007 (2:09 pm)

Lou, good news is that she is suggesing a safer alternative. not encouraging the other…

Lou's Wife August 29, 2007 (2:55 pm)

Exactly. That is why I don’t see it as nagging. And I think you should be trying to “win” with the person sleeping next to you at night, and not some stranger on the blog . . . unless there is something between you and JumboJim that I don’t know about.

Sorry, comment time is over.