Update: Safety rally Monday, after sign-making tonight

(Photo courtesy Admiral Neighborhood Association)
Admiral Neighborhood Association leaders gathered at Alki Mail and Dispatch tonight to make signs for tomorrow morning’s safety rally in tribute to Tatsuo Nakata, hit and killed while crossing at that intersection (47th/Admiral) five years ago this month. They’re hoping everyone who shares safety concerns about the area will join them there at 7 am tomorrow (Monday); they’ve been asking the city for a signal there, to improve pedestrians’ chances of making it across OK. (More in the preview published here yesterday.)

Mike November 27, 2011 (10:43 pm)

I would recommend moving the crosswalk to an area that’s not on the bend / slope. It won’t matter if a traffic signal light is put in, many drivers won’t see it in time.

It’s not the lack of a signal, it’s the lack of planning by the city to put the crosswalk where they did already.

I’ve stopped numerous times for pedestrians at that crossing. I had 3 near crashes into my rear bumper due to inattentive drivers not watching what’s in front of them.

rockyraccoon November 27, 2011 (10:44 pm)

How about a sign saying, “Don’t cross the street at the most dangerous place on Admiral Way, walk a block or two either direction to lessen your odds of getting hit”.

Jeez, people. Do we have to spend gazillions of dollars to idiot-proof the entire planet? I’m not a conservative old geezer on most issues, but this is ridiculous. There are better ways to prevent bad outcomes than to have government spend megadollars to protect us from ourselves.

rockyraccoon November 27, 2011 (11:36 pm)

Exactly, Mike. It’s a horrible place to put a crosswalk. Let’s not throw money down a rathole, let’s encourage people to cross at a safer place.

JN November 27, 2011 (11:50 pm)

Let’s encourage drivers to operate their vehicles safely, as well. Much more strict laws and punishments would be a good start. And the crosswalk location is fine. Just lower the speed limit to 15-20 mph at that area.

rockyraccoon November 28, 2011 (12:09 am)

Sorry, JN, but that’s just dumb. Do you think SPD can afford to station a patrol car at that location to enforce “strict laws”, and that the courts that let DUI violators walk with little or no punishment are going to send speeders to prison?

The crosswalk location is not fine. It’s stupid. As evidenced by the problems there. Pull your head out. Let’s try real world solutions for real world problems, not waste effort and dollars pretending the world is as we wish it might be in our fantasies.

JN November 28, 2011 (12:56 am)

No, people driving there are stupid, because they are the one’s not obeying the crosswalk. Don’t pretend like you don’t know it’s there (obviously you do, since you keep complaining about it), and just speed right on by the pedestrian who’s been waiting 2 minutes to simply cross. And SPD could easily revoke a license with little effort. Caught talking on your cell while driving? License revoked for a certain period of time. Simple, quick, cheap, and effective. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

Alki Resident November 28, 2011 (6:46 am)

@JN-yes Rocky knows the sign is there but the average person NOT regular to this area will happen upon it a little too late.I don’t think I’ve ever come across a crosswalk in the middle of a curve like this one and I’ve been to many areas and many states.Alki is a tourist attraction so many people come from outside West Seattle to visit our neighborhood.That crosswalk comes as a surprise to many coming around the bend.

let them swim November 28, 2011 (7:09 am)

@rockyracoon, what about the stop lite on the east side? It’s in the same location as would be the one on the west side if installed. Did you complain about that one? Or do you know that it exists?(happy face).
@Alki resident, do you ever drive down or up the east side of admiral way? If not, try doing it sometime-there’s a lite there! Oh my lordy, really!!(sarcasm, meant in a nice way). It’s been there for over four years. How about that?LOL.

Franci November 28, 2011 (8:40 am)

Drivers just need to pay more attention. I was attempting to cross the mid-block crosswalk near NW Art and Frame yesterday morning. It was daylight, I was wearing a bright blue coat. I was on the edge of the walkway looking at drivers to see if they would slow down/stop and let me cross. Nope, they even stared me down as they flew through the cross walk! Then after 3 or 4 cars passed me by I started waving my arms like a crazy person – and someone stopped! I started to cross, but traffic was still flying through on the other side of the road, even was I was near the centerline of the street. This has got to STOP. Drivers need to pay more attention!

WSB November 28, 2011 (9:35 am)

Franci, we saw something similar in The Junction just the other night … we stopped, the driver going the other way didn’t, and the family that had stepped onto the raised crosswalk was carrying pedestrian flags! Which they waved angrily at the offending driver. My philosophy is to approach those crosswalks – pretty much every one with an overhead sign, wherever it is, especially – ASSUMING someone *is* in or about to enter them, and then speeding up a tiny bit if I get there and am certain they’re not. Meantime, we covered this morning’s rally and the story is almost done – TR

DF November 28, 2011 (8:51 am)

THE SAD THING IS THAT WITH THE INCREASE OF BUILDINGS AND RENTERS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AN OVERALL INCREASED CONGESTION IN WEST SEATTLE THESE DRIVER AND PEDESTRIAN PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO INCREASE. THIS TOPIC SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP ALOT MORE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT NEEDS TO CONTINUE. Don’t text while driving you may save a life by not doing so.

Anomie 2 November 28, 2011 (3:58 pm)

Don’t text while crossing the street would be another good guideline. I understand that pedestrians have right of way, but as much as the commentary here harps on the flaws of drivers, perhaps we should stress that pedestrians also need to follow the rules and apply good common sense. We seem to be getting lots more traffic here in both the summer and winter months, and it is true not everyone has familiarity with the the roads and the nuances. Everyone should pay more attention and respect to the situation.

Sorry, comment time is over.