And while I hear the concern for potential safety risks the study you quote is about UNCONTROLLED areas with no stop signs. 22nd HAS a stop sign. And that same study says “The study did NOT conclude that all marked crosswalks are “unsafe.” Other studies have tried, un-conclusively, to address this same issue since the Herms study, however disagreement and confusion remain.”

Sorry that just is not enough to argue that point.

There is art all over the place, wall murals, statues, beautiful plants and fabulously painted fences……..and giant billboards whose very purpose is to get your attention while driving-with all due respect a black and white stripped crosswalk the shape of piano keys is hardly any different from a black and white stripped crosswalk!

http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/03-2/crosswalk.php

Thanks especially for reminder #3, Alan. On the road side of that equation, I have about a 98% success rate of spotting waiting pedestrians and stopping for them – then watching the rear-view mirror in trepidation for the occasional oblivious driver barreling toward but unable to interpret our brake lights … Wish cars came with the flashing STOP signs/lights that school buses use, for deployment when pausing for pedestrians. – TR

The effort in Tacoma seems to involve crossing major arterials. A marked crosswalk can give people, especially kids, a false sense of security.

Most drivers do not seem to know that there is an imaginary crosswalk at every intersection, drawn across the street from sidewalk to sidewalk. I say “most” because of how few cars ever stop for me when I try and cross a busy street. People will mostly swerve, honk and/or exchange obscene gestures with me.