crosswalks

[4a360c]

there should be a stoplight at the corner of calif.ave and college street! almost everyday i see people almost hit trying to cross there in a MARKED CROSSWALK! drivers are to busy on cellphones and just not caring that folks are trying to cross! it BURNS ME UP!

[Zenguy]

Not to mention that it is the law, pedestians have the right of way in Washington State.

WAC 132E-16-040

Pedestrians — Right of way.

(1) Stopping for pedestrian. The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk unmarked or marked when the pedestrian is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning.

I love how people pretend like they do not even see you when you are half way through the intersection. I cross 35th at Snoqualmie almost daily and rarely does anyone stop. A big shout out to those that do!

[guidosmom]

I agree 100%! I know about the crosswalk so always slow way down. The cars parked on the street block the view of any pedestrians waiting to cross. I’ve almost been rear ended a few times while stopping to let people cross.

[angelescrest]

A very nice family stopped for me at a crosswalk on Harbor/Alki. They WERE rear-ended; and we both could see it happening, as the guy behind was paying no attention. Arghhh! Lucky for both of us he wasn’t going full-throttle.

[Ken]

The other side of the coin.

Teach your children to not wait for the bus in the crosswalk, or stand in it when they have no intention of crossing.

And it is up to you to make sure you are visible when dodging out from between parked cars, in mid block, dressed in urban camo, with you I-pod on, and not looking in either direction. The coroner will not rule it suicide or nominate you for a Darwin Award.

[Magpie]

I do believe that the majority of pedestrians that have gotten hit in West Seattle (and killed) were in the crosswalk, either marked or unmarked.

[scooby-snax]

you are right magpie. there is NO REASON not to stop for pedestrians!

[rangdang]

My rant is for those “pretty” crosswalks like the ones at California by Hiawatha CC. They have no white bars, just pretty mosaic looking pathways. A crosswalk shouldn’t look like a happy, fun path (dangerous for kids) it should look like a crosswalk.

[JanS]

I live by Hiawatha and Lafayette School…and they definitely look like crosswalks to me. And I would venture that the uniqueness of them helps more people pay attention to that intersection..JMHO :)

[JimmyG]

More important than whether the crosswalk looks “pretty” or not–I venture a guess that at least half the drivers in WS don’t realize ALL intersections ARE crosswalks. They don’t need to be marked.

If I’m waiting at the curb, you’re required by the law to stop and let me cross.

At the California and SW Brandon intersection (at WS Nursery) the female driver slowed down enough to yell that there wasn’t a crosswalk and she wasn’t going to stop. She looked somewhat shocked when I yelled back at her to learn the laws. I’m sure she’s still confused over it.

[WSratsinacage]

I know the lahr and I am sure many others do too I/they just don’t want to get rear ended. I’ll take my chances at getting a ticket. I bet the chances are greater at getting rear ended vs a ticket. I’ve seen rear end accidents in the junction, often. It just seems silly that someone wanting to cross the street can cause $500+ damage to someones vehicle.

[JimmyG]

So rats you are one of them that won’t stop for me?

I wonder if your excuse will fly in front of a judge?

[beachdrivegirl]

Its a bad day wehn you realize some people care care more about a POSSIBLE $500 worth of damage to your car than someones LIFE! My job requires a car and I drive alot more than the average person and I stop @ every crosswalk/intersection that someone is waiting to cross at and I have never been rear ended sounds like a stupid excuse to me for soemone being in to big of a rush.

[WSratsinacage]

All bow down to Jimmy.

I wont have to worry about someones life. If I see them in the cross walk I will stop ofcourse. If I see them waiting and it is safe I will stop. If I don’t see them because people park too close (ILLEGALLY) to the crosswalk then how can I be expected to stop when there is not enough room to stop? Maybe if Jimmy or BEECH get rear ended they will feel differently?!

If the city doesn’t care about ticketing illegally parked cars then do they really care about peds?

Not sure how my not stopping for someone wanting to crossing the street equates to their life unless you thought I’d mow them down mid stride which is quite a leap for anyone to make. Didn’t think I’d have to dumb it down and say if they are waiting on the sidewalk.

[WSratsinacage]

So I imagine I am the only one who feels this way about crosswalks. Sorry, I’ll log out and let you all run with the opinions you only feel are valid.

[WSratsinacage]

I feel so welcome in my community. Thanks!

[beachdrivegirl]

Um actually i dont have a problem with posting opinions that differ than mine I do it all the time. I do have a problem when people openly admit that they endanger peoples safety.

[Anonymous]

“It just seems silly that someone wanting to cross the street can cause $500+ damage to someones vehicle.”

I’m thinking the damage would be caused by the inattentive driver behind you. Who, also by law, must carry insurance to pay for any damage to your car.

And for those that care, I think all posters (community members) are valid, but not necessarily all posts. On a public forum debating opinions is neither personal or a sign any one is unwelcome.

[JanS]

JT..totally agree..

[Magpie]

Last night, I was shocked. I was waiting at the crosswalk at California and Findlay and it was duskish (a dangerous time to cross without being sure that the cars see me and I was wearing all black)..a miracle occurred, both drivers going north and south stopped for me!! Highly unusual..(then all I had to worry about was if the guy behind got impatient and ran me over in the 2nd half of the crosswalk)..I am hear to tell the tale. I gave them both a big wave of thanks and walked really fast so the nice folks could get on their ways.

[pam]

I had a woman in a black SUV honk at us while we were crossing in the crosswalk on Admiral between Jack in Box and Metro Mkt – we had the green light but the crosswalk light hadn’t activated. She wanted to turn right onto Admiral so honked and waived that the crosswalk light wasn’t lit, if the kids weren’t with me I would have loved to ‘wave’ back to here but there was only one digit I wanted to wave!!!

[Anonymous]

“we had the green light but the crosswalk light hadn’t activated”

It’s my understanding that in intersections that do have a traffic control device (crossing light), pedestrians are required by law to obey the sign.

[JimmyG]

JT wins the prize! A green light at a controlled intersection (one with directional lights) doesn’t mean a pedestrian has the right of way.

Many controlled intersections have a green light for vehicular traffic and the ped light stays red for a bit so cars can make a right turn without worrying about peds.

Pam you might want to take another look at the RCW’s. When there is a ped light you may only legally cross when the ped light says walk (or has the little white figure lit up). The traffic light in those cases is only for vehicles.

[JenV]

“I Had The Right Of Way” is a lousy thing to have on your headstone. All peds should be looking out for themselves regardless of the law. That’s just common sense! And cars should be aware of peds. Also common sense. *sigh* if only it were that simple!

[Erik]

For your reading pleasure:

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pedrcw.htm

[Author]

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