Too chicken to cross
I pay attention to pedestrian signals. I don't know how I managed to make it to adulthood without acquiring some important life skills, like knowing when it's safe to cross the street.
Watchdog reader Bob Lambert pays attention, too, and noted these non-functioning pedestrian signals at Saratoga and Pratt streets, requiring him and other walkers to dash across the intersection with little warning when the traffic lights change. Watchdog got on the case, calling Baltimore's Department of Transportation ...
and discovered that steam from a broken conduit had short-circuited the system there, just as it had last year, at West Fayette and Liberty streets.
The conduit's been fixed, but a water main break in the area has interfered with plans to repair the pedestrian signals, said Adrienne Barnes, a city transportation spokeswoman. They'll get started after the main is done.
That's good news at that intersection, but it seems like drivers generally don't slow down at zebra stripes, particularly at locations without a traffic signal.
A friend tells me cars never stop for pedestrians on Mount Royal Avenue near the Maryland Institute College of Art. Dan Thanh says she puts the life of her dog --- and herself --- at risk crossing to get to Patterson Park. The Sun's Getting There columnist, Michael Dresser, wrote about a crosswalk on O'Donnell Street in Canton which drivers tear across at interstate speeds even when people are walking.
Readers, any other locations that are hazardous to your health?
If you have trouble crossing the road in Baltimore city because of a bad pedestrian signal, you can always call 311 to report a problem, or Felicia Oliver, chief of the city Department of Transportation's traffic division at 410-396-6905.
Or if you spot a different problem in the city or Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford or Carroll counties, you can contact Watchdog by e-mailing watchdog@baltsun.com. Don't forget to leave a daytime phone number and tell us how long the issue has been a problem.
Comments
I have a huge problem with the traffic and pedestrian signals in Baltimore, especially around the Harbor and other areas where there are a lot of pedestrians. The issue is this: There should be a period of time when pedestrians have the right of way (walk signal) and ALL CARS have to stop. It makes no sense to have intersections where there is "no turn on red" for cars, but pedestrians on the cross street have a walk signal at the same time turning cars have a green turn arrow, or a green light. Stupid drivers see the green and think they can plow through the cross walk. And on streets where there are a lot of pedestrians (turning onto Charles or Calvert from Pratt Street on a Saturday afternoon, for example) a driver can miss a light or two waiting for all the pedestrians to cross. There should be a red light all the way around for pedestrians to cross. Or how about some diagonal crossing in that area?
Posted by: aeb | February 6, 2008 2:22 PM
Pretty much any time you are crossing a one-way (going north) street at the northwest corner, it's hazardous. As soon as you get the walk signal, the cars on the east-west street, start turning left, and they are behind you, so you can't even see them. (An example of this is standing at the northwest corner of Calvert and Centre in Mount Vernon and trying to cross to the northeast corner.)
Posted by: Erin | February 6, 2008 5:36 PM