Anni emails:
I’ve lived in Maple Leaf for 12 years and live very close to the lower baseball fields on Brooklyn Avenue Northeast between Northeast 80th & 82nd streets. I have three young kids and our street is full of kids like most of the streets in the neighborhood.
I am very concerned about the speeding and overall lack of awareness from drivers that I’m seeing on our neighborhood streets.
She goes on to ask: “I’m curious to know whether anyone else has expressed this concern and if the Maple Leaf Community Council has or is planning to address it?”
And she wondered about purchasing signs, like the one above. (We’ll paste her entire email below.)
We get few tips or inquiries directly about pedestrian safety; the issue gets raised more in comments on other posts. Examples are here and here.
But the last person who directly emailed about pedestrians would agree with Anni. “Richard” wrote (in late February):
I am writing to beg my Maple Leaf neighbors to pay attention to pedestrians while driving. I run in the neighborhood several times a week and don’t think any reasonable person would believe I should be taking my life into my own hands running on the sidewalks of my neighborhood for less than three miles.
Most times the drivers are apologetic and polite when they realize how close they’ve come to hitting a pedestrian. But I’m still surprised by the number of times that drivers have blamed me in one way or another for being a pedestrian either entering or crossing the intersection they’ve pulled through.
He later added, of a specific incident: ” His immediate reaction was to get out of his car and start yelling and then drove alongside me for almost an entire block yelling out of his window for me to wear some lights. I think they’re startled to realize that they’ve almost hit someone.”
The failure of drivers to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks irritates many residents, some of whom (Donna!) will count the number dozens of cars that whiz by while waiting to cross Roosevelt Way Northeast at the hardware store.
Certainly many Maple Leaf streets are … graced … with those green turtle statues warning of children at play. And the politics of getting marked crosswalks installed are complicated. (Be aware that the city considers all intersections to be crosswalks, marked or not.)
The Maple Leaf Community Council has been a long-time advocate for safer streets, sidewalks and crosswalks, and will likely weigh in on its current activities. (During the council’s May membership drive, it posted activity updates on its Facebook page.)
We’ve also heard from local businesses, like the Blue Saucer and the late, lamented Maple Leaf Grill, about pedestrian issues.
Here’s Anni’s entire email:
Hello,
I’ve lived in Maple Leaf for 12 years and live very close to the lower baseball fields on Brooklyn Ave NE between 80th & 82nd. I have three young kids and our street is full of kids like most of the streets in the neighborhood. I am very concerned about the speeding and overall lack of awareness from drivers that I’m seeing on our neighborhood streets. On Brooklyn I notice a lot of people driving really fast up the street to try to beat the light at 80th and Lake City. With baseball season in full swing and the weather getting nicer, more and more kids and families are walking around and I’m wondering if there’s anything we can do as a neighborhood to try to slow people down.
I’ve started to notice various signs in our neighborhood and in others that tell people to slow down – signs like these can be bought and either placed in parking strips or attached to street signs. http://drivelikeyourkidslivehere.com/
My husband has talked to the police about our street spefically and they have said there’s not a lot they can do because the amount of traffic doesn’t warrant speed bumps, etc.
I’m curious to know whether anyone else has expressed this concern and if the Maple Leaf Community Council has or is planning to address it. I wasn’t sure where to start so I thought I’d start by emailing this address, however if there’s someone else I should talk please point me in that direction.
It might be as simple as neighbors coming together to pay for signs and post them throughout the neighborhood. I also wasn’t sure of the rules on attaching signs to street signs, etc. I wouldn’t want people to invest in them only for them to be taken down.
I’m sure I’m not the only parent that shares this concern so I wanted to start a dialog. I look forward to your response.
Thanks!
I am visually impaired and use either a guide dog or a cane. I have multiple appointments on Roosevelt per week. I also travel in different areas of the city including the university district and Wallingford. Honestly, Maple Leaf is the most dangerous place to walk.
For me it’s not just crossing Roosevelt… Though I do feel like I am taking my life in my own hands. Ideally I do cross at either 88th or 95th, but when there is construction, multiple homes with cars crossing the sidewalk, or on garbage day, I find myself having to cross the steet on odd blocks to dodge the many obstacles. I wave the flags, I wave my white cane. I wait. More cars pass than stop, and all intersections are supposed to be considered crosswalks.
I’m not going to cross the street until I am as sure as possible my dog and I are not going to become road pizza. I’m not going to cross just because you slow down and then I have to carefully listen, making sure cars aren’t coming in any other direction. Please have patience. Please look and notice. Please.
I also have issues crossing the smaller intersecting streets. People aren’t watching for pedestrians. They are looking at Roosevelt. They are taking fast right turns, and pulling out far past the sidewalk to judge the Roosevelt traffic, not really noticing if someone is crossing. I’ve had some near hits that way.
It is frightening and exhausting to deal with. I am not the only visually impaired person travelling, and there are several deaf-blind. I’ve been hit by a car before (before I came to Maple Leaf) and it is not fun.
So yes… I think it is a major problem. I think painting in sidewalks would be safer than it is now.
Nice job mincing words there: Your description is the exact opposite of what they said.
This is the number one problem in Maple Leaf according to our emails. Has been for the last (nearly) decade I’ve been on the MLCC-EB. Was for the decade before that and the decade before that. Some thoughts:
1. The State Legislature gave Seattle the right to lower speed limits on non-arterials to 20mph. City Council has not acted on it, despite requests from several neighborhoods to do so.
2. Bridging the Gap levy will be up for renewal in 2015. There will be a monster battle for spending priorities as this new levy (“BTG2”) is put together. Our goal will be to adequately fund the one transportation modality 99% of Seattleites use regularly — pedestrian infrastructure.
3. I’ve been working with a couple of Councilmembers for going on 5 years now on alternatives to speed sidewalk construction. I think we’re making progress and hope these plans become part of BTG2 or are past concurrently.
4. Every corner, even if there isn’t a corner on the other side of the street (for example 85th leading into the west side of our big park) is a crosswalk. Motorists and bicycles are REQUIRED to yield to pedestrians even if there is not a paint highlighting the crosswalk.
5. We have been turned down (again) for crosswalks on several intersections in Maple Leaf. The MLCC-EB will be out doing our own pedestrian counts this summer in order to better make our case for these crosswalks. We’ll have more of this via our email lists and social media.
6. I am confident this issue will get more attention going forward as a result of district elections. Three of the seven districts have meaningful sections without sidewalks. Three votes for higher sidewalk spending is about 1-2 more votes than we’ve had for the last decade.
7. The Seattle Police Department has offered to do enforcement patrols to ticket motorists not stopping at crosswalks. We will take them up on this offer this summer as we identify particularly bad intersections.
Our nightmare as an Executive Board is to have a pedestrian killed in Maple Leaf. Our comrades in Pinehurst and Wedgwood had this happen — both on intersections they’d been pleading with SDOT to improve. We’re working together to make a stronger press on Council to force SDOT to abandon their point of view that painted crosswalks are dangerous. Also, like they do with bike lanes, consider painting crosswalks to encourage FUTURE pedestrian use as opposed to the current policy of painting crosswalks only when current use justifies it.
Thanks for everyone’s concern about this issue. You can always email the MLCC and we’ll help as we are able.
David Miller
President
Maple Leaf Community Council Executive Board
So 98th from Lake City Way to 35th is marked as 20mph. Why are other non-arterials left at 25mph?
The sign doesn’t really make a difference. People blast up the hill at greater than 35mph. I wish we could get some chicanes and speed bumps and a sidewalk like the other side of 98th.
God, I hate bicyclists.
People could also help by not parking their cars across the sidewalk in driveways. It’s very disruptive to joggers (and when I walk my dog). I don’t think it’s even allowed, but you see it all the time. It’s worst at night, of course.
@dan – nice try to blame all bad driving on WOMEN.
this neighborhood has been promised sidewalks since the 50’s. how about YOU ask for sidewalks by the school? i am sure those bad driving ladies will line up behind you in support.
Bicyclists should use lights at all times to make themselves more visible. Motorcycles and motorscooters are required to use lights for that exact reason – they are skinny to see from the front and lights make them more visible, even in the daytime.
Because they also have that right:
“A person may ride a bicycle on any other sidewalk or any roadway unless restricted or prohibited by traffic control devices.”
–WAC 308-330-555
and
“Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.”
–RCW 46.61.755
So yes, in this state, bikes really do get the “best of both worlds”
It would be great if pedestrians weren`t walking down the middle of the street. There have been many times that I have encountered this when those same streets “HAD” sidewalks. And Tim, bike riders do have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile traffic. So why are they frequently riding on the sidewalks?
How about motorists and cyclist both practice defensive driving. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_driving
Which I think is what everyone is saying, bottom line.
Your request that cyclists “be more alert” is vague and unenforcable.
I actually am getting that sense. You’re requesting that bikes be responsible for cars not hitting them. It’s up to drivers to ensure they don’t hit other things, not the other way around.
It’s interesting how much we think we can do to prevent an accident. All we can do is do our very best to be careful. We cannot control one another and despite all of our best intentions, something bad still might happen. It’s very upsetting to think that other people don’t care whether they hit you with their car or bike, but of course no one wants that to happen. There are jerks in the world but there are plenty of caring people, too, and we ALL make mistakes from time to time!
Well, for one thing, by not swooping down at 30 mph or more (which I’ve seen) down a hill, because at that speed on a bike, you’re not going to know what’s at the intersections, and then includes pedestrians who have the right of way at unmarked crosswalks. You seem to think I am against bikers when nothing could be further from the truth. I’d bike in the neighborhood myself if I thought it was safe, but the visibility is low at many corners, and cars don’t stop behind the stop signs, and bikes go too fast for the conditions. I’m not going to play this game with you any more. I’m pretty sure you know what I mean.
How do you measure whether or not cyclists start “being alert”?
I think bikes should be alert to the fact that cars coming out of an intersection might not see them until it’s too late. I was pulling across Roosevelt one night – on 104th – and a bike came down the hill going at least 30 mph. The problem wasn’t that I wouldn’t yield to a bike. The problem was that one second it looked about the size of a mosquito and then about a second later it was suddenly in my path and probably couldn’t stop it if wanted to. Bikers need to realize that their size coupled with speed makes them invisible one second and right there the next second. I think we should slow speeds anyway, if the roads are going to be shared by cars and bikes – but I think bikes should have a 5 mph lower speed limit so that they’re more visible. This is not because I hate bikes. It’s because I LIKE them, and want to see a bike coming my way in time to stop for it.
Lisa: being aware is one thing, but what do you want bikes to DO?
There is a huge problem with drivers failing to stop behind a stop sign, then advance. This is basic stuff. The neighborhood has a lot of places with very limited visibility at corners and crosswalks, due to cars parked too close to intersections and bushes, just to name two things. Do everyone a favor, stop BEHIND the sign, then advance. As far as bikes, I’m concerned about stopping distance, and the difficulty in seeing a zooming bike until it’s right upon you. I’ve been trying to cross Roosevelt in a car before when a bike suddenly flashes by, seemingly out of nowhere. This is common sense. If a bike is at the top of the hill coming down at 25 or 30 mph, it’s a lot harder to see until it’s right there. Bikers need to be aware of this. I can see a car coming down from the top of the hill a lot better than I can a bike.
I know how to solve it. Make the signs look like this.
The added non-city signs about slowing down are ignored by most drivers, including this one, I find them annoying eyesores.
I really think the problem is mostly distracted drivers and I’m not sure how to solve this, it seems to be getting worse. Too many people talking and texting while driving. As someone that runs and walks in the neighborhood, almost every time I’ve had a close call, it’s been a mom in a mini-van or SUV on a phone, similarly the woman that blew the yield sign on my street, hit another car in the intersection, then ripped through my yard and hit my house was a mother with 3 kids talking on a phone.
I know as a driver and pedestrian, it’s hard to interpret intention sometimes. Some pedestrians like me prefer to wait until a break in traffic before crossing a street, I hate to stop traffic both ways on 15th to cross. As a driver I look at the pedestrian for intention, so I agree with people that taking a step out and making eye contact with a driver is a good way to get them to stop, where standing disinterested on the corner usually is a signal for them to keep driving. There’s no exact science to it, signs and crosswalks can solve it, it’s more just learning how things work.
Would someone please advocate for sidewalks along 20th Ave NE leading up to Sacajeweja? Kids are walking down the street lined with parked cars, it’s totally dangerous. At least the streets with elementary schools should have sidewalks.
@Tim:
Thanks.
“since the roads that are likely to be affected are littered with traffic lights, some of it gets absorbed in the lull between cycles”
Interesting point. Didn’t consider the traffic light waiting times associated with something like that. I guess it goes both ways. It can either help by letting the bicycle or cars get blended together better or hurt the situation because the cars that pass can get held up again if the biker cruises up the side to the front of the line at the stop light.
Either way, I don’t want to completely digress from the topic of pedestrian safety. Thanks.
Bob, good question. I’m no expert, but here’s my opinion.
RCW 46.61.400 defines speed limits as maximums, not minimums.
RCW 46.61.427 states slow moving vehicles should pull over if more than 5 vehicles are behind it and are unable to pass. “Unable” isn’t defined but the spirit of the law seems more geared towards roads that are without shoulders.
RCW 46.61.110 specifies that drivers must pass bicyclists at a safe distance.
The fact that bicycles “[do] not maintain the speed limit” is one of the reasons why bike lanes are built.
Also, since the roads that are likely to be affected are littered with traffic lights, some of it gets absorbed in the lull between cycles.
@Tim, comment 27
I asking this with genuine interest. If RCW 46.61.755 says that bicycles should also be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, how does that relate to speed limits?
I know that a lot of traffic studies and analysis are done based on the speed limit and theoretical throughput of a street, but more often than not a bicycle does not maintain the speed limit and causes excessive slow downs that during peak hours can ripple for miles and miles.
1 for 2, Rob:
Good Grief! Once again today, there were several people walking in the street while I was driving; that I had to swerve to avoid. There is a sidewalk on at least one side of this street.Please use it!!! Just because you are a pedestrian, or ride a bike,it does not mean that you automatically get the right of way! And, while we are at it; for you out-of-staters that have come to live amoung us; this state grants you a free right turn at stop lights, once you have come to a complete stop, unless it specifically says so. Oh, nevermind. It would be better if you just went back from wherever you came from.
@rob – give me a break! Pedestrians lives should not be endangered by simply walking the streets of their neighborhood!
People need to slow down! People need to be polite! People need to be aware!
The question could also be asked; “If you know that the area is dangerous to walk a stroller, or to walk your dogs to the park; why do it?” It might not be the perfect solution to drive your kids, or dogs to the park, but it may be reality.Why endanger the kids and dogs, if you know that that is how it is?I mean, what do you want? Will it happen by complaining about it? Take some responsibility for your own safety.
The comment referred to crossing Roosevelt, which has sidewalks on both sides. If there are sidewalks, I don’t see why joggers or dogs should be in the street.
@Tim
I’d ask you the reverse question. Why should joggers with dogs be banned from our neighborhood’s streets?
Most of the time I jaywalk across Roosevelt when cars are out of sight, both ways. It is safer than getting to the intersection where you have to eyeball cars from four directions and decipher everybody’s mood, intentions and level of distraction…
Northgate Heights, I like that. We call it “Maple Leaf Adjacent”.
What is the scoop on a sidewalk between Roosevelt and 5th NE? Seems we should get at least one side of one street done in conjunction with the light rail station. NE 103rd, NE 104th, NE 105th: Any or all of them need a sidewalk.
If they can afford a $5,000,000 pedestrian bridge over the freeway, maybe they can drop $100,000 on a sidewalk that goes two blocks. How about one all the way to 15th NE?
Behave safely no matter if you are driving, walking or biking. It takes two to tangle.
@Tim – a LOT of ML is without sidewalks. So if you walk/run – you’re doing it in the STREET.
Why do dogs and joggers need to be in the road?
If you drive 25MPH, you are absolutely flying down our side streets. Yet you aren’t speeding, and I think that’s a pretty big problem.
Of course it is important for pedestrians to take responsibility for their safety but let’s also consider what kind of neighborhood we want to live in.
I personally want one where cars can get where they need to go, but where people don’t have to frantically wave orange flags to cross Roosevelt, where a jogger with her dog can venture into the road, and where children can play (gasp) even in the streets sometimes.
A couple of thoughts. I can’t even imagine if there is a sidewalk to not use it. I also get the being a little aggressive about indicating you want to cross, but…..Here is the thing. If you have a stroller you are not about to put it out there in harms way. I almost had my stroller hit years back from someone just backing out of their driveway (and I was on a sidewalk). They had a large hedge and a stroller is low and hard to see. Also folks in wheelchairs aren’t too anxious to get onto the road early either.
These two populations in particular will use the road if there are no sidewalks because have you ever tried pushing a stroller in gravel? Also cars park where the sidewalk should be and force you onto the road even on a good day.
Again, we need to pay special attention to vulnerable population.
We walk a lot & usually walk to work too – unfortunately our area of ML doesn’t have sidewalks & that just makes it all the worse. My own neighbors (who have kids themselves) – speed like crazy down our hill, zipping past kids & dogs who dobt even have the protection of bein on a sidewalk.
I bought one of those red signs – after several of my neighbors did. Not that it does anything about the speeding problem, but I hope it will 🙂
There will be another tragic accident & then maybe people will slow down.
There is this program, but you have to get signatures from neighbors, before the citdo will do anything for you http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ntcp_calming.htm
@Jeff:
“Take a little ownership of your situation and maybe walk an extra block or two to get to the corners with the orange flags or the stop light.”
You stop that right now. Common sense will not be tolerated when discussing politically charged issues in Seattle 🙂
I think that everyone (not just drivers) need to take some responsibility here. I cannot count how many times, I have come around a corner in Maple Leaf and almost hit a runner or dog walker who walking or jogging down the middle of the road. Just because you have a dog or are jogging, it does not mean that you get to take over the roads. Use the sidewalk, turn your music down, and be aware that there are actual cars that drive down our streets. That said, if you need to cross the busier streets – walk to the corners that have the orange flags and grab one of those to aid you in crossing the streets. Don’t act helpless as if every car needs to approach every corner on the lookout for the random person that needs to cross. Take a little ownership of your situation and maybe walk an extra block or two to get to the corners with the orange flags or the stop light.
I don’t think Maple Leaf is any different than the rest of the city, which is to say there is a significant and increasing problem with aggressive and inattentive drivers AND bicyclists.
In Maple Leaf it is bad enough that I routinely walk or cycle well out of my way to use the controlled crosswalk at at 88th & Roosevelt rather than try to cross anyplace else. It is just too dangerous otherwise. But recently I’ve seen motorists – and a cyclist – run through the 88th St. crossing against the red light – one motorist giving all the pedestrians the middle finger in the process.
On the side streets “anything goes” – a few months ago I had one motorist rev his engine and accelerate directly at me as I crossing at a traffic circle intersection. Again, the standard-issue raised middle finger. Today an impatient driver went around a traffic circle the wrong way (the car in front of him was paused to allow the car on his right to go through the circle) – the wrong way driver nearly ran into the car going around the circle legally. I was approaching the intersection on my bicycle when saw it happen and pulled to the curb to make sure I was well out of the way of the impatient driver – who roared past St. Catherine’s like a bat out of hell. You know – St Catherine’s, the school?
Last month it was a cyclist that ran a stop sign that almost cleaned my clock…
Meanwhile, the radar speed signs on 15th have almost completely lost any deterrent effect. Stand at either for long during commute times and you’ll see driver’s blasting by them as they are flashing RED (over 40 miles per hour).
And cellphone use while driving? I thought there was a law?
I could cite story after story. I live and work in this neighborhood and I travel mostly by foot or bicycle, occasionally by car. Whatever mode of transport I use, I encounter a dangerous situation almost daily.
I always try to cross at 88th and Roosevelt and use the stop lights I do the same thing up at 94th. I encourage everybody I know to always hit those buttons to cross and stop the traffic to make them aware of us.
I also agree with the earlier sentiments that you have to act very assertive as if you’re going to walk right out in front of them.
I cross 15th going to the park with two kids very often as well. Its easier if you go down further and cross where the Jewish school is. No cars park on that side of street on the corner where the mail box is. I have much better luck and better visibility crossing there.
Just a thought that might help out.
I live on the east side of 15th and walk with my two young kids to the playground several times a week. We always cross 15th on 88th. It’s a nightmare. Yes, I’ve never had to wait more than 10 minutes and it’s usually under 5. But when you’re pushing a long double stroller and cars are parked on 15th up to the corner of the intersection, at 5 feet tall it’s impossible to see if cars are coming. And when they do come, over half of them are going much faster than 30mph. I literally have to park the stroller with my two kids, then peek my body into the road to get drivers’ attention so they can see me (otherwise I’m hidden behin the parked cars) and then when I finally encounter a polite driver who stops, I can unpark the stroller and cross. I think it’s dangerous and frankly quite absurd that with the reopening of the park, they couldn’t think of adding a pedestrian light or at least a crosswalk on 15th and 88th. If you want to cross 15th without dealing with traffic roulette, you are forced to cross at Lake City or Northgate. I mean, really. It’s nonesense. We claim we are pedestrian friendly and we say safety first, but that is certainly not reflected anywhere along 15th.
Much of the problem resides with idiot pedestrians, and bicyclers.They seem to think they can cross wherever and whenever they choose. then they become angry at automobile traffic. Lets see some personal accountability, shall we? Don`t be stupid.
I don’t personally think we have that much of a pedestrian safety problem in Maple Leaf. Just like anything else the issues occur from a small handful of outliers.
For example: most people are careful and stop for pedestrians if given enough “notice” or “sign” from the person that they actually intend to cross. And most pedestrians are smart enough to be cautious and provide most sort of signal to drivers.
The idiot drivers that race around with complete disregard are a select few that probably won’t adhere to any new laws anyway. The stuck up pedestrians that think they can make an immediate 90 degree turn without any hesitation into the street will never be cautious or compromise unless they get hit or no cars exist.
As with most policy and political issues in this country:
Clowns to the left, Jokers to the right, and the rest of us stuck in the middle 🙂
Seldom do I feel unsafe as a pedestrian anywhere in Maple Leaf, with or without kids. I know I’m probably in the minority with that sentiment.
The idea of a coordinated neighborhood transportation plan, I believe, has come up at Community Council meetings before. That’s our first step. Interested parties could start by simply scribbling their ideas on a Google map.
We absolutely can figure out how to fund sidewalks for the “Northgate Heights” portion of our hamlet. We can also make it difficult for vehicles to cut across the hill by making more of our streets one-way. There are other measures.
Finally—I know you’re going to hate this, but—if take a few steps into on-coming traffic, not as to get hit, but as exhibit a little assertiveness, cars will stop almost every time.
NE 88th is becoming a thoroughfare for big trucks of late…a connection between 15th and Roosevelt it seems; and they go through with amazing speed ruining our traffic circle over and over again. Same with cars…it’s like it’s a raceway. Not sure why everyone is in a hurry, but I’m getting pretty tired of it. Seems we’re all waiting for the next big accident to occur.
You don’t have to be a parent to be worried about the lack of awareness and speed of some cars. I walk and run with my dog a few times a day and can’t tell you how many times I’ve come close to being hit, and I pay really good attention. The main problem for me is the side streets off 5th and Roosevelt – cars fully drive past the stop signs before stopping and by that point they would have hit a pedestrian crossing the road.
Crossing 15th Ave NE is a nightmare. We live on the east side of the 15th and often try to cross by the puppet center. I’m continuously astounded that an adult with kids, a baby stroller and a dog can stand there on the street waiting to cross while car after car whizzes by. It’s frustrating and dangerous. A pedestrian crosswalk absolutely should be installed somewhere on that street to allow safe crossing, especially at rush hour.
I am out on the sidewalks of our neighborhood at least once a day almost every day. Much of my travel on foot is in the areas most commenters are mentioning and I wholeheartedly agree there is a safety issue for pedestrians in this neighborhood. The two issues I see most are, as Sarah mentioned above, drivers not stopping at the stop sign. They roll through the stop sign and the crosswalk to pull out to see if cars are coming. I would say 80% of the time, they aren’t looking at the direction away from oncoming traffic at all. I can’t signal them or make it clear I’m about to cross if they aren’t looking. This results in a run with a stop at every block. (If you’re a runner, you know how ridiculous this is). The second issue is that people don’t stop on Roosevelt or 15th for pedestrians. As a pedestrian, I take the responsibility of paying attention to drivers and watching to see if they’re paying attention. I have never attempted to cross Roosevelt or 15th on foot at any point other than an intersection. My expectation that drivers pay attention and stop for me at intersections isn’t stupid. It’s the law and it’s frustrating how often drivers break that law. And they’re the the ones in the vehicle that can kill me or a child or an animal. I don’t think a little caution and maybe the 30-40 seconds it takes to stop for a pedestrian are outrageous. As a driver, I stop in front of stop signs and look both ways for pedestrians before pulling out to look at traffic. And I stop for pedestrians at intersections. And I can’t imagine being angry that I am expected, and again legally required, to do it.
If anyone would like to read the actual laws for drivers and pedestrians, you can find them here:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/Laws.htm
I have always been concerned about pedestrian safety and the walkability of neighborhoods. I just have to say though how very lucky most of Maple Leaf is to have sidewalks. Once you get north of 85th there are very few.
Sadly I can recall incidents back in the day, trying to cross 5th Ave in the rain with my baby in a stroller and having police cars just pass on by and not stop. It’s really pretty shameful.
Places where kids hang out we should be especially watchful. Signs may help initially but then they just become but of then landscape after a bit.
I walk a lot in the neighborhood and find two of the main problems to be 15th Ave NE (an arterial with no sidewalks for much of its length) and Roosevelt Way NE (an arterial that is very difficult to cross (on foot, by bike, or in a car)). Walking certainly feels more dangerous at rush hour and during the school rush hours.
The Northgate Coordinated Transportation Investment Plan had some interesting studies and details, which you can read is some of the files at the bottom of the page below:
http://ebookbrowsee.net/miraicover-soq-letter-pdf-d112945309