The sign on the new pedestrian island stating local law requires yielding to pedestrians, has been run over.
7th & Washington
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here’s a pic. couldn’t upload last night.
http://twitpic.com/lpziu
Well, that certainly gives me confidence that my middle schooler will be safe crossing there. Arrrgh.
Doesn’t look run over–no visible damage to the post or signs. More like pulled out or poorly anchored (or both.)
It’s going to be very dangerous having the crosswalk only one block from the Huron/7th corner. Cars heading south on 7th after passing through the intersection are going to have only a few hundred feet to respond to folks in the crosswalk. It comes up on you quickly and if you aren’t aware or never travel along 7th, this is going to be the site of a serious accident.
The bolts holding the bottom of the sign post had been ripped from the concrete, and tthe metal plate bent. Something powerful knocked this baby down.
Alan, the crosswalk already existed, including signs. Kids cross there to get to and from school. The island was added to make it safer for them and other pedestrians. I agree with you about the short reaction space, which I think is probably closer to 100 feet than a few hundred.
Thanks for the additional info, Trevor. If it was run over, I wouldn’t be surprised. Driving that stretch from the south at night (twice in the last week or so), even though I was aware of the island, I couldn’t see it until very close. I wonder if the rise there is such that headlights don’t hit the reflective bars or signs until you get within a few car lengths of them. I’m also not remembering if there is (or was) a flashing yellow traffic light. In any case, the whole intersection seemed dark both times.
Yes, there is a flashing yellow light. There is also a fair amount of automobile cross-traffic at that intersection and plenty of reason to slow down enough to have good visibility.
Steve, I wasn’t supporting running over school children. Just pointing out this was going to be an issue–the amount of traffic and stopping cars at the island.
And you are right–it’s probably a hundred feet between Hurn and Washington Streets.
My friend Max hit it last night around 6:30 last night. He was turning left on to Seventh off of Washington. And even though the sign got pretty messed up I think his car took the worst of it.
It would be a lot safer if people actually went the speed limit on 7th, rather than use it as a drag strip. From beginning to end, there’s not a single business on 7th St, yet its treated like its Stadium Blvd by drivers. I feel much better w/ the island there, and since its been put there I’ve had more cars stop for me while crossing than I have in the last 3 yrs of crossing there.
For the record, the flashing yellow light was already there (and has been for over a decade).
I was wishing the island was on the other side – the YMCA side instead of the school side (lots of kids cross Washington at 9th, in front of the school – and that’s the side I’ve historically walked on!) but that would even be shorter. Didn’t realize that was an issue but it makes sense now.
You’re absolutely right, Rob! The speed limit – 30 MPH – is not often followed nor enforced, despite pleas from residents. I’m nearly rear-ended every day when I pull into my driveway.