7th & Washington

Did you see the video about pedestrian crossings in Ann Arbor, at this juncture and others? [YouTube video]

Thanks for sharing that video. Unfortunately, if one stops at one of these crosswalks to yield the right of way for a pedestrain, there is a good chance you will be rear-ended, especially traveling south on Seventh near Washington.

We need a few of these in Ann Arbor to slow down the cars: [YouTube Video]

If the law is causing driving to be more dangerous, then it should be changed.

However, if everyone knew of the city ordinance giving pedestrians the right of way, we would be prepared for the possibility of traffic stopping at crosswalks. All those signs that are at crosswalks aren’t just a heads-up that there may be pedestrians in the area. They are reminders that the law says pedestrians have the right of way.

Of course, this whole thing started with someone running over one of those signs… again. So maybe you’re right David, we shouldn’t count on drivers to follow the law.

Speed bumps before these crosswalks — especially on 7th and Plymouth — would be great. Both are miserable to cross.

The sign was replaced yesterday, 12/21, and by 6:30 pm was knocked down again.

Matt, with the horrible condition of Ann Arbor city streets with potholes and the like, there really isn’t a need any longer for speedbumps.

Have any of you been through that intersection at night? They didn’t add any lighting at all, so all four corners and the crosswalks themselves are unlit. It’s really hard to see pedestrians on the corners who might be stepping out.

If the ‘local law’ is going to remain there, it would be very helpful to have increased lighting on each of the four corners and hanging lighting over the crosswalks themselves. If I’m supposed to stop for pedestrians, I need to be able to see them.

The sign on 7th & Wash. was originally run over by a driver coming east on washington who wasn’t able to stop because of icy conditions on the hill during a freezing rain episode one night.

And what; you need all sorts of flashing lights and bells and whistles to look out for pedestrians? We are talking about side streets where you are responsible for driving at a prudent speed, especially at night. Too bad people on 7th treat it like a freeway.

And many of the places shown on the pedx videos are places where you have the most out of town commuters and frankly, they don’t give a damn. It will take a few deaths before anything gets done about the situation, unfortunately. That is how it works. Good to hear people discussing it, now if only our elected officials DID something about it.

What do you suggest they do about it, Bear?