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Since I've moved into the city I walk most of time and drive rather infrequently. I just don't share this sentiment that being a pedestrian is so unsafe around here and we need to make alot of wholesale changes like installing these Barnes Dance things.

I'm not sure why I have such a different experience than you each claim seem to have. I mostly walk Penn Quarter, Chinatown and the Mount Vernon Triangle. I suppose these areas don't have the traffic circles that can be troublesome. But I've never have the least bit danger from cars while walking around my hood. Then again, I cross at the crosswalks, generally wait for the cross signals, and only jaywalk if there is no oncoming traffic.

On the flip side, when I drive in these same areas I've been subjected to peril from pedestrians with frequency. Certain people seem to think that you can jaywalk at anytime and anywhere. They don't just jaywalk when cars aren't present or at a safe distance. They seem to think that as long begin to cross earlier enough for oncoming traffic to see them that's all that is required. They will then cross diagonally and very leisurely to ensure they stay in the road as long as possible. In some cases I've seen pedestrians jump out to jaywalk as my car approached when there was no traffic behind me and they could have merely waited 3 or 4 seconds for me to pass then they would have had all day to cross. I don't get it...

by Cascades on Jun 22, 2008 2:21 am • link • report