Jack

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.

Motorists are being asked to pay attention to an awful lot and neither pedestrians nor bicyclists take this into account. We are asked to notice signage - overhead, on the road and on the roadside. We have to constantly watch other cars through our front window, side windows, side mirrors and rearview mirror to avert accidents due to changing lanes, passing vehicles, erratic driving, whatever. We are asked to make way for bicyclists, most of whom do not obey the law. I constantly see bicyclists coming alongside and slightly to the rear of cars stopping for a stop light. They are waiting for the traffic to clear so they can cross on the red or turn right. If the car turns right, legally, on red, he chances hitting the cyclist trying to go through the red. I had a cyclist come up behind me at a stop sign the other day and make a u-turn right in front of my vehicle. My observation is that very few cyclists obey traffic laws. Pedestrians seem to walk wherever they please. Middle of the street and no crosswalk, cars coming. Hey, what the heck, no problem. Additionally, we have to keep track of whose turn it is at stop signs, even allowing for pedestrians to pass. It's a lot. The questionnaire was biased and I had to remove any comments in the comment area in order for the results to be submitted. My fear is that if we ask drivers to pay attentrion to much more, we are creating a recipie for disaster. The crosswalk on Washtenaw is dangerous and awful. Iwould never use it as a pedestrian and I'm afraid to stop as a driver.

CynicA2

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.

The pedestrian dodo bird signal was obviously designed by someone who never drives a car in an urban setting - it does nothing that couldn't be done more simply and cost effectively with a couple more stop signs, or a conventional signal. Or at least make the damned thing a 4-way so the cross traffic at Chapin/Third isn't sitting there trying to figure-out when it's safe to go. Another example of clueless Hieftjeism.

Atticus F.

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.

I think some people here woulld rather put "I was right" on their tombstones, than act in a safe manner.

Major

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.

Whatever happened to self preservation and common sense? I walk, I ride a bike, I drive a car......due to my common sense and self preservation, I do NOT ride in the street, or walk obliviously across streets trusting lights, laws and drivers. Sure, bikes and legs have the right of way, but if it all goes wrong...which is the norm in this Tree town......bikes and legs cant argue with 2 tons of steel with a distracted driver at the wheel! As to that "horrible waste of money" pedestrian light at Huron and Chapin/3rd, what were they thinking? There are so many other places that people actually cross the street that could use that light...why there? And why is it I'm getting stopped there with NO ONE CROSSING???

Mermaidswim

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.

I travel Plymouth Road at least twice a day. Crosswalks are frequently near the bus stop. It is sometimes difficult to tell if pedestrians are crossing or waiting for a bus. I almost always stop. However cars behind me almost always zoom around me in the other lane. I almost saw pedestrians struck. I stopped in left lane. Pedestrians saw me stop and stepped into the roadway, not noticing the right lane had not stopped. They came within inches of being struck by speeding car. I immediately called 911, relayed the incident. Someone assured me that the police would increase enforcement, however I have yet to see that. All midblock crosswalks should have the red light system like the one near the YMCA! Especially on Plymouth Road.

Sally

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.

Major roads into and around a2 should have signs saying "You MUST STOP for pedestrians in crosswalksl It's the law." Then both residents and visitors would be clear on what is required of them in a2.

Roger

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.

The questionnaire is disingenuous at best. It shows photos, supposedly from a car's perspective, with no traffic, off from the right sidewalk. Put a camera in a low car behind a truck going the posted speed limit in heavy traffic, and then take the photos. That's the perspective. You have a split second in many cases. Also, education is important for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians equally. Cyclists regularly break the traffic laws. Peds cross in non-crosswalk situations. And motorists are responsible for all of them. How about personal responsibility? If you want to change the behavior of motorists, 70,000 of them who drive in from outside Ann Arbor everyday, you need to change the roadways. Many of the intersections are places I drive everyday. Many times the speed limit of the road in question is too high to stop, or people are speeding. At the Stadium/Greenview crosswalk, you cannot tell if a motorist is driving 35 (the posted limit) or 65 (the jerk limit, apparently). Want a cheap solution to crosswalks that involve little to no police intervention? Speed controls like speed bumps, bridges in high traffic areas, and pedestrian crossways with lights (not that horrible one on Huron near the Y, but a true standard red/yellow/green light) would be good. Timing on lights to give an "all walk" cycle. I walk near the Power Center and BSRB daily, and the time to cross is about 12 seconds. The walk symbol gives you 5, with 10 saying don't walk. The video had many crossings that were completely unmarked, except for the paint on the road, that you often cannot see until you are right on it (at the posted speed limit). Summary: Better signage, smarter walkways, speed controls, and better timing on lights would be helpful as a start.

Atticus F.

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.

We used to teach our children to "look both ways before crossing the street"... Now we are telling them "just walk right into traffic, the cars will stop for you".

EasyArray

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 11:58 a.m.

I moved here a few years ago from Boston (which doesn't have the best rep for good driving!), and this is my least favorite thing about Ann Arbor. I don't jump out in front of cars in traffic at crosswalks. I try to wait until traffic has stopped. But still, the number of near-misses I've had in this town, crossing with a walk signal or at a stop sign is stunning. And the attitude, as reflected by the comments here, just adds insult to (almost) injury. The police obviously don't care -- I've been brushed back in a crosswalk by a police officer on his cell phone. People who think that pedestrians are rude for wanting to cross at a crosswalk, or for making a line of cars slow down for a few seconds while they cross mystify me. When I'm snug and comfortable in my heated car, I don't mind at all stopping for some shivering pedestrian. I know I'll get to the next stoplight at exactly the same time, no harm, no foul.

CynicA2

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 3:56 a.m.

What they really need to do is educate pedestrians and cyclists to look both ways and not enter the street/intersection when cars are approaching. The pedestrian "Hawk" is a dodo bird - a fatality-waiting-to-happen. If you are a driver northbound on Third, or southbound on Chapin, it is very difficult to see what the dodo bird signal is doing, as all the visual feedback is for drivers on W. Huron, and many out of town drivers have never encountered the dodo bird signal before. Only the car-haters in city hall would come-up with this damnable thing. A pox on all their houses... we'd all be better off if they just installed a regular traffic signal, or better yet, simply made it a four-way stop!

Macabre Sunset

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 12:20 a.m.

Every time I drive by the crosswalk on Plymouth and the one on Washtenaw near Platt, I am amazed. There is no way to use those safely. I stop if anyone's actually walking, but following the law and stopping while someone is waiting to cross while there's heavy traffic is risking their lives. I don't stop and encourage them to try and cross, because I don't want to inadvertently encourage them to do something that might cause death. I think the pedestrians are aware of the challenge, and I rarely see anyone attempting this death-defying feat. It's sheer stupidity to have a crosswalk on a four-lane road with no signal. And the one on Washtenaw I'd bet only one in five motorists realizes is a full, legal crosswalk.

A2transplant

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 11:43 p.m.

If you don't like the way I walk, then stay off the road, LOL!

Are you serious?

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.

I don't disagree with some of the comments and observations. However, pedestrians don't seem to be getting mowed down every day. They (and I) have adapted to the situation. Somewhat disingenuous of the youtube poster to put up a video that runs at double speed for part of the clip. It makes it look like many of those cars were going 60+.

clara

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 9:18 p.m.

First the bus; I have noticed at least two marked crosswalks on Washtenaw with bus stops. I stop but after waiting, discover or assume they are waiting for a bus. Yes, the bus stops to pick up passengers, blocking the view of the pedestrian half way across the street. I stopped at a crosswalk on E. Huron only to have a bus stop just short of the crosswalk, causing cars to swerve up behind me, see I was stopped, swerve to the right and pass me while someone is trying to cross. Second the video; many of those crossings were not at marked or labeled crosswalks. Third speed; in a 45 mph five lane road, it is not possible to stop on a dime whenever some 'approaches' a crosswalk. Do a HAWK crossing or move the crossing to an intersection. Fourth, education; when the first article came out there was talk of educating us, now, in this article here it is again, well? I am waiting . . . fliers? Instructional videos? What education, when?

MIKE

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.

The videos show people looking both ways before they cross, not "visceral fear". The law is simply ridiculous. There is no reason for flowing traffic to come to a screeching halt because someone need the cross RIGHT NOW! Put a stoplight up, and the problem will be solved.

Tom Joad

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.

The Ann Arbor Police need to hold cross walk stings. Do a search on youtube for similar activities. A plain clothed officer attempts to walk across the crosswalk and when the driver ignores his presence in the crosswalk he flags the car to a motorcycle officer who pulls him over. The youtube video posted above is highly typical of Michigan drivers who are oblivious to crosswalk laws. Even if one car stops that driver is placing the walker in mortal danger because the driver in the adjacent lane is clueless why the person is stopping and he plows on through. The cross walk at Washington and 7th is clearly marked by numerous signs and white crosswalk markings but it's almost impossible to cross that particular spot at many times unless you are bold and aggressive about getting across. Damn the driver.

Tom Joad

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.

It's an us (walkers) against them (drivers) mentality. Each and every venture across a cross walk is replete with danger and fear. I can't tell you how many times an impatient driver will right turn on red without even looking to the right (where the pedestrian is coming from) They are only interested to see if there is traffic coming. A polite yet firm tap on their front quarter panel has been used quite a few times for inattentive drivers. Pedestrians are not running ragged, hurried and late, like so many drivers are. We are relishing our walk and inherent exercise until some clod in an automobile comes along, trying to muscle his/her car into our path. Ann Arbor is NOT one of the safest cities to walk. San Francisco, a much bigger city with tremendous traffic, is much more pedestrian-friendly because the police enforce crosswalk violations. Not here. I've never seen a cop pull over a driver for not stopping at a cross walk.

loves_fall

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.

Oh -- one question in case anyone knows: If there's a ped island, what are the obligations of traffic? Is it like an emergency vehicle, where you only need to stop when they are on or approaching your side of the island, or are you supposed to stop for them if they're still on the far side and haven't reached the island? Similarly, can you continue once they've reached the island or are you supposed to sit until they've cleared the far side?

diagbum

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.

MDOT should use the X-walks on Plymouth and on Washtenaw near Platt for more HAWK pilot locations. <a href="http://www.heritage.com/articles/2010/11/08/ann_arbor_journal/news/doc4cd41c62b2f2f121818035.txt" rel='nofollow'>http://www.heritage.com/articles/2010/11/08/ann_arbor_journal/news/doc4cd41c62b2f2f121818035.txt</a>

grye

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 6:12 p.m.

I cross Plymouth Rd near Georgetown almost every day walking to and from work. I have had only 1 person stop for me while I was in the crosswalk. Most people change lanes and never slow down if I enter the street. I have suggested the City put up yield to pedestrian signs like those at the traffic circles. This might get the driver's attention but I won't bet the farm. One of these times I'm hoping to see an AAPD vehicle. It will be interesting to see if they stop.

SonnyDog09

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.

Why isn't the city also asking Pedestrians to test their knowledge? Why not bicyclists, too? Why just &quot;motorists?&quot;

loves_fall

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.

I'm going to be a grump (as usual) and complain that the police need to enforce the new laws if they want them followed. I grudgingly stop for peds approaching the crosswalk, and in a lot of cases (e.g., on Plymouth during rush hour) it creates a more dangerous situation for the ped, because there's no guarantee that anyone else is going to stop for them.