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To: MaryFromMichigan
She shouldn't have gotten off the bus a half mile from the crosswalk if she needed to cross the street.

This road would give most drivers the grues, let alone pedestrians. It's the main artery through Marietta, it's five widelanes, lots of commercial development so visually very confusing to drivers, very busy in the evenings, speed limit 45 iirc but many drivers go faster.

Trying to save a half mile walk by getting off the bus in the middle of a long block and jaywalking was a very bad call.

22 posted on 07/26/2011 5:08:36 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: AnAmericanMother; Krankor
Trying to jaywalk with little kids in tow was a fatal mistake, but a long walk with little kids in tow would tempt many of us to try the same thing.

I don't know the street involved, but as one who walks and cycles (in the city) more than most, pedestrian-unfriendly street design is a pet peeve. Roads easily become barriers to anyone not in a car. How frequent the crossings need to be depends on the texture of the neighborhood and the nature of the cross traffic, but I doubt if this woman was hopping off the bus in the middle of an industrial park. If there is a shopping center, grocery, park, school, or apartment complex at that location, there should be a way to get across the street.

I don't think it's radical to insist that roads in urban areas should have sidewalks and frequent crossings at pedestrian friendly intervals. Commuters need to remember that their expressways are bisecting neighborhoods where other people live, and might actually want to cross the street regularly. If pedestrian traffic is relatively light, fine; put up a traffic light with a button for pedestrians to press.

And if that marginally inconveniences the almighty commuters in their @!@&^(*!## cars, that's tough. People who actually live in the area take precedence over people zipping through. If the commute is too long, live closer to the job.

35 posted on 07/26/2011 6:01:16 AM PDT by sphinx
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