First Avenue in downtown Spokane is reduced to one lane while police investigate a truck-pedestrian accident this morning. Post is blocked from Sprague to Second avenues.
A female pedestrian was hit by a truck in a crosswalk about 7:30 a.m. Police say her injuries are life-threatening and the driver could be charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian.
A pickup was turning left from First Avenue onto Post Street on a green light when it hit the woman, who had a walk signal.
This scares me because it happens to me ALL THE TIME downtown. I try to cross the street right in front of our building, always with the walk signal, and nine times out of ten I get cussed out by people waiting to turn right. I always yell at them, 'I've got the walk signal!!' but they usually yell back. Anyone else experiencing this on a fairly regular basis in Spokane?
10 comments:
I rarely have drivers yell at me. But I do find that the signed and painted crosswalk crossing Spokane Falls Blvd at the end of Lincoln (going from Nordstroms to City Hall) to be very dangerous. I've had them drive in front of and behind me while I'm in the middle of the crosswalk. Try it during the noon hour sometime. Wear your running shoes and prepare to be nimble.
I've had many dealings with that intersection Hank and have experienced much of the same as you. I also dislike that one because the wait for the signal is so long, yet once you get it, it changes so quickly.
I don't think we're talking about the same intersection. There's no signal.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lincoln+and+spokane+falls+blvd,+spokane,+wa&sll=47.770931,-117.388122&sspn=0.006374,0.015514&ie=UTF8&ll=47.662642,-117.424021&spn=0.006388,0.015514&z=16&iwloc=A
You're right, I was thinking of the crosswalk between City Hall and the backside of Riverpark Square. I haven't used the one in a while that you're referring too. I don't get much west of City Hall these days, as that's where most of my business dealings take me. Or to the Courthouse or Health District, but then I cut across the Post Street Bridge.
Be you a pedestrian or a cyclist, motorists in this town think they own the road... and it really irks me most of the time.
Would love to see how _they_ feel the next time they're walking from their car to some storefront and they nearly have their toes flattened by a car who just can't wait 5 seconds to let them by.
Being behind the wheel of a car means that everyone outside of your vehicle has suddenly lost their humanity, right?
I kind of think it's a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde thing because I have seen people who won't step on an ant get in a car and swear a blue streak at a bicyclist on a busy road.
I really think more public eduction coupled with law enforcement would make a huge difference. Maybe having a few streets as "pedestrian and bike only" for a few weeks would make a difference.
Motorists really need to chill out and have a moment of awareness and patience when dealing with traffic issues, especially regarding those that are protected by law.
Is anyone enforcing the law out there?
We do have enforcement here but, just like everywhere else, the lack of funding means there will never be enough enforcement. There are occasional crosswalk stings though. There was one just a couple weeks ago in fact.
As for making a few streets 'bike and pedestrian only' for a few weeks, that becomes VERY political. Local business owners get upset when you bring up the subject and complain to their city council members or county commissioners. There is a non-motorized group I'm part of that is working on a pilot 'car free day.' If we can get it off the ground and it's a success, we'd like to do more.
True about the bike and ped only street thing. I guess the extremist in me escaped for a few moments on that one! :)
Whenever you are moving with some heavy trucks like digger derricks, you should be more careful. These trucks have outstanding suspension systems.
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