Decatur Police Conduct Pedestrian Crosswalk Education Initiative
Decatur Metro | June 12, 2013
From The Decatur Minute…
On May 31 the Decatur Police Department conducted a pedestrian crosswalk education initiative to follow up with the previous crosswalk education and enforcement activity on May 2 that addressed drivers. Officers targeted crosswalks at the intersections of Commerce Drive and W. Ponce de Leon Ave.; Church Street and E. Trinity Place; and Church Street and Sycamore St.
Officers made contact with 30 pedestrians who were attempting to cross the roadway improperly. They did not issue citations but did distribute a pamphlet created by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to educate those pedestrians and they answered questions concerning pedestrian safety. They also distributed an additional 20 pamphlets to pedestrians who asked about what was happening.
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Did any of the pedestrians “attempting to cross the roadway” trip on the crumbling faux brick crosswalks that lasted all of about 5 minutes? They are looking really bad, almost embarrassing. Anyone know any updates on when we might get something worthy of our walkable reputation?
I’ve asked about it intermittently and have been told multiple times that it’s under investigation. They’re obviously going to be replaced, but I don’t know what the hold up is.
The hold-up is that somebody has sense enough to not keep throwing away good money on something that’s bound to keep failing. Faux bricks and beer trucks don’t mix!
Google “brick crosswalks replaced” to see how many places have yanked them out.
still spouting on pea green
So, what is an attempted improper roadway cross?
I bet one was attempting to cross against a vehicle turn light. Lots of folks seemed to have missed out on the rule that the vehicle has the right of way during a turn light.
Bruce, I think it means they were jaywalking – not crossing at the crosswalks/intersections.
Is this really a good use of police resources? How many people have been hit by cars in the past 6 months compared to how many homes have been burgled? A Patch story earlier this week has something like 5 homes burglarized in the past month. Having po-po passing out flyers teaching people how to walk across the street just seems a little silly.
Personally, I think that, within reason, this is an excellent use of police resources to prevent accidents before they happen. I’ve had so many people try to cross when they don’t have the walk light that it is clear some education needs to happen. I had to stop in the middle of the intersection at Commerce and Clairmont one night while this drunk guy crossed without the light. He even reached out and hit my car with his fist while I was stopped to let him cross. It really seems to happen a lot.
Sure, if there is evidence the police are ignoring burglaries and passing out brochures instead, then that would be another thing. But I don’t see anything that leads me to believe that.
You may count me as a person who has been hit by a car in the last six months. It’s not fun.
speaking only for myself, of course, but lack of education is not the reason why i (hypothetically, i don’t break laws #NSA) cross the street without respecting the authority and wisdom of the colored light bulbs.
Seriously? For a community that trumpets its walkability, it is absolutely a good use of police resources. In fact, my experience in working in downtown Decatur since 1995 is that pedestrians are far more frequently careless than drivers. People cross streets just about anywhere they please, when walking half a block one way lands you at a crosswalk. People often frequently ignore “Don’t Walk” lights under the guise that, because they ARE using an official crosswalk, they automatically have the right of way, regardless of light sequence.
I guess I am in the minority here. When I see people crossing the street when there are crosswalks readily available, my first thought isn’t that they need more education and training to learn how to use them. I just assume they are in a hurry, or are willfully disregarding them because it’s more convenient for them to cross wherever they are. But apparently this is a point of confusion, and I am genuinely surprised by that.
Not so sure about education but training, yes. Human beings can have irrational, automatic reflex behaviors that have to be re-wired. A weird one for me is that my reflex as a driver is to come to a complete stop at a crosswalk with one of those yellow, pedestrian in-the-middle-of-the-street crosswalk signs, EVEN if no one is in the crosswalk or anywhere near. Some subconscious part of my brain is saying–“An object is in the road so stop just in case you’re supposed to”. It drives my family crazy and they are always screaming at me “Don’t stop, Mom! There’s no pedestrians. You’re only supposed to stop if there’s someone crossing!”. Consequently, now, when I come to a yellow pedestrian crossing sign in the middle of the street, my brain flashes to my family screaming at me and I remember to check whether anyone is crossing and I really have to stop. So my brain has been rewired. Pedestrian brains have to be rewired from “I’m on this side of the street and want to cross so I’ll search for a free path across” to “I want to cross so I’ll look for the nearest crosswalk”.
Now how to do that training, rewiring is another story. I could lend my family.
“Education” consists not only of providing information but also setting expectations. I hope that on some level, the message is being conveyed (and will be backed up) that pedestrians are expected to observe traffic laws, the laws of common courtesy, and friggin’ common sense–just as they/we are always yammering that motorists should do.
It’s worth adding that the more jaywalkers generally, and the more uncertainty specifically, introduced into a particular street environment, the safer it becomes. Counterintuitive, yes, but true. When people are just a little unsure what other people are going to do, they drive with considerably greater care.
Monderman!
I’d love to see the police patrol spots in Decatur other than downtown. Then you would find out
how many cars ignore pedestrians. Try Adair and Howard or anywhere along college ave. It’s frightening.
as a driver, here’s my confusion:
i’m driving down W. Ponce, approaching a marked crosswalk
i notice someone standing on the curb/not in the crosswalk–they haven’t taken a step off the curb to indicate they plan to enter the crosswalk as i approach.
should i stop for them? usually i do, but sometimes they’re waiting for another ped to cross with them, or they’re on the phone and want to finish a call (i guess) before crossing . . .
also. sometimes i find pedestrians stepping into the crosswalk without regard to the safe stopping distance cars require. how about a 1/3 or 1/4 of a block “red zone” (marked on the curb with a stripe) within which it is unsafe for pedestrians to enter a crosswalk.
and maybe we need to implement a “Walker’s Intention to Cross” gesture. let’s make it similar to the Braves tomahawk chop that serves as a sign to oncoming drivers that though you’re not in the crosswalk, you’re about to enter it.
gimme three “chops” before i reach the red zone and when no other pedestrians are presently in the crosswalk –that’ll clear up lots of confusion for me.
and before you say, “surely you’re not serious–you must be joking . . .”
no, i’m not joking.
and don’t call me Shirley.
How about a walk/jog/march in place pantomime? Or a stationary silly walk?
This made me laugh.
YES, Rival, we could form a festival competition around this, with the best signal to walk winning and being officially adopted.
Maybe we could work a competition into beer fest this year. I know I always walk with more gusto after visiting Brick Store or Square Pub.
I actually have a “HEY! Walker INTENDED to cross” hand signal.
i typically give a head nod and a wave that says “hey, thanks for paying attention to me as i step out into the street”
You are far more genteel than I. And I admire your restraint.
that i’m usually twirling a baton and have a penchant for sparkly outfits probably doesn’t hurt either.
+1
What are the chances that we can get DeKalb Police to do this education on Candler Road and/or Memorial?
The county and state spent lots of money putting in mid-block crossings complete with pedestrian activated lights. Nobody uses them. I hate driving that road at night and have had to dodge quite a few people who just walk out into traffic wherever they want.
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Sally Flocks with PEDS (404-685-8722) could probably coordinate this for you.
Memorial and Columbia is the WORST! People routinely run out in front of my car at the Burger King and the Taco Bell. There is a crosswalk not but 30 feet away in both cases and they choose to weave through moving cars. No concept of self-preservation at all.
I agree, Memorial is horrible. I used to live within eyeshot of Memorial Drive. So many times I would see people jaywalk, instead of using the crosswalk. Cars tend to drive fast on Memorial, and there are A LOT of accidents near Rupert/Memorial. It would amaze me when people would jaywalk while pushing a stroller or with small kids in tow!