Such BS. There are plenty of times that I've barely made it across streets due to short walk signals - one wonders of there is a DOT standard that is as unflexible as the ones that dictate the proximity of a driveway to an intersection.
I almost got run over at the intersection of Hoover and (I think) 30th one night, because the green light & walk signal last for about five seconds at the east/west crossing. Nobody walks in LA because the design gives cars priority.
My mother-in-law & sister-in-law were both hit by a car in a crossing walk in San Antonio. My sister-in-law said the "WALK" light turned before they could get all the way across. The officer at the scene said that he could not determine who was at fault because a witness mentioned that the "Don't Walk" sign was lit when the accident happened. Well spare me!! They were three-quaters of the way across the street when they were hit!!! What ever happened to the rule that "The Pedestrian Always Has the Right-of-Way?!" My mother-in-law had to have her hip replaced and has not been able to walk right since. They both suffered from phycological trauma, especially my mother-in-law, in thinking that she is old and worthless.
Reality Check! Why can't TxDot, Urban planners, polititians, and architects of these big-box retail monstrosities think about the mobility needs of the elderly, poor, and young who can't drive or afford a car? Are these cities and suburbs we blindly build really where we want to live when we are old and/or disabled? What about our children and our teenagers? Car accidents are the leading cause of teen fatalities. Ironic isn't it that we are NOT "thinking outside the box" when it comes to planning and design of our urban centers? Who are we that we allow the almighty automobile to take precedence over human life?! With gas prices heading towards $3/gal by summer, I hope this American obsession will become too painful to solely maintain... not to mention the strains of the demanding needs of the aging baby-boomer population, who no doubt had a hand in this uncomfortable mono-mobile community predicament.
Don't get me wrong... I am NOT again the car but I am for adaquate and dignified transportation CHOICES (the option to walk is one of them). I know I am preaching to the choir about this, but I vow to at least be an advocate for sustainable-walkable-livable communities, and pay attention to political agendas so that I can vote the right people into office. I urge all to do the same and spread the word - or better yet... throw a pot of black coffee on those folks at TxDOT to wake them up out of their stupor. The majority of our transportation tax dollars goes toward improving freeways and roadways based on 10-year-old plans. Now they are trying to put in toll roads to help pay for new roads to relieve the traffic headaches going out towards the new suburban sprawl develoments. "GIVE US A BRAKE!"
Apr 11, 06 11:54 pm ·
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Such BS. There are plenty of times that I've barely made it across streets due to short walk signals - one wonders of there is a DOT standard that is as unflexible as the ones that dictate the proximity of a driveway to an intersection.
its an awful place to be old. awful. cars over people.
I almost got run over at the intersection of Hoover and (I think) 30th one night, because the green light & walk signal last for about five seconds at the east/west crossing. Nobody walks in LA because the design gives cars priority.
My mother-in-law & sister-in-law were both hit by a car in a crossing walk in San Antonio. My sister-in-law said the "WALK" light turned before they could get all the way across. The officer at the scene said that he could not determine who was at fault because a witness mentioned that the "Don't Walk" sign was lit when the accident happened. Well spare me!! They were three-quaters of the way across the street when they were hit!!! What ever happened to the rule that "The Pedestrian Always Has the Right-of-Way?!" My mother-in-law had to have her hip replaced and has not been able to walk right since. They both suffered from phycological trauma, especially my mother-in-law, in thinking that she is old and worthless.
Reality Check! Why can't TxDot, Urban planners, polititians, and architects of these big-box retail monstrosities think about the mobility needs of the elderly, poor, and young who can't drive or afford a car? Are these cities and suburbs we blindly build really where we want to live when we are old and/or disabled? What about our children and our teenagers? Car accidents are the leading cause of teen fatalities. Ironic isn't it that we are NOT "thinking outside the box" when it comes to planning and design of our urban centers? Who are we that we allow the almighty automobile to take precedence over human life?! With gas prices heading towards $3/gal by summer, I hope this American obsession will become too painful to solely maintain... not to mention the strains of the demanding needs of the aging baby-boomer population, who no doubt had a hand in this uncomfortable mono-mobile community predicament.
Don't get me wrong... I am NOT again the car but I am for adaquate and dignified transportation CHOICES (the option to walk is one of them). I know I am preaching to the choir about this, but I vow to at least be an advocate for sustainable-walkable-livable communities, and pay attention to political agendas so that I can vote the right people into office. I urge all to do the same and spread the word - or better yet... throw a pot of black coffee on those folks at TxDOT to wake them up out of their stupor. The majority of our transportation tax dollars goes toward improving freeways and roadways based on 10-year-old plans. Now they are trying to put in toll roads to help pay for new roads to relieve the traffic headaches going out towards the new suburban sprawl develoments. "GIVE US A BRAKE!"
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