But, but, jaywalking isn't illegal
By JACK BARTHOLET, John Hopkins News-Letter [excerpt]
“Not to be overlooked [is that] city police have initiated warnings and issuance of citations for jaywalking violations in an effort to educate and direct pedestrians to cross at the proper locations. This past weekend, 40 warnings were issued by city police officers for jaywalking during late evening hours. These initiatives are part of the coordinated state, city, and university effort to introduce improved traffic engineering, enforcement and education measures recommended by university and city consultants targeting improved pedestrian safety,” Kibler wrote. [Major George Kibler, the Hopkins Campus Safety and Security officer in charge of operations]
<a href="http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2012/09/27/construction-to-enhance-safety-underway-85181/">http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2012/09/27/construction-to-enhance-safety-underway-85181/</a>;
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B' Spokes: Ummm, jaywalking is not illegal. See this for full explanation: Surprising Aspects of Pedestrian Laws <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120724122923346">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120724122923346</a>;
Given: Multi-lane roadways made uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks unsafe. The motorist yielding compliance rates were less than 2% overall at these crosswalks.
Ref: Case Study: Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons in St. Petersburg (baseline) <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120917210334134">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120917210334134</a>;
I will strongly assert that with yield rates that low it is safer to cross mid-block.
It makes no sense to me for the police to solely target pedestrians for something that is not even a violation while letting speeding, rolling through stops and unyielding cars that could kill or maim go off scot free. I will strongly assert that proper safety enforcement should have at least 10 motorist tickets to one pedestrian ticket [There are a lot more motorists then pedestrians.] And no mention of having even one motorist ticketed or warning issued... well that is just wrong!
Again see: Does Hopkins get pedestrian safety or are they playing the blame the victim game? <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120908155605576">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120908155605576</a>;
And this got National blog attention: Hopkins, this is how you do it. <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120918004011869">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120918004011869</a>;
Hopkins is clearly not getting what makes for pedestrian safety, if you are inclined, write or call:
Major George Kibler 410-516-6628 kibler@jhu.edu (And just a reminder, be polite, these maybe new concepts to him.)
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An additional thought:
Oregon gets 20 mph speed limit on streets to make them safer and less deadly while doing 40+mph on a 35 mph street is the norm and no accountability for drivers who put others in danger.
Ref: Speeding and its negative impacts on community safety <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120922154522375">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120922154522375</a>;
Highlight from the comments:
Per <a href="http://stko.maryland.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=q18ZFLd3XN4%3d&tabid=190&mid=1039">http://stko.maryland.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=q18ZFLd3XN4%3d&tabid=190&mid=1039</a>;
Baltimore represents 32% of the state's pedestrian crashes and 31% of the injury crashes, that's huge!
I will also note in my 2006 crash analysis Baltimore stood out as having 50% pedestrian crashes at intersections and 50% mid-block. I am not convinced that "crossing in designated areas" will help one bit.