Why Does the Wilbur Theatre Suck? Better Rock Shows in 5 Steps
Photo of the Day, November 24, 2009: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Photo of the Day, November 25, 2009: Boston as seen from the harbor
Cheap Eats: Burtons Grill
Democratic Primary Debate at WGBH: Transcript Time!
Sick of almost getting hit by heedless drivers around Somerville? The Somerville Police Department hears ya. Boston drivers young and old have a reputation for recklessness, and cities are finally starting to recognize this. According to Wicked Local, the SPD is starting a "Stop for Red, Stop for Pedestrians, or Stop for Blue" campaign this Friday. Officers will patrol crosswalks, issuing warnings and possibly even citations or fines for drivers who fail to stop for people. The campaign will start out at high-volume crosswalks without traffic signals. Locations to be monitored include Elm Street at Chester Street, Highland Avenue at Grove Street, Holland Street T station, Clarendon Hill apartment complex, Broadway at Josephine Avenue, Medford Street at Lowell Street, Holland Street T station, and Highland Avenue at Grove Street. Bostonist wonders how the monitoring will affect driver behavior, and encourages drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to stay safe.
Red light image from Flickr user downing.amanda
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Will Cambridge follow suit?
I hope police will also be cracking down on those drivers who slam on their brakes when coming up on a crosswalk at 20-25mph, to beckon people standing on the sidewalk INTO the crosswalk.
The law doesn't state pedestrians should be able to cross the street the second they reach the crosswalk; if a pedestrian is being a good citizen and waiting on the sidewalk for a natural break in the traffic, drivers should not risk causing traffic accidents out of fear of being seen as not "yielding."
as a pedestrian, i am much happier when drivers are under the fear of god (or at least a ticket) when approaching intersections. especially considering how drivers around here cannot manage driving fundamentals such as turn signaling and braking.
basically, trudy, i don't feel any sympathy for ya.
You needn't feel sympathy for me, I'm a pedestrian 90-95% of the time, too (don't own a car). What I'm saying is that drivers "yielding" to people who aren't even in the crosswalk are creating a dangerous situation too -- one that's dangerous to the rear ends of their own cars!
Also, I'm not sure many people know that the 'yield to pedrestians' law only applies at "unlighted" intersections (those without traffic lights). I've seen drivers stop at a green light and wave pedestrians into the crosswalk -- lunacy, because it's encouraging jaywalking (something in theory a pedestrian can be tagged for), and more importantly because other drivers are not expecting to stop at a green light!
oh, that's a good point. i hate the drivers who think they're doing you a favor by stopping at a green light to wave you on -- they don't seem to realize that there is a line of cars behind them ready to swerve into oncoming traffic (and pedestrians who are crossing under duress). it's dangerous!
Sure, slamming on the brakes is dumb, but if I as a pedestrian were always "being a good citizen and waiting on the sidewalk for a natural break in the traffic" before stepping off the curb I'd still be standing on Tremont Street.
the onion has an even better plan:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/new_get_the_fuck_outta_the_road
That's the beauty of driving in Boston: it makes precious little sense. We have been doing research on Boston driving behavior for some time and we are still stumped. See http://www.drivinglikeass.com/