Projo Cars Blog

One of the more amusing frauds perpetrated on the inhabitants of Rhode Island is the idea that a pedestrian crosswalk gives them the right to cross a street with impunity.

The occasional signs at these crossings that urge motorists to "Yield for Pedestrains in Crosswalk" provide the context for this illusion.

Motorists, of course, for the most part do no such thing. Indeed, they are the ones who seem to be operating with a sense of impunity from prosecution and treat the pedestrian crossing as the sort of shooting gallery one encounters at county fairs. You know, how many coconuts can you knock down under the bored eye of a toothless, chain-smoking "carney" for the possible prize of a fluffy animal?

My point is prejudiced and without any scientific merit. But it seems to me that pedestrian coconuts such as myself seeking to cross Fountain Street in front of The Providence Journal would risk life and limb if we were to actually believe we have any rights on the pedestrian crosswalks.

No motorists slow down let alone stop. Which leads one to ask, what is the point of having them at all?

It will be argued that we need pedestrian crosswalks to provide safe passage across city streets. But they are obviously pointless if motorists do not honor them.

What to do?

I understand that it is an all-but-impossible job to police crosswalks. My solution, therefore, would be to reduce the number of crosswalks to key sites (do we need two outside the Journal?) and make them all into sleeping policemen, or the kind of speed bump that runs across Smith Street at the State House. In addition, paint them in fluorescent colors and mark mark them with bold fluorescent signs.

(Actually, the State House speed bump must be one of the biggest in the world; I would advocate for less aggressive ones in city streets.)

Motorists would unable to miss them and would have to slow down, or bottom out their cars. And once slowed down, they might be more inclined to stop for us coconuts on the sidewalk waiting to cross.

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

 Tags  Commentary pedestrian crosswalks Safety

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