Closing Bell: Dangerous Crosswalk?
Over on Brooklynian, one concerned resident of Prospect Heights has been trying to raise awareness (and enforcement) about the dangerous intersection of Washington Avenue and the northern side of Eastern Parkway. It seems that drivers have been plowing through the crosswalk when they make a right turn, ignoring the Yield sign. The poster has been…
Over on Brooklynian, one concerned resident of Prospect Heights has been trying to raise awareness (and enforcement) about the dangerous intersection of Washington Avenue and the northern side of Eastern Parkway. It seems that drivers have been plowing through the crosswalk when they make a right turn, ignoring the Yield sign. The poster has been trying to get NY1 and the cops to pay attention, but to no avail. Anyone else aware of this as a problem? We’ve had times crossing that stretch with the kids where we didn’t feel too safe.
tybur6: point #1 is a good point to make. too many fools push the strollers into the street and stand there (usually on a cell phone.
The other two points:
(2) Have you not seen drivers charging through the turns ignoring the “Walk” sign? It happens all the time (sometimes I do it too lol). We drivers are too impatient in NYC, and it causes all sorts of needless close calls. This happens at that intersection all the time. But, as I said above, pedestrians also like to cross during the “Do Not Walk” sign, so its a zoo for everyone! lol
(3) I agree. I remind myself of that all the time when I am crossing all streets. In a legal sense cars have to be careful. However, in a practical sense, cars dont have to be careful, pedestrians do. I have never seen a car in a hospital! lol Having said that, all drivers should consider being more responsible. One terrible mistake (which isnt as distant a possibility as some may think, considering driving habits I observe people doing every day), and you can kill someone and end up in jail/prison for a long time. Thats a life changer! and for what? stupid driving habits? Not worth it. Slow down and think.
CMU – you’re kidding right?
Zebra crossings in London have no stop lights yet cars virtually always stop. Pedestrians do have right of way. Not only that, many crossings are raised forcing cars to slow down, there are speed bumps, many brighter road markings, changes in asphalt color, road narrowing etc etc. Whole thouroughfares have been completely pedestrianized even in central London. I’m guessing the last time you were in London they were still using horses.
I had to learn a whole new set of road rules when I came here – basically if you’re a cyclist or a pedestrian you have to run for your life. Also if you’re a car driver, don’t use indicators. And red lights are apparently an advisory rather than a mandatory signal. This is the land of the automobile. On the other hand, NY cops are a lot more laid back when it comes to motorists.
And seeing as I’m on my soapbox, the cycling proficiency test they have in the UK would be welcome here.
Thank you tyburg! I was going to say the same thing but was afraid of the Rob-beatdown. Even Grand Army Plaza is perfectly easy to cross if you take your time and are both careful and not hesitant (the worst thing for drivers.)
Anyone comparing the US favorably to the UK is being severely disingenuous. There are plenty of crossings in London where traffic has NO controls, and peds DON’T have the right of way; you can wait minutes to cross sometimes.
i used to walk here all the time during my Crown Heights days and didn’t think it was particularly difficult to cross. Really not sure what the big deal is. There’s far more treacherous intersections in Brooklyn that people seem to deal with everyday.
Crossing Kent Avenue when it was 2-way was particularly fun. No lights and trucks drove like 60mph.
p.s. I’m also a driver and a bicyclist… Oh, and I used to walk and bike (and drive) this intersection all the time when I lived up there not that long ago.
Just my 2 cents late at night… yes, some intersections are *difficult* — BUT, pedestrians need to figure this out (and I’m a pedestrian)
(1) Stand on the fucking sidewalk until it’s time to cross… standing halfway in the middle of road — usually with your stroller sticking into traffic — is dangerous, slows down traffic, and is your own damn fault when you get sideswiped.
(2) There is NOTHING dangerous about this intersection. Pedestrians have to be patient too! There are plenty of opportunities to cross the road safely…. you just decide to cross when it’s NOT safe and then you complain.
(3) Pay attention. Simple as that. You’re a soft, squishy thing… cars are the opposite. And, by the way, anytime after 5:00pm — you’re basically INVISIBLE until you are directly in front of the car that is in the process of crushing your self-involved, entitled skull.
Well said: Crossing Washington ave on the northern side of EP is always a heart stopper, for some reason there isn’t a “walk/don’t walk” sign. As epky says, you have to worry about westbound eastern parkway & the service road cars making a hard right unto Washington AND also make sure you make eye contact with the traffic stopped at the light on Washington just in case, god forbid, the light changes to green as you’re already in the middle of the lane.
As the original poster on Brooklynian I am so glad you are drawing attention to the problem. That said, your pic misses the majority of the crosswalk where the problem. Yes, people often down yield in that turn-off onto the service road, but the most dangerous area is when you cross Washington Ave. proper & that where the token pedestrian yield sign is. I can’t see why it wasn’t obvious what the problem was as there are several dangerous scenarios. I actively avoided the intersection for years, but know my kids bus stop is on the other side of Washington. If you are willing to sign a petition, go to a meeting, etc. email me at gingerbrownie@gmail.com
In New York state cars have to yield for pedestrians whether there’s a yield sign or not.
Pedestrians always have the right of way with the exception of two states: Alaska and Nevada.