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Message |
    
Arthur Gartenlaub
Citizen
Username: Artg
Post Number: 65
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 1:19 pm: | 
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Last night, while driving on Valley at around 7:30PM, I made a left turn onto Baker Street (with the lighted left turn arrow). Just while I was turning a young man in dark colored clothes and a dark hood appeared in the crosswalk, not 5 feet from the front of my car. Fortunately I was driving slower than normal (due to the icey conditions) and managed to stop without incident. This is not the first time that this has happened and after mentioning it to several friends, mine, apparently, was not an isolated incident. My question is: does that particular corner need better lighting or a syncronized "Do Not Walk" sign or are there any other suggestions that should be brought up to the TC for consideration?
Art |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 4018
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 1:47 pm: |
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I'm always amazed at the near-suicidal urge people have to wear dark colors at night, and then jaywalk. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6734
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 4:41 pm: |
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Art:
Unfortunately, the left turn arrow and the green walk signal share the same all too brief interval for getting across Valley Street with the light in your favor. As a result, this is one of the most dangerous street crossings in town even though there is a traffic light there.
Better street lighting wouldn't hurt, especially on moonless rainy nights but what I think is most needed is to rethink the timing on the traffic light so that pedestrians and left hand turning vehicles each have a separate dedicated interval during which to cross the street.
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Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 314
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 7:03 pm: |
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Joan you are absolutely right. I also think pedestrians walking at night (mostly in dark clothing)need to realize how little visability there is on some of the darker streets in Maplewood. I have had a near miss turning from Tuscan onto Bowdoin. Pedestrians can see the cars and they assume the cars can see them. This is not always the case. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2280
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 11:10 am: |
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Joan, I cross at that intersection quite frequently--but mostly during daylight hours. If I'm not mistaken, the "Don't Walk" sign is on at the same time as the left turn arrow. The sign does not say "Walk" until the left turn arrow is off, and traffic traveling south on Valley gets the green, and the Walk sign is lit for more than enough time for a pedestrian to cross.
So, really, pedestrians should not be crossing when motorists have the green arrow. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1869
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 11:26 am: |
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Meand, I believe you're right. When, as a pedestrian, I've crossed there, I know that when the cars are turning with the signal, they do have the right-of-way and I cross at my own risk or don't do it then. (Which is not to say that I would run a pedestrian over when I have the signal. Really!) |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2283
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 11:36 am: |
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Absolutely Wendy. Whenever I make that turn I'm watching for pedestrians, and as a pedestrian, even though I may have the "Walk" sign, I'm always watching for cars making a left.
But then, I'm always watching what other cars are doing, whether I'm walking or driving, because I decided long ago the best policy is to trust no one! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6736
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 7:21 pm: |
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I believe you are correct about the delayed light for traffic making the left turn on to Baker from Valley. The real problem I have with that intersection is the traffic coming from Baker Street and making a left turn on to Valley. There is no delayed light there and the interval for both pedestrians and left-turning vehicles is very short.
What I would like to see at that intersection is a Barnes Dance interval during which pedestrians would be able to cross in whichever direction they wished.
This would serve to slow down traffic on Valley Street, which isn't entirely a bad thing given the number of drivers greatly exceeding the speed limit there so much of the time and would serve to give added protection to middle schoolers, commuters and others who regularly cross at that intersection on foot. |
Jenny
Citizen
Username: Jenjen
Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 3:32 pm: |
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Speaking of near misses, we almost had a collision with another car at the intersection of Midland Blvd and Summit Ave while taking a sitter home. There's only a YIELD sign on either side of Summit and nothing on Midland. Our sitter says there are crashes there all the time and residents have written letters about that intersection. What do you have to do to get a STOP sign put up? |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1878
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 7:02 pm: |
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Keep going to the TC and keep writing letters, etc. It would probably help to also get a bunch of signatures. I live near the intersection of Sommer Ave. and Hubert, which for years never had a stop sign for Hubert. A relatively new neighbor thought that was ridiculous, after having witnessed many near misses and at least one accident, and, basically single-handedly thanks to her, now we have a stop sign. Yes, there are studies that must be done, but stay on top of the TC who in turn will stay on top of the county/state and it too can occur in your neighborhood. |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 727
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 11:22 pm: |
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Jenny, many of the intersections along Midland have no signs on the intersecting streets. Summit does not have any yield signs up. I'm really not sure if there is a stop sign or not where Midland hits Summit Ave, but there should be. As for lots of accidents; I live very near there and can tell you that there are not a lot of accidents at that intersection. Could you be thinking of a different intersection? |
Jenny
Citizen
Username: Jenjen
Post Number: 34
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 4:31 pm: |
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I was mistaken. I was talking about the "Dangerous Intersection" at Richmond and Midland. There are two signs on Richmond saying "Dangerous Intersection," not yield. Why they couldn't just put up two STOP signs is beyond me... |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11297
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 5:17 pm: |
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Jenny, it's because there are laws which dictate how yield and stop signs go in. These laws don't make much sense. Near hits don't count. You have to have a paper trail documenting actual accidents in order to justify a yield or stop sign. That's just the way it is, and we can't change these state laws.
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John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 8:43 pm: |
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Equally dangerous,
Be careful making a left turn from Tuscan onto Valley going towards Millburn Ave.
It is a popular pedestrian crossing and it is difficult to see peds. when they are crossing the street wearing dark clothing at night.
I was almost rear-ended when I stopped for a pedestrian who was crossing from Tuscan and the car behind didn't see him.
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10102
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 8:05 am: |
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Jenny, that intersection has been like that for just about ever. When we lived nearby I had several near misses there.
The TC set up four way stops and mini-traffic circles at some of the intersections on Midland. I don't know why they didn't put up at least a yield sign there. |
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