Spotted: Cross Walks Done Right
The whole point of cross walks is to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street, but many drivers don't seem to see them. That's why I love the cross walks in Decatur, GA!
Decatur, GA is the city just east of Atlanta, and compared to Atlanta it's kind of a wonderland for folks wanting to get around on foot or by bike. Decatur has colored bike lanes to help motorists see where their territory ends on the roads and the cyclists's begins. These awesome cross walks in downtown Decatur are similarly well-designed.
In Atlanta and in Decatur cars are required to stop for pedestrians in cross walks, but they rarely do. Maybe they don't know the laws or they don't see the markings on the road? Whatever the reason, I've been almost hit many times just trying to cross the street, and it's very frustrating.
Decatur's solution to that problem was to design cross walks in their downtown area that are highly visible and explain the law, so drivers know what's up. Downtown Decatur is heavy on foot traffic, and this is a great way to make sure that pedestrians are safer, which is good for us and good for the shops and restaurants that rely on that foot traffic for their customer base. Sure, these cross walks cost more than painting some white lines, but this more visible setup is an investment in those local businesses downtown. And it makes me happy.
I'd love to hear about how your town manages traffic to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe! You can leave a comment here or send us an email through the site contact page!