| Bowser has systematically removed driving lanes and parking and put in miles of concrete island and thousands of unsightly flexiposts. The theory is that it would all make for safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. But it's more dangerous than ever. Drivers are frustrated and angry by the increased congestion created by Bower's interventions. So drivers rush more, not less. They take more risks than before. And now the move toward universal "no turn in red." It will make things worse. DC is becoming unlivable. |
Induced traffic. |
What did you expect from a group of activists that want to make driving lanes narrower because cars have gotten wider? |
Yes they do. They are all caused by cars and inherently have to do with cars driving. |
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Getting rid of Right Turn On Red would make the streets a lot safer — particularly for pedestrians.
RTOR introduced an additional layer of judgements by drivers vs Stop On Red. Many drivers do rolling stops, and some don’t even stop anymore. The more predictable drivers are the safer it will be for pedestrians. Drivers also need to give pedestrians the right of way — a practice that’s no longer universal. I live near a crosswalk that’s very difficult for pedestrians— and continues to be, even after a traffic light was added several years ago. At certain times of the day, many cars use my local street to reach much larger nearby major avenues, turning left (lots of cars) and right (some cars) from the cross street. When all of us — cars and pedestrians— have the green light, the long line of cars turning left don’t pause for the pedestrians crossing the street. This often leaves pedestrians stranded in the middle of the street that they’re crossing when the light turns red. It’s not safe for pedestrians. |
The absolute disregard for pedestrians is so noticeable in DC compared to other places I've lived. When I first moved here I lived near 14th and U. There was cross walk between T and U streets on 14th. If you tried to use that crosswalk people would actively try to run you over -- I saw people accelerate when they say pedestrians enter the crosswalk like they were trying to scare the peds back onto the sidewalk. I basically only used it when there was no traffic. I can't count the number of times I've been yelled at by drivers in this city for using a cross-walk with a walk signal and the right of way. Recently I was walking my 6 yr old daughter home from school and crossing a street where we had a clear walk signal and a cross walk. A driver turning left (at a high rate of speed) nearly hit us but I thankfully was watching for just this sort of thing and grabbed my DD and jumped us back. I didn't even say anything as I was just making sure we were both okay and catching my breath. The driver then slammed on their breaks rolled down their window and called me a string of expletives out the window before screeching off. This happened at 3:30pm on a Tuesday. And I've had similar experiences before. I am not a cyclist and don't really care about bike infrastructure. But I sometimes appreciate the bike lanes when they create a buffer between the sidewalk and traffic. Occasionally bicyclists can do scary things too but it's such a tiny fraction compared to the people who drive around this city like they are playing Grand Theft Auto. It's a combination of a very car-centric culture plus a lot of angry and resentful people. At this point I also think a lot of these people are high. I can't wait to move out of this city and area as soon as my spouse finishes up their tour in their current job. There is something wrong with people here. |
Sounds like the “frustrated and angry” drivers taking more risks need to get a grip. And get more penalties for moving violations that put the rest of us at risk. |
Pedestrians need to start following the rules and ONLY step off the curb if they have the white walk sign. |
Or what -- you'll murder us. What is the consequence when drivers run red lights and blow through stop signs and drive well over the speed limit -- nothing. Don't tell pedestrians what they need to do. |
In this situation they are doing this. The problem is that cars turning onto the street — without pausing for pedestrians— leave pedestrians dangerously stuck in the middle of the street. The pedestrians have the walk light AND the cars that are turning onto the street that the pedestrians are crossing also have a green light. Once the cars start turning, pedestrians can no longer cross the street — even when both pedestrians and cars have green/walk lights. In the before times, cars used to pause to allow pedestrians already in the crosswalk the right of way to finish crossing the street. Now they don’t, stranding pedestrians in the middle of the street between streams of turning cars, followed by a red light before the pedestrians can finish crossing. |
That's great, but what about the drivers who don't care that pedestrians have a walk sign. I always wait for the walk sign. Unfortunately, we have cars that turn off Connecticut and run the red light with pedestrians in the intersection almost every day. There needs to be more enforcement. |
Huh? Did you trip and fall really hard on your head getting out of bed this morning? |
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You are legitimately bonkers. |
It's pathetic we can't say whether bike lanes reduce the number of cars on the road or if they merely reduce the amount of walking people do/people taking public transportation. Evidence free policymaking. |