The Miami Hurricane is reporting that Marie Cushmore, a senior at the University of Miami was struck by a Ford Expedition while crossing U.S. 1 and Mariopsa Court last Wednesday around 9:30pm.
Unfortunately, this is not the first accident here. According to The Miami Hurricane this intersection has had a history of accidents involving UM student pedestrians. About five years ago, UM student Ashley Kelly was killed when she was hit by a SUV that ran a red light on U.S. 1 and Mariposa Court.
It gets worse. Since 1990, seven students have been struck crossing Ponce de Leon Boulevard and U.S. 1. Three of the incidents have resulted in death.
There has been talk of building a pedestrian overpass across U.S. 1 at Mariposa. I for one hope this never gets built. Building a pedestrian overpass is not the solution as most people will not to use it and will continue to cross at grade level. The solution is to calm traffic in this area. It is unrealistic to expect healthy students to safely cross 6 lanes of traffic while cars are moving in excess of 50 mph. Can you imagine how an elderly person or someone with a physical disability must feel trying to cross U.S 1? How many more pedestrians need to die before FDOT decides to calm traffic on U.S. 1?
Please send an email to Mr. Gus Pego District 6 secretary letting him know that you are not satisfied with the existing conditions on U.S. 1.
5 Responses to University of Miami Student Struck by SUV Crossing U.S. 1
Leave a Reply
Contact Us!
Planetizen- Friday Funny: Pining for the Good Old Days of 'Slight' Gentrification May 24, 2013Do you treasure the good old days of $6 drafts, fancy drinks in Mason Jars, and less-snazzy Starbucks? Than you'll sympathize with Dan Hopper, who laments the changes to his neighborhood as 'slightly richer people' move in. […]
- Applying the Brakes to the Streetcar Revival May 24, 2013With Los Angeles, Charlotte, Washington D.C. and many more cities hoping on board, seats are filling up quickly on America's streetcar bandwagon. However, experts caution gung ho cities about unreal expectations for improving mobility. […]
- Dramatic Bridge Collapse Snarls Washington Traffic May 24, 2013Two cars plunged off the I-5 truss bridge, 60 miles north of Seattle, into the frigid Skagit River at the end of Thursday's commute, but no deaths nor serious injuries occurred. The likely cause appears to be a big-rig hitting the 58-year-old bridge. […]
- Can a Light Rail Stop Revive the Last African American Business Corridor in L.A.? May 24, 2013After years of discussions, arguments, and pleas, residents of the Leimert Park neighborhood in South Los Angeles won their battle for the creation of a local stop along a new light rail line soon to start construction. […]
- Why the NYC Bike Share Backlash Is a Good Thing May 24, 2013Paris, London, Copenhagen: all over the world, opponents have tried to put the brakes on bike-share programs. Then they fall in love. Is New York City next? The author of "Traffic" thinks so. […]
- CBO Analyzes Obama's 'Hallucinatory' Transportation Budget May 24, 2013According to the CBO, President Obama's transportation budget keeps the Highway Trust Fund, currently expected to run out of funds in 2015, solvent until 2021. The additional funds come from 'intergovernmental transfers' - but are they real? […]
- Oregon DOT Renounces 'Highway Centric' Approach May 24, 2013State departments of transportation aren't known for being the most progressive public agencies. But, in response to economic and demographic changes, Oregon's DOT (ODOT) is breaking the mold by embracing a multimodal transformation. […]
- Chicago’s Top Tourist Attraction to Get Green Makeover May 24, 2013The $176 million Phase I design concept for Navy Pier unveiled last week promises a "parklike" feel along the banks of Lake Michigan. […]
- Providence Plans Pedestrian Oasis for Downtown May 24, 2013Utilizing a series of compelling before and after renderings, Amanda Gruen walks through Union Studio Architects' plan to improve the pedestrian and transit experience in downtown Providence's Kennedy Plaza. […]
- Outlet Malls Buck Retail Trends May 24, 2013While traditional enclosed malls, big box stores, and strip malls are struggling in an uncertain retail marketplace, sales at America's outlet malls are growing at a healthy pace. One mall near New York City is showing the pains of popularity. […]
- Friday Funny: Pining for the Good Old Days of 'Slight' Gentrification May 24, 2013
- Green Mobility Network
- An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.
I am very sad and angry to see this, this is a very sad event. I had attended a BPAC meeting probably 2 years ago in which it was shown a catwalk/ped bridge over US-1 at Mariposa. I am unsure why that has not moved forward, as now there should be more of reason to place it there.
I respectfully disagree Sad. A pedestrian bridge is not the solution. For starters it is very expensive to erect one and we would have to erect a pedestrian bridge on just about every other block, as most of US 1 is not pedestrian friendly. A much cheaper and better solution is to create a more pedestrian friendly US 1. This could be done by narrowing travel lane, improved crosswalks and signalization. In areas where pedestrian activity is very high ( i.e. UM, metrorail stations, sunset, dadeland) raised crosswalks should be considered to calm traffic. This would give pedestrians at least a fighting chance to cross US1. Much cheaper too.
I agree Felipe. I don’t know many people that are going to walk up and down a giant staircase just to cross the street – it is hot and rains in Miami.
The only case in which I have seen pedestrian bridges work is when they are going over a highway with a dividing wall, in which pedestrians have no other option.
When I went to UM and crossed U.S. 1 regularly, I never crossed at the light. I would use an opening in the chain link fence along the Metrorail parking lot to cross midblock between Mariposa and Stanford Drive… crossing midblock is safer as you have no turning traffic, and you will naturally cross when there is an adequate gap in traffic, rather than taking your chances at a crosswalk assuming that turning drivers will yield and/or not run a red light. After the Ashley Kelly incident, the chain link fence was replaced with more sturdy medal pickets and signs warning to cross only at crosswalks, which is absolutely *not* the problem.
First let me say I really enjoy this blog.
I frequently cross U.S. 1 at crosswalks by bicycle. A pedestrian bridge wouldn’t be used by cyclists like me. I wish that there were no right turn on red on U.S. 1. Traffic calming measures would be wonderful too.