The following is an article from Elsa Roberts from Emerge Miami.
“What are you doing?”
“Thanks.”
“I almost get hit every time I cross the street with my daughter.”
“Get a job!”
“Thank you for doing this.”
These are just a few of the comments we heard in 40 minutes walking the crosswalk for pedestrian safety in Coral Gables on October 20. One older gentleman complained that he doesn’t feel safe crossing the street and said that he couldn’t sprint out of a car’s way anymore – he is 77. Another woman crossing with her children thanked us and proceeded to explain to her daughter why we were demonstrating for safer streets.
Motorist reactions were mixed. There were many instances of driver misbehavior and disrespect. Several drivers illegally blocked the intersection trying to turn left after their green arrow was gone and many making right turns came within inches of our legs; angrily demanding with their vehicles that we yield our space. The strangest comment we received was from a woman in an SUV trying to make a right turn while we were lawfully crossing the street, she rolled down her window, stared into our faces and our signs urging drivers to take care and reminding them that we are all pedestrians, and shouted angrily, “Why don’t you get a job!” Three of us looked at her and simply stated, “We have jobs.” “In fact, we’re here on a Saturday, raising awareness about an issue that kills and injures hundreds of people in Miami every year.”
Unfortunately, too many people care more about getting to a destination a little quicker than they do about looking both ways and yielding to pedestrians, and that is why Miami is the 4th most dangerous city in the U.S. for pedestrians and cyclists; a dishonor shared by three other metropolitan areas, all located in Florida (the Orlando-Kissimmee area is 1st, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 2nd, and Jacksonville is 3rd). Our cities are not designed to facilitate safe travel for pedestrians, an issue that has repeatedly been brought before the FDOT multiple times (see TransitMiami’s archive), but which they are reluctant to acknowledge as a problem.
This is an issue that will only be solved by repeatedly bringing it into the public eye. Each time a pedestrian or cyclist is injured or killed, the public must cry out and encourage media coverage. We must continue with walks like this to engage the community in Miami; together we can raise awareness and make our streets safer. We will be planning another Walk for Safety in December. Stay tuned to details!
9 Responses to Fed Up Miamians March for Pedestrian Safety
Leave a Reply
Contact Us!
Planetizen- Cities May Be Back, But Don't Forget About the Burbs May 22, 2013A review of June Williamson's new book reminds us that the need to retrofit suburbia is as urgent as ever, despite the ascendance of cities. Amanda Kolson Hurley explores the top five reasons 'why the suburbs are shaping up as the new frontier.' […]
- Is Congestion Pricing the Solution to San Francisco’s Traffic Woes? May 22, 2013A new report paints a grim picture of San Francisco’s traffic future. Without radical reductions in auto usage, the city’s downtown will be ‘mired in gridlock.’ Is a controversial congestion pricing scheme the solution? […]
- Why Is it Hard to Find Places to Ride Out a Tornado in Oklahoma? May 22, 2013You might be surprised to learn that in the area famously known as 'Tornado Alley', underground shelters and safe rooms are relatively rare. Several reasons, from physical to financial to cultural constraints, conspire to leave residents vulnerable. […]
- Will New Mayor Seize the Opportunity to Build a 'Truly Urban' L.A.? May 22, 2013The new mayor of Los Angeles is young, charismatic, and a champion of urbanism and smart growth. He should start using all these assets immediately to transform Los Angeles into the vibrant, transit-oriented city it can become, says Bill Fulton. […]
- New Jersey Drops VMT Fee for EV Fee May 22, 2013NJ legislation highlights the need to ensure that those who drive EVs pay their fair share of taxes to keep roads in good repair. A bill that would have charged a mileage fee for all vehicles was scrapped for a $50 flat registration fee for EVs. […]
- Envisioning a LEED-like Ratings System for Infrastructure May 22, 2013Bob Graves discusses the concept behind Envision, "a holistic framework for evaluating and rating the community, environmental, and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects." […]
- The Ups and Downs of the Bike Sharing Economy May 22, 2013What makes Capital Bikeshare, the largest such program in the U.S. with nearly 2000 bikes, a success? What are its shortcomings? Mohana Ravindranath investigates. […]
- Can Signage Change Perceptions About Disabilities? May 22, 2013With New York City's embrace, the dream of revamping the iconic blue-and-white handicapped symbol is becoming a reality. As NYC adopts "a more active representation of people with physical limitations," activists hope the change has a broader effect. […]
- To Stretch Strained Municipal Budgets, Build Smart May 22, 2013Utilizing 17 case studies, a new report from Smart Growth America examines the costs and benefits of competing development strategies. Any way you slice it, smart growth strategies are more financially prudent than building sprawl. […]
- Obama Could Tackle Climate Change on His Own; But Will He? May 22, 2013With a reluctant Congress unwilling to act, and the signs of a warming planet multiplying, the Editorial Board of The New York Times urges President Obama to utilize executive actions to address climate change. […]
- Cities May Be Back, But Don't Forget About the Burbs May 22, 2013
- Green Mobility Network
- An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.
Keep the good work up. Yesterday I saw the aftermath of yet another accident in the Brickell area (Brickell Bay Drive). A young lady lay bleeding on the ground with horrific leg injuries after being hit by a vehicle. Enough is enough.
Mark – please email us the details of that crash if you can. I saw the aftermath/cleanup and it looked nasty. cpchester@gmail.com
Just sent it to you, Craig.
That’s horrible to hear about the woman in Brickell. Perhaps the next stop for this campaign should be in Brickell. I have seen some of the worst driver behavior in Brickell.
This march should be replicated in every municipality across the county. Enough is truly enough!
I was there in coral gables but not as a pedestrian and I support the initiative and believe there should be one in Brickell BUT it was not well done. It’s one thing to make a point crossing the street with signs. But the pedestrians with signs would walk across taking mini steps and going back and forth until the light changed. Therefore you got chaos on the streets and barely one car being able to make a turn. It’s disappointing that such an important issue and initiative got the wrong point across which was frustrating drivers and causing chaos with traffic. There are much better ways to make a point and more importantly have the message if pedestrian safety make an impact.
@ Fernando.
We walked the cross walk only when we were legally allowed to do so and walked it the entire time we were legally allowed. Our point was to show that when pedestrians are legally in the cross walk drivers must yield.
Slowing down motorized traffic my well be a consequence but that is irrelevant to a pedestrian’s right of way.
Irritating drivers is part of the education process and in some cases part of the point. Too many drivers feel entitled to take up space on the road and refuse to recognize that pedestrians and cyclists have equal right to that space.
Drivers are not entitled to turn when I or any pedestrian is legally in the cross walk. If a driver is inconvenienced by that, too bad. Their desire to turn sooner does not usurp a pedestrian’s right of way.
I would disagree irrating drivers is part of the education process. You distract them from the main issue. Again, I’m not disagreeing with what are pedestrians rights and absolutely vehicles must yield for all of our safety – it’s just by frustrating them you are taking drivers mind of off this issue and reason you are doing it.
Elsa – excellent points. Completely misunderstood by most drivers which is why it’s so important to do these sorts of activities, as well as for law enforcement to start getting their fingers out. Clamp down on these sorts of driving offenses and it will have a positive impact on the more serious ones.