We must focus more attention on safety for pedestrians
Mayor Bill Peduto’s “complete streets” program (“Mayor Orders ‘Complete Streets Policy,’ ” April 11) will be welcomed by Pittsburgh’s pedestrians. But this is only the latest pledge by our city’s leaders, its agencies and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to make Pittsburgh safe for pedestrians. While we see some progress, many areas continue to pose hazards to those on foot.
Near the East Liberty Transit Center and Bakery Square developments, “adaptive” traffic signals with computerized cameras and crosswalks with voice directions show serious intent, but technology alone is not the answer. Nor, for that matter, is sole reliance on traffic experts whose application of safe design principles ultimately requires balancing the aims of motorists and pedestrians.
Nearly all the attention devoted to the adaptive signals in East Liberty has focused on vehicle traffic, not potential benefits for pedestrians. In the PG’s article about the system in September 2012, there were no references to pedestrians, even when an accompanying “before and after” video showed several pedestrians leaving intersections in apparent frustration after waiting for a walk sign and another turning in the middle of a crosswalk to argue with an aggressive driver who stopped just inches away, well into the crosswalk.
Traffic signals at intersections such as those on Penn Avenue across from the Target store and at Fifth and Shady Avenues permit drivers to turn right and left when walk signs are on. This does not happen by chance: Engineers have consciously decided that dedicated walk signals cause too much delay for vehicles and the attendant risk for pedestrians is acceptable.
Mayor Peduto’s order includes an independent advisory group to assist in reviewing the work of the city’s planners and traffic experts. We can hope, then, that residents of East Liberty will find a voice there and not have to resort again to organized protests and demonstrations such as those held in 2013 to focus attention on pedestrian safety.
RICHARD WILSON East Liberty