And another one bites the dust.

I'm not sure where this leaves us....I believe we're already 3 and 0 for the car vs. pedestrian count this year.  This morning another pedestrian was killed by car while in a freshly remarked crosswalk....no drugs or alcohol involved...which is really even worse.  This just means that people aren't paying attention.  Perhaps both driver and pedestrian were at fault.  However, if you're in charge of a 2 ton vehicle and kill someone who is legally in a cross walk....the burden falls your way.  Details below:

For the record, we all think we pay attention when driving, riding, or walking.  The reality is that statement is pretty untrue.  If you disagree....take the little video test below:




So...did you pass?  The real question is....is it analogous to our level of attention when we're driving on or attempting to cross roads?  The sad truth is we're even seeing some TV and Newspaper coverage about safety on the roads, watching for people in cross walks, and being reminded of the actual rules regarding our roads right of ways....and we're still killing pedestrians at an alarming rate!  So both sides....drivers and peds....open those eyes and look for each other before rack up another statistic!

**Or we could be sarcastic....yet, totally make a valid point with this comics line of reason.***

...we could redesign automobile safety systems with the people around the cars in mind, rather than the occupants inside?  That would probably have an immediate effect, eh?

Reno City Council Vows Action on Unsafe Streets.

Click above for the full article.

Unfortunately, it takes pedestrians dying to get a little action from pretty much all of our city and government entities.  Yes, they do the studies and identify locations that need improvement.....but $$$ for those improvements are rarely "available" until after incidents occur.  Let's hope the city councils actually follows through on this. 

Unfortunately, I'm skeptical.... and I'll give an example why...Starting with this quote from Naoma Jardon from the article:

Councilwoman Neoma Jardon, her voice trembling after Sheltra showed his video (where a pedestrian is struck by a car), promised immediate action.

"That was very sad," she said. "These are not red dots on a map. These are lives."

A great quote....however, councilwoman Jardon has repeatedly argued against complete street projects (most recently Keystone Ave.) that would reduce traffic speeds, number of lanes and crash potential, and create a more friendly environment for people who what to walk or ride bikes.   Her previous argument for not supporting this type of pedestrian friendly redesign.....she's afraid it will delay people getting to work. 

So, fingers crossed that she and the council have turned a new leaf and are ready to make Reno a more pedestrian friendly town!

There are dead people in our streets.

From RGJ.com....read the whole article by clicking.

Yeah, the title is a bit dire....but it's true.  We're knocking off pedestrians left and right and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.  The question is how do we resolve the problem.  The short answer is there isn't an "answer" to this.  Everyone just needs to be more attentive (both drivers and pedestrians).  It's harder than it seems for both parties to actually make this work.

A pedestrian trying to cross the street at a marked cross walk that isn't at a corner with lights (think mid-town area trying to cross Virginia St.) might stand on the sidewalk waiting to cross for several minutes.  Technically, vehicles are supposed to stop when pedestrians are waiting.  However, the reality is (as drivers) we don't stop unless the pedestrian makes a move.  Often this is for legitimate reasons....a line of cars in front of us blocks our view of the waiting pedestrians, or the pedestrians don't look like they are sure they are crossing, or we didn't see them early enough to stop.  However, there are also many times I (as a pedestrian) have made direct eye contact with a driver while waiting in inclement weather and they just are going to bother to stop....because it's inconvenient and takes 30 seconds out of their day.   So both parties have to play the game.

The real answer is to be respectful to the other party (driver or pedestrian).  If you're driving....slow down and do the speed limit, remember you're wielding a multi-ton vehicle, keep an eye out for more vulnerable road users.  If you're walking....watch for traffic (it's your job too), cross quickly when you have to...don't amble along and make cars wait unnecessarily.  Both parties....hang up the damn phone. 

Anyway, if everyone pays a bit more attention, hopefully we can decrease the number of deaths in 2015.

Sarcastically, walking safely!

This little safety video is based completely on written guidelines (in subtitle) produced by the New York Police Department (yep, someone actually wrote them) on how to walk safely in NY.  Now of course this is a completely sarcastic take on the whole thing....but how can you not be a little sarcastic when the police themselves place sole responsibility with the vulnerable party!

Pedestrian safety forum results.

I wasn't able to attend the safety forum last night but here's a quick video coverage from KTVN Channel 2 news.



Sorry about the ad.....it's worth a few second wait to see the coverage.

Just a reminder.... this event is tonight from 5-7pm at Lawlor.

From the RGJ:

Public input sought at UNR forum on pedestrian safety Posted by MarkRobison at 1/17/2012 1:17 PM PST on rgj.com

Condensed from a press release:

The University of Nevada, Reno will host a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Forum for both the campus community and the community at-large 5-7 p.m., Feb. 6, in Lawlor Events Center’s Silver and Blue Room. The public forum will allow for discussion of laws, problem areas and what local agencies are doing to promote safety on the University campus and its surrounding community. Public concerns, suggestions and input will be encouraged.

In addition to University Police and a number of University departments, other agencies involved with the forum are the City of Reno Neighborhood Advisory Boards, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), Reno Police Department and others. Wendy Damonte, KTVN Channel 2 news anchor, will moderate the forum.

Agencies represented will briefly present information on their safety efforts during the past year, current projects and future plans. The RTC will present plans for area streets and additional crosswalks. Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will discuss their concentrated enforcement efforts on pedestrian and crosswalk violations over the next several weeks. The University Police Department will share its partnership with the 11- to 17-year-old gifted students at the Davidson Academy, located on campus, to improve pedestrian safety around campus. The motto of this program, created by the Davidson students is, “Look Up, Unplug, Stay Safe.”

There will be informational displays and handouts, and agency representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Public parking will be available on the top two floors of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex on North Virginia Street.

Pedestrian safety forum....Feb. 6th from 5-7 pm.....mark that calendar!

From the RGJ:

Public input sought at UNR forum on pedestrian safety Posted by MarkRobison at 1/17/2012 1:17 PM PST on rgj.com

Condensed from a press release:

The University of Nevada, Reno will host a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Forum for both the campus community and the community at-large 5-7 p.m., Feb. 6, in Lawlor Events Center’s Silver and Blue Room. The public forum will allow for discussion of laws, problem areas and what local agencies are doing to promote safety on the University campus and its surrounding community. Public concerns, suggestions and input will be encouraged.

In addition to University Police and a number of University departments, other agencies involved with the forum are the City of Reno Neighborhood Advisory Boards, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), Reno Police Department and others. Wendy Damonte, KTVN Channel 2 news anchor, will moderate the forum.

Agencies represented will briefly present information on their safety efforts during the past year, current projects and future plans. The RTC will present plans for area streets and additional crosswalks. Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will discuss their concentrated enforcement efforts on pedestrian and crosswalk violations over the next several weeks. The University Police Department will share its partnership with the 11- to 17-year-old gifted students at the Davidson Academy, located on campus, to improve pedestrian safety around campus. The motto of this program, created by the Davidson students is, “Look Up, Unplug, Stay Safe.”

There will be informational displays and handouts, and agency representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Public parking will be available on the top two floors of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex on North Virginia Street.

Not so different from the Dutch....or Criss,Cross, Crash!?

I had the pleasure of a trip to the Netherlands just last year, so I've had the fortune of observing a few of these intersections first hand (including this one).  As the video shows....it's a little intimidating the first time you see it!  There are also a few frames of some similar treatments in LA (designed with Pedestrians in mind), but wait....I believe we even have this progressive treatment in Reno! 

I can't remember for sure but I believe the intersection of Virginia St. and 2nd St. is structured this way!?  I'm going to have to check it out on the ride home to verify.

New Pedestrian and Bicycle improvements pushed through....at a huge cost.

From the RGJ:


Days following death of Reno sportscaster, City Council approves safety upgrades to N. Virginia Street

9:27 pm, Nov 16, 2011 | Written by bduggan


While it had been in the planning stages for more than a year and on today’s agenda since last week, the Reno City Council approved a number of pedestrian and bike lane upgrades to N. Sierra and N. Virginia streets on Wednesday, which is the area KTVN sportscaster JK Metzker was killed Saturday while crossing N. Virginia Street following the Nevada-Hawaii football game.

Before the changes were unanimously approved, Mayor Bob Cashell, with his voice cracking, asked for a moment of silence for Metzker. KTVN weatherman Mike Alger also testified before the City Council, urging them to approve the upgrades in light of Metzker’s death.

“While we know things now cannot bring JK back we can help other families and workplaces from having to go through the loss of someone who was simply trying to cross the street,” Alger said.

The plan now is to begin work on the $600,000 project around the University of Nevada, Reno, including installing flashing lights and a crosswalk near the area Metzker was struck by a car on N. Virginia and 17th Streets. The entire project could take about a year to complete, though engineers said the flashing lights for crosswalks could be installed within six weeks.

Other changes include making Sierra Street one lane between 9th Street to just before the N. Virginia Street intersection, potentially reducing the speed limit on Sierra Street and adding flashing crosswalk lights at Sierra and 11th Streets and Sierra Street and Putnam Drive.

N. Sierra Street carries up to 8,600 vehicles a day and N. Virginia Street carries up to 12,000 each day, said Katy Cole, an engineer with Fehr and Peers, the engineering firm working on the project.

The car that hit Metzker left the scene after the incident. The alleged driver, Ryan Rhea, 23, was charged on Sunday with one felony count of hit-and-run causing the death. He was released from Washoe County jail on $10,000 bail.

Silly people....sidewalks are for walking.

I know the average person who walks is thinner...but this seems a tad ridiculous!

What do you notice in this picture?  That's right a fancy, beautiful, smooth, First St.  Completely closed off by the nice construction crew so that I can weave through the cones like a six year old on a brand new huffy!  Ahhh, I forgot for a second it wasn't just for me.  I've been pretending it was for about the last month or so,  since most of it has been closed off to vehicles and set up as a slalom course that changed daily!  I mean who else besides bicycles would that be designed for!?

Ok, that's one perspective.  What caused me to halt my slalom run was the sidewalk configuration.

While this picture isn't entirely fair (the Fed Ex and UPS boxes are usually a bit further down the sidewalk).  A pedestrian must (by design or lack there of) step into a narrow lane of oncoming traffic to continue on his or her merry way.  It wouldn't be necessary except for the fact the road has already been widened to accommodate more vehicles (e.g. the telephone pole wasn't always in the middle of the sidewalk).

Anyway, I thought I'd get a quick stab in for Pedestrian rights, before I continued my morning slalom run.  If you haven't been out on the new street, make sure you visit before the open it to vehicle traffic....it's a hoot.

Perks of the job - or - Pedestrian hazard!

                                                  Note the no parking sign just to his right!

                             I love how the painting on the curb matches the suburbans paint job!


I've been observing some parking patterns that have developed over the last few month in downtown Reno next to city hall.  At first I was just kind of amused that Reno Fire would park repeatedly in no parking zones while (apparently) taking care of business matters.  However, during the same time the RGJ/RPD started reporting on pedestrian crossings and who was at fault (percentage wise) for accidents between pedestrians and cars.  My biggest problem with Reno Fire parking in this manner is that the rather large SUV prevents drivers from seeing someone entering the crosswalk until the pedestrian is fully in the street and the driver is suddenly required to slam on the breaks (in the best case).  So please Reno Fire, how about abiding by the rules and parking in the parking garage less than 50 feet away.  It might just save the guys at the local fire house a roll-out for the day!