Floppy Signs Multiply

It seems like the yellow floppy Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk signs are multiplying like rabbits around town.  Also known as "Ped pop-up" signs or "In-Street Ped warning" signs, they were originally designed for mid-block crossings. Gradually they’ve been expanded to be used even at intersections and sometimes even on both sides of the same intersection.  One intrepid Voice reader notes  

Most cities have already figured out they don’t work and are knocked down a lot (see photo below on California Ave.). They are a maintenance nightmare as we’ve seen, and in the worst case, they actually impede a regular car driver from safely completing a left turn from a side street.  This makes the driver navigate the turn slowly and be more exposed to getting broadsided by a car on the major street.  It’s our city continuing to throw money down the drain in the hopes of virtue signaling that it cares about pedestrian safety.

I have also seen drivers slow to a crawl when there is no pedestrian anywhere near the crosswalk-- so-called "traffic calming" gone awry.  Let's hope the city is evaluating the cost-benefit of these signs.

 

 

Comments

[BMW]

There was one by the frowndabout that got hit so often and replaced (>4x) the city gave up and just removed it for good. RIP.

https://goo.gl/maps/B4eduK36WohyZJrA8

[resident]

I'll bet the kids are mowing them over on purpose and legal pot isn't helping the driving around town either.

[Peter Garrison]

Hillside and 35: Mashed away.

[Barking Dog]

Pot use has ZERO do do with the driving in the neighborhood.

[Bruce Dickinson]

Folks, no magic little purple pill is gonna keep those signs fully erect!

The one on Skyline and Canyon Rd was an incredibly stupid place to put it. Coming south from Trousdale freeway exit onto Skyline, if tried to make a left onto Canyon Rd, the sign was in such a place that it was practically impossible to move into the left turn lane onto Canyon, thereby making the cars behind you wait. It was a matter of time before a car would hit it. All Bruce Dickinson has to say is I'm glad it wasn't one of my Ferraris!

Seriously, don't pop up a bunch of cheap signs in the name of improving pedestrian safety, but not thinking about whether vehicular safety is at all compromised. Spend some real dough to make a crosswalk safe if it really is an issue. At the Skyline/Canyon location, would make a whole lot more sense to have a flashing light crosswalk that would be more visible whether it's at high noon or at 12 midnight.

Next up: Common Sense Lessons at 501 Primrose!

[Mom]

At least 12 people per month walk across Skyline at Canyon. I think more coyotes and deer cross than people.