I wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Tom Springer that crossing
First Street as a pedestrian (Wed. Aug. 13) is a dangerous
proposition. But I would have to respectfully disagree that
crossing in a controlled intersection is safer than jaywalking
– at least at Westwood.
DEAR EDITOR:
I wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Tom Springer that crossing First Street as a pedestrian (Wed. Aug. 13) is a dangerous proposition. But I would have to respectfully disagree that crossing in a controlled intersection is safer than jaywalking – at least at Westwood.
The reason is clearly indicated in the photograph on the back page of The Dispatch. Depicted are pedestrians crossing in the crosswalk with a car making a left turn speeding behind them.
I don’t like to think of all the times I’ve been in the same location with left turning cars having either slammed on their brakes at the last moment, just missing my kids and me, or cars swerving to get around us, again just missing us by inches.
No, I would much prefer to take my chances crossing another place, where I’m away from busy intersections. I can patiently wait for the street to be free of cars in both directions, and we can cross without having to trust drivers who either have tunnel vision or just don’t care.
A quick call to Gilroy PD confirmed that crossing the street as I do is not a violation. Jaywalking applies only to certain locations.
If our city was really interested in pedestrian safety on First Street, they would alter the signal at Westwood to enable pedestrians to cross without the danger of left turning vehicles. Only then would that intersection be safer than crossing elsewhere.
Brian O’Mara, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, Aug. 15 to [email protected]
