I’ve been told that crossing signal is a quick one as well.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of John Brooking
Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2017 9:17 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: WSMAC Meeting Info for Wed 12/20 @ 5:30 PM
As you have probably seen, I've begun a new thread specifically to ask Eric
Dudley (Westbrook Director of Engineering & Public Services) and Ethan Flynn
(employee, VHB) about the possibility of this, and how we would advocate for
it. I thought it needed its own subject thread.
But on this thread, I'll add to the anecdotal evidence for the need by saying I
a year or so ago I observed a bicyclist almost get hit in this spot. She was on
the sidewalk against traffic, and rode across in the crosswalk on the walk
light, at the same time a motorist coming out of Hannaford was turning left on
the green. I was on my bike in the travel lane, behind the car, and I could
clearly see what was about to happen, but only had about a second to yell to
the bicyclist to watch out. Fortunately, they both saw each other before they
collided, but it was pretty close. The bicyclist continued onto the far
sidewalk.
This is why we teach bicyclists not to ride on sidewalks, in crosswalks, and
against traffic, and I wish she had known better. You can see that it's the
same hazard pedestrians face, but made worse by the bicycle's greater speed,
therefore less reaction time. I'm sure the motorist experienced her as "coming
out of nowhere", since he or she probably was not scanning the entire crosswalk
very thoroughly during their turn, although they should have been. And I
suspect that's a large part of the issue, that this is a wide divided road,
requiring left turning motorists to scan a very large angle to take in the
entire crosswalk. The fact is that people will do all sorts of things from not
knowing any better (the bicyclist) or sloppy habits (the motorist), and if it
seems a hazardous enough situation with the current infrastructure, maybe it's
time to look at other options.
On Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 10:58 AM, Angela King <angela@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:angela@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Good morning! Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine today.
To Katherine's point about getting the Hannaford crossing improved, it would be
good to focus the group on a specific initiative like this. There are many
areas of concern in town, but tackling them one at a time, making a
concentrated effort on one, can often produce results sooner.
Of course, keep the big picture in mind so that if it makes sense to do another
improvement at the same time advocate for that too.
It was great to meet with you all - wonderful energy! Here's to a new year of
positive change!
Happy New Year!
Best,
Angela
On Dec 26, 2017 7:15 AM, "Clarrage, Katherine C."
<Katherine.C.Clarrage@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:Katherine.C.Clarrage@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Sorry I missed the dec meeting (out of state, family emergency)…anyway, I HOPE
we can get some resolve at the Hannaford crossing…I’ve been trying to suggest
an all stop (w/ audible pedestrian signal…I’m vaguely recalling that exists at
that intersection). That 2 lane swinging left out of Hannaford is SO
DANGEROUS…especially the outer lane that often doesn’t see the pedestrians when
there’s a vehicle in the inner lane. Hopefully 2018 can be the year…guess I
just don’t understand the resistance to this simple request…it would only “slow
down” traffic flow when a pedestrian activated the pedestrian signal. Thanks
for picking up this (and so many other) important pedestrian issues. Happy New
Year! Kathy
Kathy Clarrage
Orientation & Mobility Specialist
State of ME: Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired
151 Jetport Blvd
<https://maps.google.com/?q=151+Jetport+Blvd%0D+Portland,+ME+04102&entry=gmail&source=g>
Portland, ME 04102
<https://maps.google.com/?q=151+Jetport+Blvd%0D+Portland,+ME+04102&entry=gmail&source=g>
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ] On
Behalf Of John Brooking
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 1:34 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wsmac] WSMAC Meeting Info for Wed 12/20 @ 5:30 PM
Here is your final(?) reminder for tomorrow's meeting, with agenda and other
notes. The agenda is less structured than usual, and also packed, so I doubt
we'll get to everything.
Proposed Agenda, December 20 2017
Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 5:30 PM
* Introductions and comments from guest Angela King from BCM regarding
general advocacy and the identified problem locations identified at last
spring’s DOT/BCM Pedestrian Forum.
* WSMAC swag: Kim, John to display samples she got; Lee is working on
slap bracelets. What would people use? See dontgethit.com
<http://dontgethit.com> .
* Continuing committee discussion: Volunteer chairs? See this Priorities
document <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1c--2hyCMO8ttUlzl4UlM1tIaX8vdtf3M>
which contains notes from last month’s discussion.
* Interim solution for Main/Stroudwater crosswalk?
* Hannaford crosswalk: Re-time to give pedestrians all red, and/or
increase walk time?
* SHARING OF POSITIVE THOUGHTS
* Immersion days:
* Contact Mike Conkright, Portland wheelchair user, who is working on
Portland sidewalk accessibility (he may be present at the meeting)
* Can get traffic engineers to participate, ex. @ Hannaford?
* Dirigo Plaza plans: Plans @ city hall? Can we get a copy, or have to
come in and look? Any roadway/sidewalk/traffic changes?
* Discussion of distracted driving law
<http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2118.html> .
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW two of the documents linked above, and also here:
* Priorities
<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1c--2hyCMO8ttUlzl4UlM1tIaX8vdtf3M> , which
lists the committees and their activities which we discussed last month, a
discussion we will continue this month; and
* Maine Traffic Law Quick Reference
<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XUPbCpUsb8qzcfcl7gA6Sh1raq4PDFA9HATtCipwl4Y>
, to which I have added sections for motorist infractions including texting,
distracted driving. and OUI, in preparation for the last agenda item, should we
get that far.
Thanks for your interest and participation! Hope to see you tomorrow afternoon.
Feel free to forward this message to others not on the list. You can also
invite them to join the list by submitting their email address to this page
<https://www.freelists.org/list/wsmac> .
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