STACE
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2012-09-27 03:29 PM |
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I agree with BUMBLEBEE that the downtown intersections are both confusing for drivers and dangerous for pedestrians. I live very near Garden and Sola and daily I hear people honking at cars headed down Garden who suddenly stop at Sola Street because they see the bold white crosswalk and think there is a stop sign there. And I also see -(daily) - cars racing up Garden Street ignoring pedestrians at the same intersection who happen to be crossing on the southeast or south west corner (the downhill side) because that side of the intersection has no markings. While the fact is that it may be safer to cross at the marked side of the intersection - the one nearer the park - not everyone does, and all intersections, marked or not are "crosswalks". All pedestrians need to exercise care when crossing and wait until it's safe to step into the intersection. Despite the fact that pedestrians have the right of way, sometimes it’s better to give it to the car and wait for a safe crossing. But please - let's get all of the downtown intersections marked in a consistent manner and take some of the unnecessary confusion and peril out of pedestrian safety.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-27 01:10 PM |
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No sorry I just heard the beginning of the call and report it..I have to relay on the other snooze agencies for up dates..They are getting alittle better.
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COMMENT 324845
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2012-09-27 12:57 PM |
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BUMBLEBEE: While the crosswalk markings seem inconsistent, they are consistent with encouraging people to cross on the safer side of the intersection (i.e., where cars turning from cross streets can't hit you). Santa Barbara Street runs one-way the other way, so the other side of Sola is safer. Garden is two way, so the marked crosswalk is on the side that borders the park (where you could expect more pedestrians). Yes, drivers should look in the direction they're about to turn, but on one-way streets they tend to be so focused on trying to "beat" the oncoming traffic that they forget. I saw an elderly woman get hit this way crossing De La Vina in front of the Louise Lowry Davis Center, and it was one of the worst things I have ever witnessed.
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COMMENT 324846
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2012-09-27 12:57 PM |
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So, anyone have any information or news on the injured person?
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COMMENT 324835
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2012-09-27 12:26 PM |
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Fun fact for all of you, crosswalks actually more often than not make intersections MORE dangerous due to giving the pedestrian a false sense of security. Pedestrians are more likely to just step into the road without checking for traffic just because they're in a crosswalk. They are good for getting pedestrians to cross in the right place, but most of time do nothing/have negative effects on safety.
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COMMENT 324815
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2012-09-27 12:01 PM |
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ahhhhh yes makes sense. Thanks!
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COMMENT 324811
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2012-09-27 11:59 AM |
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760 - They refer to the location of the crosswalk in relation to the intersection. The "downhill" crosswalk is the one that crosses Anacapa located nearer the ocean, thus farther down, than the one on the "uphill" side of it if that makes sense.
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COMMENT 324760
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2012-09-27 10:27 AM |
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I'm confused about this uphill/downhill intersection? Isn't Anacapa a one way street down, so no matter what part of the street your crossing is downhill. Right?
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BUMBLEBEE
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2012-09-27 10:05 AM |
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But there is a crosswalk at every corner of an intersection if is marked or not. With the above 740 logic, then the Santa Barbara/Sola intersection has the crosswalk on the wrong side, and the Garden/Sola intersection doesn't make sense. It is a lack of uniformity of crosswalk markings in this city that is dangerous. As far as the drivers not looking downhill at the Anacapa/Sola intersection, it is very unsafe to not look in the direction your vehicle is moving.
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COMMENT 324740
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2012-09-27 09:43 AM |
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The uphill crosswalk is the ONLY crosswalk peds should use. Cars either: 1) on Sola crossing Anacapa; or 2) turning onto Anacapa from Sola - WILL ONLY LOOK TOWARD ON-COMING ONE-WAY TRAFFIC. Drivers rarely look at the downhill corner when crossing or turning (away from the oncoming traffic), and peds crossing there are at far greater risk of being hit.
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BUMBLEBEE
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2012-09-27 09:28 AM |
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This a very dangerous intersection for pedestrians because of the way the crosswalks are marked. Crossing Anacapa, the uphill side of the intersection has a bold painted crosswalk and the downhill side of the intersection does not have a marked crosswalk eventhough it is a crosswalk. Not sure what the facts in this case are, but what happens is that if you cross Anacapa in the downhill part of the intersection, people do not stop for you because they don't think you are in a crosswalk. Also, because the uphill cross walk is so boldly marked, drivers will stop there thinking that they somehow missed seeing a stop sign. The crosswalk markings in this city are very confusing for drivers. So far, I have counted eleven different types of crosswalk markings. For safety's sake, all crosswalks in this city should have the same markings.
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COMMENT 324704
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2012-09-27 09:07 AM |
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Ever since the city made Anacapa a one-way street it has been a speed trap, and destroyed the lovely historic residential neighborhood from Mission Street south at the same time. City transportation department needs to re-think what they did to this downtown neighborhood as part of their long-range transportation management plan.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-27 08:59 AM |
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Engine one in service patient transported to Cottage.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-27 08:45 AM |
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Pedestrian in the middle of the street Anacapa at Sola Engine one on scene.
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