From: Charles Soules
Sent: Wednesday,
June 08, 2005 3:13 PM
To: Joanne Eckert
Subject: 6th and Louisiana crossing
>Hi All,
>
>I have never heard people complain about crossing at Louisiana, and
>never see people trying to cross there.
>
>What is important is not what physically makes for a good crossing
>site but where people actually need one.
>
>Before we make a cross walk at 6th and Louisiana I would like to see
>the existing cross walk at Kentucky improved. I see people cross
>there all the time and it is still dangerous, even with the existing
>light.
>
>I also see people crossing 6th Street further west by Wisconsin and
>Colorado Streets to go to the Dollar Store and Yacht Club. Traffic
>is
>really moving at this point coming down the hill from Iowa.
>
>I would like to see a cross walk there before one at Louisiana.
>
>I don't see any demand for a crossing between Kentucky and the
>Pinckney tunnel or Maine Street but I do see demand near Colorado.
>
>But first, Kentucky Street crossing needs greatly improved.
>
>Also, how do people from North Lawrence cross 6th Street at the end
>of
>the bridge?
>
>
>Steve Braswell
>President, Pinckney Neighborhood Association
>427 Michigan St.
>Lawrence, KS 66044
>785-841-6902
>steve@acornwebworks.com
From: Charles Soules
Sent: Wednesday,
June 08, 2005 3:13 PM
To: Joanne Eckert
Subject: 6th and Louisiana crossing
From: Charles Soules
Sent: Wednesday,
June 08, 2005 3:19 PM
To: Joanne Eckert
Subject: 6th
Street pedestrian
crossing
-----Original Message-----
From: Dunfield, David [mailto:DDunfield@glpma.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 8:49 AM
To: ELECTRONIC-LAN@listproc.cc.ku.edu
Subject: RE: Crosswalk thoughts
Steve, CJ, and all,
In my newly revived role as plain civilian, may I jump into this discussion?
I'm very interested in making the city more adapted to walkers. I love to walk, both for transportation and pleasure, and I jog to try to keep my heart pumping.
Anyway, I cross on foot all the locations noted in these 2 posts pretty regularly, including the bridge over the Kaw, along with lots of others. I'd agree that they are less friendly than many other intersections, but they're not as bad as some. Basically it's the amount of pavement and number of vehicles that determine how walkable an intersection is. At any intersection, no pedestrian can assume that drivers will yield the right of way. Given the laws of physics, every pedestrian has to assume every car is a threat to life and limb, until the driver's actions demonstrate otherwise.
I'm not sure what "improving" the intersection at 6th and Kentucky for pedestrians would consist of, short of getting rid of the cars. I'm pretty sure we're not ready for a roundabout at that spot (though I believe one would work very well at 19th and LA). Maybe signage can help, though I'm skeptical.
The logic of a crossing at 6th and LA is pretty convincing to me: Pedestrian traffic demands that crossings be conveniently spaced, since us walkers won't go several blocks out of our way. If we don't provide convenience, walkers will either risk crossing at an uncontrolled location or give up and get back in their cars, both of which are outcomes I don't want to see. 6th and LA is at the crown of a low hill, so visibility is good, it's equally distant from the tunnel and the KY signal.
David Dunfield
From: Charles Soules
Sent: Wednesday,
June 08, 2005 3:17 PM
To: Joanne Eckert
Subject: 6th St Pedestrian Crossing
>>Since Louisiana Street crosses at the crest of the Sixth
Street
>hill, it does make sense as a location as far as sightlines are
>concerned. This issue obviously will require careful thought,
>however.
>As I'm sure you know already, the Pinckney tunnel currently provides
>a
>safe crossing location. And there are traffic lights already located
>at 6th and Kentucky.
>>
>>Wasn't Sixth supposed to be re-striped by now? The crosswalk idea
>seems like something which could be revisited after we find out how
>well Sixth is going to work with its new configuration.
>>
>>
>>Malcolm Lodwick
>>President OWL Neighborhood Association
>>
>