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  Ben (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  I completely agree. I walk there every morning on the way to the train and have an issue almost every day. Not sure exactly why it is so bad, but it is bad.

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Mayor's Office (Verified Official)

  Mayor's Office assigned this issue to Display Name Blocked (1500677)

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Peter Crowley (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  A plainclothes police officer walking around Salem could keep VERY busy citing violators of crosswalk laws. It would certainly improve the tourists' experience if Salem became known as a "strict enforcement" zone for pedestrians' safety.

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  I sabena (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  While they're at it, they could also cite pedestrians for not crossing at a crosswalk, crossing against the light, jaywalking etc

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Commons Issue Comm. (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Christine Madore, our Ward 2 Councelor is holding a meeting on Tues. 8/21 at 6:30 to discuss traffic patterns around the Common.
  Place of meeting is TBD.
  I suggest as many people attend as possible. There have been too many close calls crossing the Common at all crosswalks.

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Robert Doughty (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  So agree with I sabena post.

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  john (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Plainclothes officer?? Whats he gonna do pull out his gun? People would be crazy to let some strange person stop them in this city.

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Skipper (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Peter, I wish it were, but Salem isn't a "strict enforcement zone" for hardly anything, let alone traffic. Parking, zoning, traffic, drunks, litter, trash; the list goes on. We have lots of regulations---and some new ones every few weeks--- but few are enforced; it's all here on SeeClickFix!

  30-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Cheryl (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Peter (and other commenters) I agree with you!!! A few weeks ago I was walking through the Essex St. mall area with my sister (on a Saturday evening) when all of a sudden a police cruiser came up behind us. We moved out of the way and the cruiser continued driving through a bunch of obviously tipsy young people. I was appalled. What happened to police officers "walking a beat?" I see cops on bikes in Boston all the time - why not Salem Police officers??? Regarding the crosswalks around the commons area - I complained about this before and not much has been done about it. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to cross at a crosswalk (especially in that area) and it's like no crosswalk is there! Drivers fly through crosswalks in Salem as if the crosswalks didn't exist!!!

  31-07-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Peter Crowley (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  There is a difference between drivers who ignore crosswalks and all the other infractions discussed in the comments. These drivers can and do maim and kill people.
  The fact that police officers and city officials spend more time driving than walking may help explain the lax enforcement.

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  I sabena (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Peter, there is no difference between drivers who ignore crosswalks and pedestrians who walk into traffic, often at night, assuming drivers can see them. In either case, the pedestrians may get maimed or killed and drivers get blamed.

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Cheryl (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Peter - I agree with you. I never see a police officer when I'm walking around the Common area with my sister (usually at night), we almost never see a cop around. When we do, they are in a cruiser. I can't tell you how many times my sis and I have been walking and said to ourselves, "where are the police when (fill in the blank) is happening???" I know that the cops cannot be everywhere at every moment, but to not see them at all during an hour-long walk around the Commons on a Saturday night - there's something wrong with that! Also, (and this is a pet peeve of mine that has nothing to do with the crosswalks) when I see police cars driving around town, some don't use their signals when making turns. Shouldn't they be promoting good driving practices??? Especially to young people who have just started driving???

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Cheryl (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Also, to I sabena: I do agree with you that people should cross at the crosswalks and there are definitely people who aren't paying attention and walk right out in front of moving vehicles (usually because they are distracted by their phone or something else). Of course those people should be crossing at the crosswalk, but they are either stupid, distracted or too lazy to cross at the next crosswalk. However, I do believe that cars not stopping when people are on a crosswalk should take priority. Repainting all crosswalks and providing strong signage & lighting that brings attention to the fact that there is a crosswalk in a certain location has to be done - especially in the heavy traffic areas around the Common.

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  I sabena (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Agreed although spending money on crosswalks while ignoring pedestrians actions will not do much good.

  Based on government statistics, in over two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities a significant factor appears to be pedestrians not following the safety rules of the road. Certainly motorists bear responsibility for being attentive and reactive to the actions of others on the road, but budgeting significant sums of money for reconstructing streets, reducing car lanes, lowering speed limits, and adding cameras to deter drivers from, well, driving, while spending exactly $0 on pedestrian education programs will not change the most of the grim statistics.

  So here are some street-smart safety rules for pedestrians:

  - Make yourself as visible as possible, particularly during evening hours, by wearing bright clothing and reflective materials
  - Cross streets at well-marked crosswalks/intersections
  - Obey traffic signals and WALK signs but still look both ways before crossing and across all lanes
  - Don’t step in front of a vehicle until you are certain the driver is going to stop
  - Walk on the sidewalk. If there is none, walk facing traffic and be especially alert
  - Don’t compromise your senses of sight and hearing. Just as distracted driving can be dangerous, distracted pedestrians put themselves unnecessarily at risk

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Peter Crowley (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  I Sabena, the 2017 report of the Governors' Highway Safety Association (www.ghsa.org) recommends a 3E approach: Enforcement, engineering,and education. You will note that the first 'E' is Enforcement.

  Motor vehicles are the reason why pedestrian crashes are lethal. Drivers are rarely injured in these crashes. It is perverse to try to put the burden on pedestrians to prevent these crashes when they are almost exclusively the victims, and when it is motor vehicle use that makes the crashes so dangerous.

  Your pointers are all good advice, but they are all ways for pedestrians to protect themselves from being victimized by motor vehicles. Really, the users of motor vehicles should take responsibility for the damage that these vehicles do, rather than trying to blame the victims.

  01-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  I sabena (Zarejestrowany użytkownik)

  Peter Crowley: If education is the key, why is it "perverse" to point out pedestrians also share the responsibility of following basic road use rules? What's with this antagonistic "us vs them" attitude?

  People whether you're walking or driving, follow the rules and pay attention!

  02-08-2018 · Zgłoś Flagged
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  Mayor's Office (Verified Official)

  Mayor's Office assigned this issue to Traffic & Parking

  07-01-2019 · Zgłoś Flagged

Public commenting and status changes are not available for this issue.