Automobile Alley

[Pete]

From Downtown OKC Inc:

Happy to announce @AutoAlleyOKC board will appoint a pedestrian safety task force to examine crosswalks, speed limits, ADA access, lighting.

[cinnamonjock]

It's about time. When I worked at Hideaway, crossing that street was like playing a game of frogger. I eventually got so jaded that I just started walking out and hoping people wouldn't hit me.

[shawnw]

Excellent and welcome news

[jbrown84]

I hadn't driven up Broadway in a while, but I did a couple weeks ago and agree it's really confusing with the paddle signs. Glad to see they are going to take a hard look at it.

[riflesforwatie]

At various times in just the past two weeks, one (or both) of the paddle signs at 10th, 7th, and 6th have been knocked down, or hit, or carried to the side of the road, or otherwise harmed, and in at least a couple of cases later returned to service. I am certainly happy they're looking at the problem!

[2Lanez]

The paddle signs clearly weren't thought through. At 6th and 10th, there are walk signs and traffic lights. Are drivers really supposed to stop at a green light to yield to a pedestrian walking through a wait sign?

[HOT ROD]

Spend some money OKC - make your premier urban retail district (Auto Alley) safer for walking pedestrians - and you will get more money!

[Ross MacLochness]

https://t.co/u4sMkjYxYn

This is a survey from the Auto Alley pedestrian safety task force. Please take a few minutes to fill this out if you have an opinion on pedestrian safety in AA.

[catch22]

I was just about to point out that I observed last night that most of the pedestrian crossing signs (paddles) are very damaged and in some cases completely destroyed. That entire area is completely unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles. Some serious changes need to be made as soon as possible as a deadly incident WILL happen at any time - there is more sand at the bottom of the glass than the top for such an incident.

[Ross MacLochness]

Yep. The necessity of signage to create safety indicates that the street is not obviously or inherently safe. The fact that the signage in this case is so badly damaged tells me that this street is badly hindered by safety issues. Lowering the speed limit, adding ped-crossing signs etc will only work to an extent. What is needed are physical changes to the landscape (like a reduction in lanes, enhanced crosswalk bumpouts, street trees, crosswalks, improved lighting, etc.).

[Pete]

I like the flashing-light crosswalk ideas.

These were highly effective in California. Really get the attention of motorists.

[traxx]

https://t.co/u4sMkjYxYn

This is a survey from the Auto Alley pedestrian safety task force. Please take a few minutes to fill this out if you have an opinion on pedestrian safety in AA.

Done.

I used the comment section at the end to say that I think a better street design (tree lined median, bike lanes, crosswalk islands) would do more to slow traffic and make it safer for pedestrians than signs and stripes would.

[dankrutka]

I like the flashing-light crosswalk ideas.

These were highly effective in California. Really get the attention of motorists.

OU has at least one on campus and I agree that they're a good alternative until physical changes can be made.

[_Cramer_]

The only bad thing having those flashing crosswalk lights, when it snows, the plows take them out. As they scratch the ground, the blade will take them out.

[shawnw]

The ones in Norman I've seen appear to be recessed

[ljbab728]

The only bad thing having those flashing crosswalk lights, when it snows, the plows take them out. As they scratch the ground, the blade will take them out.

That's never been a problem that I know of with the ones I see here in the pavement in school zones.

[Canoe]

Broadway is a stroad.

https://www.google.com/search?q=stro...obile&ie=UTF-8

[riflesforwatie]

The ones in Norman I've seen appear to be recessed

Yes, they are recessed. I've seen a few close calls on Elm on campus, where these are installed. They seem to work fairly well. As a driver, they get my attention effectively. I don't think they're as good as a full signalized intersection or a HAWK beacon, but they're certainly less disruptive.

[Ross MacLochness]

I'm OK with flashing crosswalk lights in the pavement, but I don't want flashing pedestrian crossing signs. The latter would be just as effective as the paddles.

[riflesforwatie]

I'm OK with flashing crosswalk lights in the pavement, but I don't want flashing pedestrian crossing signs. The latter would be just as effective as the paddles.

What about both? That's how the OU ped crossings I mentioned are set up...

[Ross MacLochness]

What about both? That's how the OU ped crossings I mentioned are set up...

ehh I just don't think those signs are aesthetically pleasing. And if the design of the street itself changes for the better, signs like that wouldn't matter anyway.

[turnpup]

Broadway is a stroad.

https://www.google.com/search?q=stro...obile&ie=UTF-8

Learned a new word today! Thanks, HHE!

[cinnamonjock]

I would readily give up the aesthetics by having a few blinking signs than worry that I'm going to be hit by a car every time I cross broadway. Seems like a lot of people treat auto alley more like a painting than a function part of the city.

[zefferoni]

Maybe replace the paddles with bollards. Then at least the cars that hit them would start paying better attention.
(Only medium sarcasm with that)

[Ross MacLochness]

I would readily give up the aesthetics by having a few blinking signs than worry that I'm going to be hit by a car every time I cross broadway. Seems like a lot of people treat auto alley more like a painting than a function part of the city.

The point is that if the street is designed properly those blinking signs would be a gratuitous addition. Cars and people will know how to act in a safe way around each other without the need for blinking signs because safety is implicit in the design of the street. Safety is the most important concern here, but aesthetics are also very important and we should treat our streets as works of art. Turns out that many of the things we can do to make streets safer actually can serve to beautify as well.