Description
When classes are in session, pedestrians travel the length of this parking lot throughout the day.
In recent months a sign was placed on the Granoff side of the lot, which may have slightly improved the situation. However, most foot traffic now appears to originate on the TE-6 side, passing between the air-conditioning unit and OB-1. Perhaps a small strategically placed fence (twine with an orange flag?) or a fold-out sign might do the trick.
14 Comments
Acknowledged Tom_Struble (Registered User)
David Streever (Registered User)
David Streever (Registered User)
Joe No SCSC '78 (Guest)
Closed Tom_Struble (Registered User)
Reopened David Streever (Registered User)
It sounds like there is still a problem if pedestrians are not able to properly traverse this area--New Haven has a complete streets ordinance, which does not apply necessarily to the parking lot, but is an indication that as a city, we are committed to providing a safe and pleasant street-scape for all users, not just motorized ones.
It sounds as if the original poster was saying he wanted the school to ban the pedestrians--however, I am unaware that they are in any way legally prohibited from walking in a parking lot. Do you ban the people who have parked their car from walking to the sidewalk from their parked car? No, that would be insane.
If pedestrian infrastructure is missing, the answer is not to
David Streever (Registered User)
leversandpulleys (Registered User)
David,
The issue pertained to the use of the parking lot as a cut through to other areas, not to one's car. There's an excellent walkway along the length of the parking lot, but you can save a step or two by walking the length of the parking lot instead of using the footpath (see satellite photo).
David Streever (Registered User)
Levers & Pulleys: are the pedestrians causing danger for anyone by crossing through there?
I'm not a transportation engineer, but I do know that parking lots are designed to allow pedestrian traffic through without danger to the pedestrians. I'm not sure that there is a real danger being caused by the pedestrians walking through here, because I imagine that all the people parking here walk along the same lot.
leversandpulleys (Registered User)
David Streever (Registered User)
A fair worry--it is just typically, no amount of engineering or road building ever makes a pedestrian take a longer path (and I think if we're honest with ourselves, we realize that we never do take the longer route as pedestrians).
Proper engineering places pedestrians--the most vulnerable road users--at the forefront. I honestly think this lot needs a redesign if the students are not safe here. They will never ever use the sidewalks which abut it if they are less convenient--no amount of signage will change that.
If a road is designed to be safe at 40, people will drive at 50. If a path is shorter, people will take it.
Road design should--ideally--be such that it creates a level of safety for everyone, and prioritizes pedestrians. Otherwise, we are just asking for problems.
I'm not trying to bash you Levers&Pulleys--just trying to offer a very different perspective! I know it can be frustrating to see other people flaunting the rules, but legally, the students are well within their rights to walk through the parking lot. While the extra 5 minutes to use the sidewalk may not seem like a lot to a person who enjoys the convenience of driving to their destination, it certainly does add up for the walker.
Closed Tom_Struble (Registered User)
Reopened David Streever (Registered User)
Closed Tom_Struble (Registered User)