If you've tried navigating downtown Bethesda on foot this year, you know that pedestrian safety has been more of an afterthought than a priority. The Montgomery County Council is now finally discussing the issue of illegal sidewalk closures at downtown Bethesda construction sites - four-and-a-half months after
I first reported it on here, and nearly as long since citizen complaints were filed regarding the closures on Fairmont Avenue. Norfolk Avenue, St. Elmo Avenue, Old Georgetown Road, Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue are just some of the places where sidewalks closed (or remain closed) for extended periods, in violation of county code.
But there's an additional pedestrian safety problem now at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Battery Lane. Would you believe...there are no controls or crossing signals for pedestrians to cross Battery Lane at this intersection?
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Walk? Don't Walk?
Hello? |
"Press button to cross?" There is no button to press! And no signal to tell you when to cross, even if there had been.
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| Button? What button? |
The new controls are at the intersection, but they remain in their packaging! Your taxpayer dollars at work. How about less poster ads of teens with tread marks on their faces, and a little more breaking out the old tool box and installing the dang signals?
While developers have been responsible for the majority of sidewalk closures in Bethesda, this problem is strictly a government one. As a state highway, Old Georgetown Road falls under the jurisdiction of the State Highway Administration.
What's the explanation here?
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See the box tied around
the pole at right? The
pedestrian controls are
in there |
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This is a busy, state highway
intersection |
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51 comments:
Perhaps Montgomery County will open the crosswalk control cardboard boxes Christmas morning?
Does anyone on the Montgomery County Council or staff actually walk the streets in Bethesda? There have been so many issues with sidewalks and pedestrian access for so long. This past year has seen a real decline in pedestrian safety in the downtown.
Clearly, the new crosswalk signals go with the new stoplights being installed (neither of which are active yet). The old crosswalk signals and old stoplights to cross Old Georgetown Road are still there and functioning properly, despite the angles of Robert's photos attempting to hide this fact. Did Robert seriously think none of us would know there are still functioning crosswalk signals at Old Georgetown? Explain to me again how installing new crosswalk signals (updated to include voice notification when the push button is employed) is a "war on pedestrians"?
Poor robbie got confused when he saw the unfinished work and wanted to open the box up and see what was behind it. Perhaps he should stick to reveiwing processed foods
Photos 4, 5, and 6 clearly show the old crosswalk signals are still in place and presumably will be until the state switches over to the new stopslights/crosswalk signals. "Boy who cried wolf" comes to mind....
Yes, the signals are in place and working to cross Old Georgetown.
However, THERE ARE NO SIGNALS WORKING TO CROSS BATTERY LANE at that intersection.
If you're walking up Old Georgetown, you cannot safely cross there.
Bob, is there anyway you can organize a walking tour of downtown Bethesda with Council-member Berliner and other stakeholders? Clearly, they need more eyes on the pedestrian situation.
Well, at least the Rescue Squad is right there to help pedestrians struck by cars while crossing Battery. :/
Duh, people. There have never been pedestrian walk signals to cross Battery Lane. That's why SHA is in the middle of adding them. Anyone even marginally educated on this intersection knows the EXACT OPPOSITE of a "war on pedestrians" is taking place. They're ADDING PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS TO THE INTERSECTION. I don't know how to state this any clearer.
Good to hear they're being added. Can the MoCo drones help speed the installation of the lights and buttons?
Silly, Dyer. Facts and educated readers are his worst enemies.
7:44 As I clearly wrote in the article, the signals in question are to cross Battery Lane, not Old Georgetown Road. How is it trick photography if you can see the Old Georgetown signals in the photos?
7:53 There are no signals to cross Battery Lane. "Man who defends incompetence for political or financial reasons" comes to mind...
8:30: Have you tried walking around downtown Bethesda recently? There most definitely is a war on pedestrians with all of the sidewalk closures. The unfinished signals have been there for a long time on Battery, and that is a dangerous and illegal intersection as a result. Crossing your fingers, and plastering the county with tacky and stereotyping ads, is not a pedestrian safety strategy.
9:17 Silly comment. Are there, or are there not, pedestrian signals operating to cross Battery Lane. The reactions on here are "1984" at its best. "We are making crossing Battery Lane safer by having non-functioning pedestrian signals in place." I don't think "educated readers" are finding your "facts" very convincing.
Bob,
I'm surprised anyone is defending the state of pedestrian access in the downtown. Maybe the council will get to it next year?
The walking tour is a good idea. I don't think the council and others know how bad it is.
8:59: The drones have been grounded. But maybe they could transfer money from the apparent MoCo CIO slush fund that was used to buy the drones to fund enforcement of sidewalk access at Bethesda construction sites.
Does Dyer still not get it? The SHA is in the middle of installing new pedestrian signals (replacing old signals to cross Old Georgetown and adding entirely new signals to cross Battery Lane). How on earth can this be twisted into a bad thing and evidence of a "war on pedestrians"? Dyer is an absolute fool who just cannot bring himself to admit when he's blatantly wrong. What a repulsive characteristic to have.
12:08 Defending the indefensible seems to be a habit among the political class in Montgomery County. Then you add facts, and *poof*, they evaporate and start childish personal attacks.
12:13 I'm wrong that there are no operating signals to cross Battery Lane? I invite readers to visit the intersection themselves to verify. With big talk about pedestrian safety, but a different reality on the ground downtown, and childish insults like "absolute fool," and trying to fool people with doublespeak... well, talk about "repulsive."
"12:13 I'm wrong that there are no operating signals to cross Battery Lane?"
They are LITERALLY in the middle of installing pedestrian signals here for the first time EVER. This intersection has existed for generations and has never had a pedestrian signal, but now that one's being installed you say "look at this - they're installing pedestrian signals! It's a war on pedestrians!" Do you understand how utterly stupid that sounds? You're an opportunist who likes to tap into anti-government anger and you can't even do it right. So pathetic on so many levels.
Robert, did you ask for some form of confirmation or clarification from the county on this topic before posting?
With that as your background, you could've made a more compelling case here. Otherwise, I'm not sure if I should believe you or your commenters who say the project is already underway.
Just a suggestion.
12:32 Do you know how long the unfinished signals have been sitting there? It's not the urgent, heroic effort you are portraying it as. Let's just say, it's a pretty long "middle" of the process. If that intersection has been illegally unsignaled for years, I don't necessarily think that is a great PR talking point elected officials would want to trumpet very loudly to the public.
When I'm walking in downtown Bethesda, and have to cross to the other side because the sidewalk is closed - or enter the roadway if both sides are closed - would you categorize the pedestrian's response as "anti-government" anger?
Those of us who walk, and whose children walk, along Old Georgetown, were excited when the new signals went up months ago. Certainly, we thought, they'd be operational by the time school started. Here we are in October and they are still wrapped in packaging. THAT is the question-- why, after the expense of purchasing and installing them, are they still not operational? SHA has not responded to our family's inquiries.
"I'm not sure if I should believe you or your commenters who say the project is already underway."
Dyer's pictures are of newly installed pedestrian signals (along with the newly installed stoplights that will then be synced together along with other intersections, once completed). There's not really a debate here.
"When I'm walking in downtown Bethesda, and have to cross to the other side because the sidewalk is closed - or enter the roadway if both sides are closed - would you categorize the pedestrian's response as "anti-government" anger?"
I'd call that an obvious strawman argument to try and distract from the fact the original argument you make in the blog post is the dumbest thing any of us have read all day. Have a nice afternoon, Robert.
12:39 Although it would be great if the county could take action on this, my understanding is that it falls under the SHA as a state road. You can believe me, because if you check the intersection you will find no functioning signals to cross Battery Lane. The project of installing new ones has been going on for a period of months rather than hours, as some commenters have suggested.
12:46 And how long have the new signals been sitting there not operating? (Hint: ask 12:44 above)
12:49 Illegal sidewalk closures at construction sites are a "strawman" in the pedestrian safety debate? My post showing no crossing signals for Battery Lane is "the dumbest thing" you've read all day? These points won't serve you well from a public relations standpoint. "Any of us?" Hyperbole won't, either.
Folks who live in the neighborhood are wondering why the new signals were put up and not working.
Would have made sense to have them working for the start of school, right?
They're up, but covered in cardboard. Why no urgency? Remember the urgency to open Woodmont at Lot 31? Let's get some of that urgency here.
Downtown Bethesda has no representation on the council, so our needs are never addressed promptly.
Look at the sidewalk fiasco this year. Multiple people contacted the county about the illegal sidewalk closures and the council is just now thinking about looking at it.
Give credit to Robert for bringing these issues forward.
"Pathetic" and "repulsive"...that describes a councilmember who berates female staffers at public meetings
Yes, pedestrian access can be bad to downright non existent in downtown Bethesda.
Yes, Bethesda is growing and traffic (all modes) is getting worse.
Yes, they are trying to make it better for pedestrians.
Yes, they are taking their sweet time and not keeping citizens informed of status.
No, there is no "war" against pedestrians. Slow government, yes. War against pedestrians? No. Bobby, your choice titles and words make for enemies. If you are trying to bring news and enlighten folks, try a bit of humility and unbiased reporting.
Brad,
If you don't own a car and are trying to get around on with RideOn and walking, it can feel like a war some days.
I won't even go into the winter snow problems where the state plows all of the snow on to sidewalks and into bus shelters so we can't get to work or shopping. Private property owners like Lerner share some of the blame as well.
My son has to cross Battery Lane there every school day. He called MoCo 311 about the signals, and they referred his complaint to the state, who replied that they would "perform a study and get back to him within 90 days." Meanwhile, the signals have been up but non-functioning since at least June.
Brad, I don't recall touting myself anywhere in the article. I think allowing the sidewalk closures to persist, despite them being a blatant violation of county law, shows a callous disregard for public safety. It clearly indicates that developers are in charge in Montgomery County. Otherwise, there would have been Stop Work orders and fines months ago.
The problem is that disregard for pedestrian safety in downtown Bethesda is a pattern for MoCo. This isn't an isolated incident.
As Bob has reported, the county has given carte blanche to the developers and allowed them to illegally close sidewalks and block pedestrian access. Even the Council is admitting this now that Bob caught their hand in the cookie jar months ago.
Lt. Gov Brown and the MoCo council need to take a walking tour of the downtown.
SHA is performing work at intersections up and down Old Georgetown Rd. from Bethesda through NIH through White Flint. I wouldn't be surprised if the new intersection stoplights and associated pedestrian lights highlighted here aren't activated until other work is completed as well. Same thing happened on Georgia Ave. where they redid the stoplights and pedestrian signals for a number of miles - some of the infrastructure was installed earlier than others (obviously), but it all gets flipped on at the same time. That's how infrastructure works; there's an interrelationship of various projects going on in this situation that goes well beyond Dyer crying about "war on pedestrians" because new signals are being installed.
Dyer should spend his time following up with SHA asking when the total overarching project might be completed, rather than just defending his inane blog post on this forum. The former would actually be a useful public service while the latter is honestly embarrassing as hell to read. Oh well, to each their own.
6:27: The only thing "embarrassing as hell" here was the attempt of the political operatives to cast doubt on my report - and then be revealed as frauds when the actual Bethesda residents confirmed my post as 100% accurate. In fact, the situation is even worse than I thought, as actual residents have now confirmed the signals have been dark since June.
Gosh, I guess I was off-message with the MoCo Council's pedestrian safety PR misfire on the same morning. Impotent as always, the council is powerless to act against the developers who fund their campaigns. Speaking of "embarrassing as hell..."
I live in Gaithersburg and commute to Bethesda on a daily basis. The traffic light/pedestrian signal situation at Old Georgetown Road & Battery Lane intersection is the EXACT same situation that is at Montgomery Village Avenue (Rt. 124) and Christopher Avenue/Lost Knife Road intersection. The brand spankin' new Gaithersburg Library is at this intersection as well.
I live just behind the library and often times find myself taking the J9 express metrobus home from Bethesda. I get off before the bus reaches its destination of the Lakeforest Transit Center.
I must cross at this intersection in Gaithersburg and find it to be an insult to us Montgomery County residents who pay good tax dollars for the county to start a project and let it go for MONTHS before it is even completed.
Robert, would you please bring up this intersection (MD 124 & Lost Knife) with the County Council the next time you attend a session? Or at the very least, pass this on to anyone that represents Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village?
Thank you for reading.
Political operatives? Ha. That's the kind of thing you keep saying that makes people not take you seriously.
Ped safety is a serious issue.
8:54: People are taking me very seriously, and that's why you're here to try to spin reality to something less embarrassing for the inept politicians you clearly support. Who else but you is trying to defend having an unsignaled crossing on Battery Lane? Certainly not the actual residents, who have contacted the county and state, who have failed to correct the problem so far. Only a political operative would be enthusiastically defending government failure.
6:26 Yes, I will. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Sorry I didn't comment about the intersection. I only commented about your use of the term "political operatives" for the anonymous commenters here. Which apparently you think are all the same person.
Robert Dyer lives in this fantasy world where he truly believes he runs the most popular blog that is providing the news that no one else delivers. He honestly believes that he is a feared voice among the elected officials of the county and that they actually care about what he has to say. For this reason, he thinks MoCo Council actually hires people to waste their life on this site arguing against his biased, fabricated reporting. Here's a reality check Robert, no one takes your seriously! While you do provide some good intel on tenants moving in and out of the Bethesda area and some of the new developments, your opinion pieces lack any factual evidence which make you look like some lunatic begging for attention.
Bob is highlighting pedestrian safety issues around the downtown. He broke the story on the inappropriate sidewalk closures many months ago, which is leading to action by MoCo.
Just because Bob isn't rewriting Neil's press releases, that doesn't make his reporting "biased and inaccurate". You may not agree with all of his opinion pieces, but you have no evidence of inaccurate reporting.
Now, let's get back to talking about pedestrian safety...that's the point of this post.
@9:31AM, sorry for hurting your son's feelings.
9:56AM is changing to topic, as usual. Why don't you want to talk about pedestrian safety?
It's the usual pattern:
1. Bob posts story.
2. Trolls say it's false.
3. Bob proves them wrong with facts.
4. Trolls go wild and respond with ad hominem attacks
9:02 AM: If people weren't taking me seriously, you wouldn't be on here attacking me in the comments section every day. It speaks for itself. As does your claim on "fabricated" reporting on an article that has been verified not only by actual Bethesda residents, but by any person who goes to the intersection themselves. You just embarrassed yourself again.
10:07 Because his favorite councilmembers' record on pedestrian safety is so pathetically bad.
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