While the Capital Crescent Trail bridge allows pedestrians to cross safely, many continue to try to cross at street level because it is faster. Personally, you would have to pay me significant money to attempt that street-level crossing. Trust me, it's worth the time to either use the bridge, or walk up a short distance to the light at Whole Foods. Being dead is not worth an extra 2 minutes. It's dark under the bridge, and look how worn-off the crosswalk is there. At night? Forget about it! You cannot be seen by drivers.
The Maryland State Highway Administration just announced that the intersection does not currently warrant a traffic signal, after completing a traffic study. There are already 3 traffic signals between Ridgefield Road and Little Falls Parkway. Signal advocates say the construction of a 10-story senior housing development on Landy Lane, and the existing Washington Episcopal School pedestrian and vehicle traffic, warrant a traffic light.
Whatever the outcome, it would seem that SHA could immediately (and fairly cheaply) improve safety there by painting a more visible crosswalk. Perhaps pedestrian-activated warning lights could be added to the bridge to alert drivers that someone is crossing, as well as lighting for that spot at night. The intersection of River and Ridgefield also desperately needs improved street lighting. It's so dark there at night, it's a major safety hazard for pedestrians.
Reader-submitted photo
29 comments:
Robert, you are 100% correct about this section of River Road, it is extremely dangerous to cross here with cars darting in all directions.
River Road has been neglected by SHA for many, many years- severe roadway cracking, lack of road markings, loose or missing median poles for months (River & Greystone),etc It is also interesting that SHA felt no light was needed here even with a major redevelopment project going forward. I thought a connecting road from Westbard was being built here too as part of the Westbard project?
I was actually very excited about a SHA memo of 8/25/15 to local residents to improve safety in the Green Acres/Glen Cove area but so far it hasn't occurred over a year later?
"Crews will install audible and countdown display pedestrian signals and the River Road intersections with Ventnor Road, Willard Avenue/Greenway Drive, and Baltimore Avenue."
Where are these safety improvements they write about?
Trump said "Robert, you are 100% correct"
LOL
There's a bus stop right there. Folks cross River frequently after disembarking the T2.
Needs more light!
Robert, thanks for highlighting this ped safety issue.
Impeach Hogan.
Sounds like a good place for Dyer to attempt to play Frogger
Give a man a bike, watch him get hit by a car
Teach a man to bike, let him get hit by cars forever
Landy Lane. Is that in Somerset? hahahah
@ 7:00 - LOL
I saw a video of this accident on one of the local news channels, it shows a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk and the pedestrian crossing in front, but then a work van drives by in the next lane unaware that someone is crossing in front of the other stopped vehicle and strikes her as she continues along the crosswalk.
And I agree that a flashing light might help draw attention that a pedestrian is crossing. But I wouldn't personally want to try to cross there either!!
The woman pedestrian clearly had the common "text neck" with head down looking at her phone, crossing the road and not looking for oncoming traffic. She's very lucky to be alive.
@ 7:59 AM - Westbard. Is that in Bethesda? Hahaha
Yes, she didn't pause a second to stop and look to see if the way was safe to keep crossing.
Nobody should be crossing river rd there. It takes 2 minutes to get to the light and cross safely.
give the bethesdans whatever they want. tired of the white privilege whining!
5:48 Then stop your whining.
3 minutes. LOL
No more traffic lights. Please. Pedestrians are lazy and distracted too most likely. Take a few more steps and get to a crosswalk or existing traffic light. I don't know if that's a cross walk underneath the bridge or not. If not, definitely no need for change even though there was an accident and someone was hurt. Isn't that jaywalking?
Install a catapult.
Westbard is a dangerous neighborhood.
7:31AM in your haste to attempt an insult you added incorrectly.
63 minutes
How embarrassing for you.
That must have been the most painful hour of your life.
9:50 Agreed. Poor 7:31. Waiting so long for someone to post? Then taking a half hour and getting it wrong? Poor 7:31. His embarrassment continues.
Definitely a poorly marked "crosswalk", especially odd with the bridge overhead.
There are pedestrian walk signs at this location but the crosswalk roadway markings are almost completely worn out from further neglect by State Highways. This is not a safe place to cross River Road, she should have walked to a light, but it looks like SHA could bear some liability here too? I bet you a buck SHA repaints these lines in the next few days to try and save their rears.
Were there any charges filed?
Enquiring Bethesdians want to know!
They should take out this crosswalk. The van happened to be at fault here, but only because the car next to it had already stopped, but this crossing is extremely dangerous. There's an elevated pedestrian crossing just above it, and there are signal-controlled intersections nearby to the north and south. This dangerous crosswalk is unnecessary.
Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M96KvIzsTts
Post a Comment