Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Digital sign warns pedestrians at dangerous Bethesda sidewalk closure (Photos)

The sidewalk remains closed in front of the Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, despite no obvious demolition operations being underway at the street side of the structure. Impatient pedestrians continue to jaywalk into oncoming traffic to avoid having to cross the street. Recently, the developer has brought in off-duty police officers to give warnings to jaywalkers. They are not there around the clock, and people continue to walk in the street, so it was more of a PR move than a solution.

Now a police sign trailer has been set up on Wisconsin, warning jaywalkers of fines for entering the roadway. It's not working, as you can see below. The Montgomery County Council has been silent on the issue, which they could have prevented by stipulating a covered sidewalk and closure restrictions in the Purple Line and minor master plan agreements. Once again, the Council has proven impotent on quality of life issues, and basic government matters like pedestrian safety.
Pedestrians enter the roadway
to get around Apex Building
sidewalk closure last night

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not sure why there would be obvious signs of demolition that late at night.

Robert Dyer said...

There aren't any signs of demolition that would require a sidewalk closure at any hour. Why do you single out night hours, and since when is early evening "late at night?"

Anonymous said...

Looks like it's past twilight. That would be no earlier than 8:15 PM this time of year. Why would there be demolition then?

Have you ever been there in the daytime, when demolition activity is happening?

Anonymous said...

It's not rocket science, Dyer. The pictures accompanying the article were taken at night. Your article's first words are:
"The sidewalk remains closed in front of the Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, despite no obvious demolition operations being underway"

James J. Walker said...

Why did you post two pictures of the same two jaywalkers?

Anonymous said...

"no obvious demolition operations being underway"

Umm they just moved a huge crane to the site.

Robert Dyer said...

6:39: What's that have to do with the sidewalk being closed?

5:59: Because they were very small in the larger photo.

5:23: No front facade demolition has occurred at any hour.

Anonymous said...

"The Montgomery County Council has been silent on the issue"

Dyer the Liar: A simple Google search for "Berliner Apex demolition" proves you wrong. (Have you disallowed links now, Mr. Dyer? No references to the outside world allowed?)

Once again, the author shows he has no grasp of the Council's responsibilities and jurisdiction, demonstrating his lack of fitness for office.

Robert Dyer said...

7:31: That same "simple" search will show you that Berliner indeed sent a letter, which was promptly torn up and thrown in the trash by MDOT. Since then, the Council has said and done nothing to reopen the sidewalk.

Once again, the Council's impotence and inaction on behalf of their constituents demonstrates their lack of fitness for office.

Anonymous said...

YOU asked "Why do you single out night hours?"

I REPLIED: "It's not rocket science, Dyer. The pictures accompanying the article were taken at night. Your article's first words are:
"The sidewalk remains closed in front of the Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, despite no obvious demolition operations being underway""

Who cares about nit-picking why it's closed. It's closed. People need to follow instructions or take it upon themselves to risk injury and not follow instructions.

The story should be WHY people feel they're above being inconvenienced. Not why construction follows their liability insurance rules.

Barwood Sucks said...

They need better signs on the sidewalks before folks bolt into the street. This digital sign is one sided and targeted strangely to drivers, not peds. It's not visible walking south.

Presumably the off duty cop thing was a PR stunt by the developer since they are not being utilized regularly.

Anonymous said...

It's after 12 pm, so Robert Dyer will not post any signed comments until 9:30 pm.

Anonymous said...

How much more "signage" do you need, than "SIDEWALK CLOSED - USE OTHER SIDE", posted at Elm Street and at Bethesda Avenue? And it's been closed for three months now, so everyone already knows about it.

Anonymous said...

Let's go back to the woman who each morning would cross Bradley to the church as she walked north on Wisconsin. The crosswalk is hidden to those turning right onto Bradley, and she was often almost hit.
So she started crossing just before the crosswalk, to hopefully make her easier to see. A car came flying into a right hand turn onto Bradley and literally ran her over. Hit her, she fell, the underside of the car was on her.
She suffered broken bones, 3rd degree burns on her hand, leg and torso, and a torn knee ligament. Spent months between hospitals and rehab facilities.

She also was the only one who was cited. Not crossing in the crosswalk. Her decision.

There's a lesson in there somewhere.

Anonymous said...

Robert broke curfew and snuck out of the basement to get these pictures after 830!

Steve said...

Yup. All our interns are home by sundown. They don't live in Bethesda.

Nothing good happens in Bethesda after dark!

Anonymous said...

Impersonating a real person online is a crime in this state. Only by the grace and good will of the real Steve are you not currently under investigation.

Imagine being so close to Dyer that one would risk criminal penalty to fight Dyer's battles.

Baloney Concrete said...

"Impersonating a real person online is a crime in this state."

Citation, please.

Anonymous said...

As if anyone here ever uses citations. Please. :)

Maloney Concrete said...

5:18pm is impersonating me!