Thanks!

Thanks!

While in the UK, I noticed cameras on top of lights so if drivers ran yellow or red lights, they would be mailed a ticket. I have NO problem with putting cameras up for this purpose but can already see the emails coming in from those people who do have an issue with it. At these intersections, a police officer or ticket officer would have to be there all shift to watch if there was no camera there.

According to this 6/25/09 Boston Globe article, the jaywalking fine is set to a negligible amount by state law:

The $1 fine is laid out in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 18A, which states that communities can punish pedestrians who break local jaywalking rules “by a fine of one dollar for the first, second or third such offense . . . and by a fine of two dollars for the fourth or subsequent such offense so committed in such calendar year.”

If the jaywalking fine was $100 or more, there would be more incentive for the city to enforce it and for pedestrians to cross properly. In contrast, enforcing clear crosswalks could generate significant revenue with $50 fines for blocking a crosswalk. There’s also a $200 fine for blocking handicap ramps (curb cuts) which are usually at the sides of crosswalks. Link to the city’s Traffic & Parking page about Traffic Violation Information.

It’s important to keep in mind that no practical amount of fines and fees will ever solve the city’s structural deficit cemented by the squandered opportunity for development at Assembly Square. For more about this, I encourage you to read Bill Shelton’s excellent article from 6/17/09 Parking Extortion.

For example, I wonder if it’s time for new traffic studies in the business districts including Davis Square to evaluate the signal timing and crosswalk locations?

In Germany, they put the traffic lights on posts before the intersection, rather than hanging in the middle of the intersection like we do here in the US. Then again, they put their electrical cables under the ground, instead of up on poles. I think the German way helps keep the cars back further, allowing the pedestrian crossings to remain clear.

But I think a point about perspective has to be added. If you look at the traffic around Somerville and conclude that pedestrians and cyclists are the biggest problem you are completely blind to what is going on. The biggest problems exist with drivers violating laws. Even in the case of Davis Square there are way more drivers who violate the ability of a pedestrian’s safe passage at a crosswalk than pedestrian’s who violate the motorist’s ability. If you walk down any road in Somerville you will be encroached or blocked by cars who do not legally stop behind the crosswalk (I would bet the ratio of legal stops to illegal ones at stop signs in Somerville is about 1 to 20).

Enforcing driving laws for motorists should be the primary concern and beefing up enforcement for cycling and pedestrian violations would be fine as long as the bigger problems are addressed.

I think the light timing is something that can be done. I will find out who at City Hall handles that. In fact, I was wondering how they are going to time all the new lights being placed on Somerville Ave which are a block apart. If they are not timed correctly, there is going to be one hell of a traffic jam on a daily basis on that street. Thanks!

You are absolutely correct that there are plenty of crosswalks. There may be a few locations where crosswalks should be added, but overall I think the crosswalk locations are just fine, particularly in Davis Square.

My main point about fairness is not about the crosswalk locations but about the signal timing. In general, pedestrians will not follow the signals when there are times when they can safely cross (i.e. parallel to traffic that has a green light or when there is a large gap in traffic) and the amount of time they have to wait to get a walk signal is long. Studies show that pedestrians will wait 30 seconds or so before thinking about crossing without a “walk” signal.

WalkBoston has an excellent presentation that includes some information about signal timing (along with other relevant info about what makes a good walking environment):

http://www.walkboston.org/documents/ped201.pdf