NEW "PEDESTRIAN FLAGS OVER MONROE" SITES!

LEARN TO CROSS: 5 MINUTES WITH TRAINED COACHES WILL TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERIENCE CROSSING THE STREET!

Drop in at any of these openings for instruction:

• Pickford @ Monroe: Tues., June 17, 5:30-7 p.m. OR
• Harrison @ Monroe: Sun. June 22, 11:30-1 p.m. OR
• Knickerbocker @ Monroe: Sun. June 22, 2-3:30 p.m.

A SIMPLE IDEA:

Pedestrians pick up a flag from a container at the crosswalk curb, signal motorists of their intent to cross with it, then return it to a bucket on the other side for the next person crossing. The 3 new Monroe Street sites above will open in response to DMNA residents' concern about crossing gapless Monroe Street.

THE CROSSWALK FLAG ADVANTAGE: A QUICK, SAFE CROSSING

The bright flag catches the drivers' attention and clarifies for them the pedestrian's plan to cross, which is enough to bring most drivers to a stop. When flags are combined with an assertive crossing technique (see below), pedestrians get the quick, safe, and respectful crossing that the state statute has promised, but not delivered, for many years. (The law requires drivers to yield to a pedestrian crossing in EVERY unsignalized crosswalk, marked or unmarked. The fine for passing a car stopped for a crossing pedestrian is $222.50!)

Salt Lake City has 120 of these "flagged" crosswalks; Dane County will have 21 by mid-June. With an expanded network, Madison and Dane County will be much safer and more hospitable to walkers, who make such a strong positive contribution to the environment, to our sense of community, and to their own health.

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS:

Our heartfelt thanks to Pasqual's Restaurant, backed up by Ann Clark, and to John and Marge Jacoby and Julie Meyer who have "flagminded" the Sprague and Chapman intersections for the past year. And thanks to Ancora Coffee Roasters for agreeing to do the same for the new Harrison intersection, with backup from Neuhauser Pharmacy and Paula Benkart; and to Victor Allen's Coffee, with Kathy Madison and Jason Speich as backups, for the Knickerbocker flags. Hannah Harris and Ken Golden are currently recruiting additional resident help to maintain the Pickford flags.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Learn how to make full use of the flags' potential. Drop in at one of our practice sessions listed above so you can use them effectively & safely.
• Cross at the flagged intersections whenever you can-and use the flags! Even if you feel you don't need them, using them trains drivers to stop for the vulnerable folks who depend on them.
• Be considerate of drivers- you must let cars too close to stop safely go on by. Wave a thank-you to drivers who stop. They will often respond!

TIPS FOR "FLAGWAVING" PEDESTRIANS

1. Point to the other side of the street with the flag high, while standing with at least one foot in the street (the legal trigger for drivers to yield). Look assertive!! If there's an empty parked car that can protect you, cross the parking lane in front of it so you are more visible to drivers.
2. Gauge the traffic in the lane nearest you, and make and maintain eye contact with the first driver who has time make a gradual stop. (Cars take a long time to stop; at 25 mph allow a minimum of 75 feet or about five car lengths, up to double that if you're doing this for the first time, if you're a slow walker, for speeders, or for bad weather conditions). Let cars too close to stop go on by.
3. Maintain eye contact with your selected driver; step out into his/her lane only when you are sure the driver is going to yield.
4. Safely cross the lane in front of the stopped car while looking for the first car in the next lane whose driver can easily stop. Then maintain eye contact with that driver. Move carefully in front of the new car across the lane as it stops. Repeat lane by lane until you have crossed all traffic lanes.
5. IMPORTANT:Whenever you can (without being distracted) give drivers a smile, a wave, or "Thanks!" to demonstrate to drivers that pedestrians appreciate their courtesy!

Remember that the flag is a helpful tool, but you still have to use normal caution. Don't ever step into the path of a car when you are not sure the driver will stop.

TIPS FOR "FLAGGED DOWN" DRIVERS

1. Obey the speed limit and keep well behind cars in front of you, so you can easily stop for pedestrians, and be well-positioned when the car ahead of you does.
2. Watch street edges and sidewalks AHEAD carefully for pedestrians and when you see someone obviously ready to cross, apply your brakes early and gently so the car behind you can stop too.
3. Always assume a pedestrian is crossing the street whenever a driver in front of you, or in the lane next to you, slows down or stops. Never pass a slowed or stopped car until you are sure no one is crossing the street. Fine: $222.50! It's extremely dangerous!
4. Stop for the pedestrian at least a car length or two short of the crosswalk so cars behind you and the pedestrian can more easily see each other around your car.

Remember that the next time you may be the pedestrian, and this pedestrian may be the driver waiting for you. And thanks for stopping!

http://www.dmna.org/trans_flags.shtml
Last Modified: 22-Apr-08 12:29 PM

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Madison, Wisconsin