Why Pedestrian Deaths Are At A 30-Year High

[LisaM]

21. Speaking as a long-time pedestrian, I can tell you that walking is a dangerous game.

SUVs may be part of the problem, but driver and pedestrian distraction by smartphones has to be worse, not to mention (in Seattle, anyway) a relentless burst of construction that forces pedestrians off the sidewalks and into streets, OR forces them to cross the street, then cross back to the same side of the street. Pedestrians are prohibited everywhere downtown. I sometimes have to cross the street five times to go a few blocks (and this problem extends to getting to bus stops, one bus stop I used is closed for four years because of construction) and people are always running across the street against the light to catch a bus.

A pedestrian was recently killed in Seattle near a crosswalk I frequently use, where the next nearest crosswalk is a good half mile away. People jaywalk there a lot so they don't have to add ten minutes to their walk. They desperately need another crosswalk halfway through and I have zero hope that they'll add one.

The newest menace to pedestrians is dockless bikes (thank GOD we don't have scooters here, when I was in San Diego a few months ago I was nearly mowed down by scooters a dozen times). People ride their bikes on the sidewalks here all the time, which is legal, but they are supposed to yield to pedestrians and they absolutely do not, and the city does squat about it.

So, I don't think that SUVs are the biggest problem (though of course if you're hit by one, your odds are not great). I have had more close calls with Ubers suddenly stopping and backing up - a couple of months ago, I was almost hit by Uber drivers twice in the same week.

Worse, I think just a simple public awareness program would go a really long way in slowing the fatalities, and yet I see no attempt at doing this. Ads, signage, threats to ticket drivers who don't yield to pedestrians....there are all kinds of things people could be reminded about, but I have never seen a public safely campaign in Seattle instructing people to watch out for pedestrians, and outlining pedestrian's rights.

Oh, and get rid of right turn on red!!