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MEDFORD Medford's rule against painting crosswalks prompts cross talk City says painting crosswalks increases danger, but requests still pour in By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Several years ago, the city of Medford put the brakes on painting crosswalks at most intersections in town, citing studies that show crosswalks increase, rather than decrease, the danger to pedestrians. But those pedestrians the city is trying to protect haven't gotten the message. Requests for painted crosswalks continue to pour into the city's Traffic Coordinating Committee, only to be regularly rejected. “A crosswalk is giving a false sense of security to your children,” said Peggy Penland, chairwoman of the traffic committee. “I just worry that if you paint crosswalks everywhere, then nobody will see them.” Penland’s committee routinely reviews multiple requests from residents wanting painted crosswalks at intersections throughout the city. The city often cites the Hermes Pedestrian Crosswalk Study in 1972. It concluded that a higher number of pedestrian collisions occur in marked crosswalks. A 2007 study, "The Marked Crosswalk Dilemna: Uncovering Missing Links in a 35-Year Debate," concluded that pedestrians behave more safely in unmarked crosswalks. The Federal Highway Administration conducted its own study in 2005 and found that crosswalks alone do not guarantee safety and can lead to an increase in collisions. However, under the right circumstances, the study found that marked crosswalks may be necessary. Crosswalks may be needed under certain circumstances, such as at locations with stop signs or traffic signals to help direct pedestrians and to prevent vehicles blocking the pedestrian path, the study said. Marked crosswalks should be used in conjunction with adult crossing guards, school signs and traffic signals and pedestrian signals. The study also found that other considerations come into play when a city chooses to install a marked crosswalk, including multiple vehicle lanes, pedestrian exposure, high traffic counts and higher speed limits. To review the study, go to www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/04100/01.cfm . Medford's policy, which is aligned with the recommendations in the federal study, is to mark only crosswalks where there are traffic control devices such as signals, flashing beacons or crossing guards. Other locations are considered on a case-by-case basis. According to Peter Mackprang, the city’s associate traffic engineer, “Pedestrians behave more safely in unmarked crosswalks because they feel less safe.” “That’s like saying fire stations cause fires,” said Charles Kochlacs, who requested crosswalks be painted on various streets in east Medford. “It defies logic.” Kochlacs said he couldn’t believe it when a city employee told him that crosswalks aren’t necessarily safe. He wondered whether the studies the city is relying on found more pedestrians being struck at crosswalks because more people tend to use the crosswalks in general. Kochlacs said he first became aware of the problem when he saw city crews painting stripes on the streets. “They’re out there all the time with paint sprayers,” he said. However the crews neglected to paint the crosswalks. “I just thought they were forgetting to do the crosswalks,” Kochlacs said. He said crosswalks give drivers a heads-up that they’re entering a pedestrian-friendly area and that the person on the sidewalk may be preparing to cross. In its Sept. 23 meeting, the Traffic Coordinating Committee reviewed multiple requests for marked crosswalks at Hillcrest and Pierce roads. The committee received a request for a marked crosswalk at Springbrook Road at Garden Drive. Another request for a marked crosswalk and flashing beacon was received for North Phoenix Road at Calle Vista. In most cases, the city found a marked crosswalk wasn’t necessary. But the city is looking further into the North Phoenix Road at Calle Vista intersection. Throughout the city, old crosswalk lines have worn away or are barely visible at many intersections. When intersections are paved over, they don’t get new crosswalk striping. Penland, who first joined the committee in the 1990s, said she heard from her husband about the dangers of crossing streets at crosswalks as he made his way to work at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. She said drivers turning right would fail to see her husband as he was trying to enter the crosswalk. “He would put a hand on the hood of the car sometimes to get the driver’s attention,” she said. After a number of near misses, her husband began walking on the opposite side of the street to avoid right-turn motorists. Penland said she would prefer the city begin an educational effort to alert citizens that pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections, whether the crosswalk is painted or not. She said she will ask the city to put an educational piece in the utility bills that would remind residents of the rules. “Drivers think if there’s no painted sidewalk they don’t have to stop,” she said. Even at “T” intersections, drivers are supposed to stop and allow pedestrians to cross. Oregon Revised Statute 814.010 states that motorists are required to remain stopped until pedestrians have crossed completely through the lane adjacent to the lane they are in. The only exception to that is at an intersection with traffic signals, in which case the driver may proceed after the pedestrian is at least six feet into the adjacent lane. Drivers are also required to stop when a vehicle in an adjacent lane is stopped at an intersection, because the second driver may not be aware that a pedestrian is crossing but has not yet come into their line of sight. Motorists in general need to pay closer attention to what other motorists and pedestrians are doing, Penland said. “If you see a car slowed down or stopped, there’s got to be a reason for it,” she said. Traffic officials say the most effective way to get motorists' attention is for police to be diligent about handing out tickets to those who fail to stop for pedestrians crossing at intersections. "The thing that has made the most difference is pedestrian stings," Medford Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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