Pedestrians in peril - Hawaii Editorials

At signaled intersections, pedestrians should never have to share the intersection with vehicular traffic. An all stop for vehicular traffic should be made while a crosswalk signal is illuminated. Then vehicular traffic could resume. Quite a few pedestrain/vehicular accidents occur because of the "right turn on red after stop." This law in reality doesn't save an time for a vehicle operator, so do away with it.

King Street is especially worrisome due to the number of lanes. When a person steps out into the roadway, although the closest lane comes to a stop, the second lane may think that person is turning and fails to stop before the pedestrain in front of that left lane vehicle steps into the second lanes path.

I don't know how it is in Hawaii...probably the same as here in PA. Pedestrians also bear some responsibility. Prior to attempting to cross the street, they should be sure no on-coming vehicle are coming so fast, they can't stop in time.

Does the city & state have a hotline number to which citizens could call in their suggestions as to dangerous cross walks? I have noted that the pedistrian crosswalk in Kailua between McDonalds and the Salvation Army Store is frequented by children attempting to cross to school and Seniors from the surrounding buildings attempting to cross to shop at great risk.

Pat wrote:

Does the city & state have a hotline number to which citizens could call in their suggestions as to dangerous cross walks? I have noted that the pedistrian crosswalk in Kailua between McDonalds and the Salvation Army Store is frequented by children attempting to cross to school and Seniors from the surrounding buildings attempting to cross to shop at great risk.

"Pat" You make a very good point. We, here in Sayre, have hired road guards. However, my wife and I still know that we have to, prior to crossing the street, make sure it is safe to cross. We have life experience. A huge aloha from Northeast PA.

After getting into bed with Obummer and his clowns in Clowngress on Obummercare, AARP has lost all credibility. 'Nuff said...

Pat wrote:

Does the city & state have a hotline number to which citizens could call in their suggestions as to dangerous cross walks? I have noted that the pedistrian crosswalk in Kailua between McDonalds and the Salvation Army Store is frequented by children attempting to cross to school and Seniors from the surrounding buildings attempting to cross to shop at great risk.

Any cross walk near a school just before or after school hours is an aggravation point for drivers

A little more complicated than that? If you make is safer for pedestrians, what happens then? For instance, doesn't that mean that sone cars will spend a little more time going from point A to point B? If they spend more time going from point A to point B, doesn't that mean they will use more gasoline? If they use more gasoline aren't they spewing out more pollutants? And doesn't that also mean that these cars are contributing more to global warming? So, while it is probably a good idea, shouldn't we know if the advantages really outweigh the disadvantages?

Pedestrians must also share in the solution. All too often, I see them darting out into the street. They don't use the crosswalks and expect the cars to stop. Some crosswalk times need to be longer. The sad part of the recent deah was that both involved, driver and pedestrian, were elderly people.

glenn paul wrote:

I don't know how it is in Hawaii...probably the same as here in PA. Pedestrians also bear some responsibility. Prior to attempting to cross the street, they should be sure no on-coming vehicle are coming so fast, they can't stop in time.

In Hawaii, at least on Oahu, the drivers speed up when they see someone in the crosswalk. You are expected to run or let cars turn right on red without stopping. They will run your a s s down! Many drivers pretend that they don't see you. If you have ever driven in a third world country where pedestrians are seen as poor and therefore life has little value, it doesn't matter if you are run down in the street. That is what has happened here.

Hey we Need this In Marin!!!!Some motorists like to think of pedestrians around here as moving targets...I wonder if they accelerate just to see
how fast you'll run.....

If HPD doesn't obey the laws and continues to set bad examples, such as--DAILY--and, REPEATEDLY driving--without stopping or even slowing down (no their sirens weren't on and they weren't on any emergency mission) at intersections and looking and allowing pedestrians to cross the street, then it is likely the local sociopathic mind won't obey the laws either... It's unconscionable! Daily, I watch HPD in Downtown HNL whizzing through pedestrian crosswalks without even looking or slowing down and/or RACING to beat the traffic lights without observing pedestrians in the crosswalks. VERY BAD EXAMPLES and very encourageable behavior... Very sad, and scarry too... Someone needs to teach HPD about CIVILITY, their duty, and the fact that they are and should be a ROLE MODEL!! NO EXCUSES!! CHANGE!!!

Jerry Okamura wrote:

A little more complicated than that? If you make is safer for pedestrians, what happens then? For instance, doesn't that mean that sone cars will spend a little more time going from point A to point B? If they spend more time going from point A to point B, doesn't that mean they will use more gasoline? If they use more gasoline aren't they spewing out more pollutants? And doesn't that also mean that these cars are contributing more to global warming? So, while it is probably a good idea, shouldn't we know if the advantages really outweigh the disadvantages?

So, based on your logic, you are suggesting that we should make it more unsafe for pedestrians? Is this also your solution for overpopulation? Do you work for "Blackwater?" (REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM)

Jerry Okamura wrote:

A little more complicated than that? If you make is safer for pedestrians, what happens then? For instance, doesn't that mean that sone cars will spend a little more time going from point A to point B? If they spend more time going from point A to point B, doesn't that mean they will use more gasoline? If they use more gasoline aren't they spewing out more pollutants? And doesn't that also mean that these cars are contributing more to global warming? So, while it is probably a good idea, shouldn't we know if the advantages really outweigh the disadvantages?

So you'd rather kill the pedestrians to save the planet.

Big John-Hawaii Kai wrote:

King Street is especially worrisome due to the number of lanes. When a person steps out into the roadway, although the closest lane comes to a stop, the second lane may think that person is turning and fails to stop before the pedestrain in front of that left lane vehicle steps into the second lanes path.

Which would suggest that it is incumbent on the pedestrian to be vigilant and look for oncoming vehicles while crossing. The question is, why don't many pedestrians do this?

This is just another way to cull the herd.

Why don't we learn from other countries, and provide protected space along most roads for walking and bikeriding? Why don't we give people more simple, healthy, safe and convenient alternatives to the car?

Hawaii could have one of the most amazing "greenways" in the world, attracting international and US tourists who want to get around safely and easily, with a minimum of effort and without a car. Oahu looks like a hectic, run down, congested mainland city instead of the tropical metropolitan paradise that it should be. It's not easy to relax and have a fun vacation when you're always looking over your shoulder.

We're running down and frittering away all the good things that our parents and grandparents built up! We should fire our current hapless leaders and hire Disney; they would do a better job of managing Hawaii as a tourist destination.

If one of our top goals is to attract tourists, why aren't we repairing and revamping our entire transportation system and infrastructure? That's where the federal cash is going to be as the years go along now. Rail is too new, and too little too late. It might be a huge waste of money if we don't fix Oahu's crumbling infrastructure FIRST.

We need to make more of an effort to bring back the ambience that made people fall in love with Hawaii. In the past we built great parks, new beaches, bridges, walkways, trainways, trolleys, widespread bus systems. What's wrong with us that we don't go for it too?

Mililani_Bob wrote:

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Which would suggest that it is incumbent on the pedestrian to be vigilant and look for oncoming vehicles while crossing. The question is, why don't many pedestrians do this?

Most pedestrians are extremely vigilant, which is why the death toll isn't a lot higher. Some pedestrians are elderly and are trying to shuffle across as quickly as they can, before the dreaded red hand starts to flash. Some pedestrians are young kids, who take awhile to learn vigilance.

People seem to be driving faster and more carelessly than ever. They are hardly "vigilant" as they drink coffee, nibble energy bars, talk to friends, blare radios and make phone calls. What's with a society that doesn't watch out for it's young and vulnerable?

At busy intersections, around schools and along thoruoghfares in residential areas like Moanalua Road, King and Beretania, Kamehameha Hwy, Farrington etc, there should be NO RIGHT TURN ON RED. Too many drivers abuse this practical manuever to keep traffic flowing. The intersection at Kaonohi Street and Moanalua Road is so dangerous with the expansion of lanes. It was bad enough before. Many places really need ALL TRAFFIC TO STOP simultaneously for pedestrians to cross with ample time.

Again it's the habitual factor! Every pedestrian regardless of age should simply exercise patience, common sense and awareness. I've witnessed enough near-misses and mishaps to know the consequences of being oblivious while crossing a busy street.

What about the pedestrians that stroll across the street, just asking to be hit? I just imagine seeing them fly through the air over the top of my truck. Gotten a lot worse out in Waianae since the state has been shipping the Katrina welfare refugees and Micros out here to take up the "free" housing.