By Jeanette Ross Santa Monica
A few years ago I complained to the Santa Monica Traffic Division more than once, probably three times. They confirmed my letters saying something would be done about the traffic signals, mainly letting the red light stay in effect longer than 12 or 10 seconds before if changed to green.
That has not happened. I understand that there are many more motor vehicles than pedestrians, however there are many of us pedestrians that find it an impossibility to cross the street in so few seconds before the light changes in favor of the motorist.
It’s especially bad for the elderly people that can no longer run across the street before the signal changes, for the mothers with small children, wheelchair pedestrians, etc.
This situation is very frightening for all of us that have to cross the street. On the weekends the signals are even less than 10 or 12 seconds. Perhaps, if you inform the Traffic Division again, someone will increase the seconds to 15 before someone is injured or killed. I believe this hazard exists all over the city except the main streets in downtown Santa Monica.
Another hazard for pedestrians are the sidewalk bicycle riders. One does not hear them when they are in back of you, and when in front of you, the pedestrian has to jump out of their way.
By the way, it’s against the law to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk, but that law definitely is not enforced. Not enough money in fines I guess. Where is it safe for us pedestrians? Perhaps it would be a good idea to write all this to the LA Times for an editorial, or CBS special assignments and have them put this dangerous situation on the air. We live in a very dangerous world today. Doing something about the traffic lights would make it a little safer.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2002. Read the original PDF.