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First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:22 pm
by Jim O'Bryan
It seems the city has decided to do away with many of the "No Turn On Red" signs that
cause all of us to stop, pause, breathe in the air, and give the pedestrians a fair shot.

The reason? Cost, and the need to smooth traffic flow in the business sections.

REALLY? REALLY?

So we are willing to throw money away for a feasibility study on how big of a hotel we can
afford or attract to Lakewood. Never mind that the hotel industry has one of the best eyes
for potential targets for hotels of any business in the world.

But here we go, taking business plans out of the pockets and the safety of the residents. I
have no doubt now that Lakewood is looking for a way to spend the millions we might get
from the county on a hotel, something we so desperately need. Yeah let's give up our
parks, our safety crossing streets and even more for a motel that at best gets minor
overflow from the casino downtown, on its busiest nights of the year.

What really irks me is the city laughed at a plan to build an additional 50 - 200 acres off
the coast of Lakewood, which would have included a hotel and a reason to go to it, for
a crappy redesign of Lakewood Park, and Flower Baskets no longer used.

I am really starting to think of City Hall and some members of Council as desperate to
over-achieve, while being terminal under achievers, who simply hate the residents of
Lakewood. Hmmmm 3 strip malls in the dreams of council, a motel for a casino 10 miles
away, and all we have to do is look the other way as they close our parks and make our
streets less safe.

Let's not forget that a hotel did attempt to come here, but Mary Anne and Jay Foran said
no way, not in their neighborhood so it was halted. So I say if it is built, start at Clifton
Park or Webb and Edgewater. That way it will at least have a proper view of those wanting
it, but not in their neighborhood.

Time to share the burden.


.

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:12 am
by Bill Call
Jim O'Bryan wrote:It seems the city has decided to do away with many of the "No Turn On Red" signs that
cause all of us to stop, pause, breathe in the air, and give the pedestrians a fair shot.

The reason? Cost, and the need to smooth traffic flow in the business sections.

REALLY? REALLY?


While I was in Radio Shack a few days ago I asked how business was. The guy behind the counter said that it was pretty slow. He told me the store depends a lot on people who walk by to just stop in and look around.

I think it a bit ironic that as cities all across the country are looking for ways to make their towns more pedestrian friendly our own city officials seem intent on treating pedestrians like hotels treat bed bugs.

The guy behind the counter said at one time the Lakewood store was one the busiest stores in Cleveland. Go figure.

I guess we can take comfort in the knowledge that people who are just racing through town can race through a little faster.

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:08 am
by Ryan Salo
Bill Call wrote:I guess we can take comfort in the knowledge that people who are just racing through town can race through a little faster.


I agree this is crazy. I live on Clifton and it has become so much more difficult to get in and out of my driveway with the new highway like traffic the "smart lights" have created. Why are we catering to non residents who could take I-90 to work? Does Detroit really need to be faster? Who drives on Detroit if they are in a hurry? This will just make getting in and out of businesses and side streets more challenging.

Interesting how Rocky River narrows Lake and eliminates passing while we encourage faster traffic patterns.

But I guess we just can't leave state and federal money on the table...

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:36 am
by Jim O'Bryan
Ryan Salo wrote:
Bill Call wrote:I guess we can take comfort in the knowledge that people who are just racing through town can race through a little faster.


I agree this is crazy. I live on Clifton and it has become so much more difficult to get in and out of my driveway with the new highway like traffic the "smart lights" have created. Why are we catering to non residents who could take I-90 to work? Does Detroit really need to be faster? Who drives on Detroit if they are in a hurry? This will just make getting in and out of businesses and side streets more challenging.

Interesting how Rocky River narrows Lake and eliminates passing while we encourage faster traffic patterns.

But I guess we just can't leave state and federal money on the table...



Or is it the promise of county money? And easing the flow to the new Hotel?! Council
seems so keen on getting down. Half of me fears it is being done for the Class of 72
Reunion, the other half of me fears they think it will be needed for the Casino, or the
next commercial nightmare idea coming out of the county errrr city hall.

I really think 120% of our financial woes could be addressed by developing our lake front,
and by opening Clifton Beach to the public. It has worked in many, many other cities.

I have never seen a group that acts so often against residency and common sense.

FWIW

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:05 pm
by J Hrlec
Jim O'Bryan wrote:It seems the city has decided to do away with many of the "No Turn On Red" signs that cause all of us to stop, pause, breathe in the air, and give the pedestrians a fair shot.


Do you happen to have stats on how many and which ones were removed?

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:51 pm
by Kristen Bindel
J Hrlec wrote:
Do you happen to have stats on how many and which ones were removed?


I believe according to Beno, that the majority of the "No Turn On Red" signs are coming down around shuttered schools.
If these signs were put in for a purpose, and that purpose no longer exists why not take those down?

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:12 pm
by Stan Austin
Kristen Bindel said:

If these signs were put in for a purpose, and that purpose no longer exists why not take those down?


I agree--- it always makes sense to continuously review accepted practices for their current relevance.

Stan Austin

Re: First Stop Lights, Now, No Turn On Red Going?

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:03 am
by J Hrlec
Kristen Bindel wrote:
J Hrlec wrote:
Do you happen to have stats on how many and which ones were removed?


I believe according to Beno, that the majority of the "No Turn On Red" signs are coming down around shuttered schools.

If these signs were put in for a purpose, and that purpose no longer exists why not take those down?


I think you make an excellent point and it does make sense.