Ian Andrews is The MAN!

[Betsy Voinovich]

I ran into Ian Andrews, director of LakewoodAlive, the other day. He was coming out of Jammy Buggars after having lunch, I was across the street from him, in front of Revelations Salon, trying to cross Detroit on my bike.

There is a traffic light there but it has been so mysterious as to when or IF it would ever change for North/South traffic, everyone has gotten used to jaywalking, jaybike-riding, or if you are in a car and you're trying to go straight across Detroit from Summit to Westwood you take the right on red, head West on Detroit, take a left on Rosewood, turn into the parking lot of the Rosewood apartments, turn around, head back North on Rosewood, at Detroit, take a right onto Detroit, heading east and then take a right on Westwood. After all of this, you can wave to the person who was in the car waiting behind you on Summit who is STILL waiting for the light to turn green so that someday they can go straight onto Westwood.

If you're trying to go straight on Westwood to Summit in a car, you go the other way, South on Westwood, up to Franklin, take a left on Franklin heading East, take another left on Lakeland, then take a left at Detroit, then take a right onto Summit. We have all gotten used to this because sometimes THE LIGHT DOES NOT CHANGE AT ALL. No matter how long you wait.

If you're on foot, you can take your chances running across which usually works out after only a couple of minutes, especially if you're fast.

Ian and I discussed how insane the traffic light was, when we were finally on the same side of the street.

I said, "Well, come on, you're an important guy, the head of LakewoodAlive, can't you get something done about this?"

He laughed and said, "I wish." As we each headed our separate ways he said, "But I can try."

Fast forward to this week-- when you push the button for the Walk Sign at Summit and Detroit, it immediately starts counting down to change! This is the first time, with the new lights, that this has EVER happened. From the other side too. If you are a pedestrian, no waiting! If you are in a car, it's under two minutes. (Yes, I time it.)

All I can conclude is that Ian got it done!

No more insanity in the morning getting the girls to school on foot, explaining to them that sometimes jaywalking is a necessary skill, they'd better learn how to do it safely. Though as we all know, in Lakewood, it is a necessary skill, especially in front of the library, or at Manor Park.

But not at the Summit/Detroit intersection anymore!

I'm not sure how this all happened, some kind of Ian Andrews LakewoodAlive magic, but I'll take it.

Thank you, Ian! You are the man. We will think of you every day as we stroll back and forth across Detroit legally.

Betsy Voinovich

[Nadhal Eadeh]

Hi Betsy:

I think Ward 2 Councilman Tom Bullock also deserves credit for his advocacy on behalf of concerned Lakewood residents.

Bullock is leading an effort to improve crosswalks, improve walking conditions, and reduce speeding traffic. He's been working with residents to solve problems like the one you experienced one by one but is now calling for a comprehensive, more systematic approach.

Read his letter to Council this past Tuesday at this link: http://tinyurl.com/kq73z3b

I think Bullock hits the nail on the head with these points:

"Lakewood prides itself on being Ohio’s most walkable city, but that is not a status we can take for granted. ...The high ratings Lakewood receives from Walk Score and similar organizations result from our compact development; they measure our walking potential. However, actual walking conditions are a separate matter: they result from a combination of crosswalks, traffic speed, lighting, sidewalk maintenance, and driver and pedestrian safety, among other factors."

I don't want to take away from Ian's support on your behalf, I just wanted to point out Bullock's neighborhood leadership on this issue.

Nadhal