The Observation Deck

Within the last year, I have noticed the number of pedestrians (mainly teenagers), walking in the middle of the street increase tremendously. I am not talking about typical jaywalking, but instead using the middle of the street as their own sidewalk.
For the most part, these pedestrians will not get out of the way of oncoming traffic and you come close to hitting them.
The other day I actually saw a young girl pushing her baby in a stroller down the middle of the street and not getting out of the way for oncoming traffic until the car honked at her. As if she had the right of way.
The minute you honk or tell them to move, you receive a negative reaction from them.

I recently went to City Hall to complain because time and time again I see this happening on my street. Not sure if anything was ever done about this.
Just wanted to hear some other peoples thoughts and ideas for what can be done to curb this problem before someone does get hit and gets injured.

I see this on a daily basis but I don't know what can be done about it. I think a good talking to by a police officer would probably curb that specific individuals violation of the law, but it would take a long time to get to all the offenders. I know that walking on the sidewalks with a stroller can be hell, but I would never walk in a street. I just wouldn't put my children at risk, some people I guess would. I think something that would help would be for the city to be more active on requiring sidewalk maintenance. Yes Jim I know about the white dots, but I walk down Elmwood everyday and its full of more holes than the street. Many of the sidewalks I walk on have obviously been in disrepair for many years. So Dan to answer your question I don't know what can be done, unfortunately we can't regulate common sense or common decency.

Dan,

Unfortunately I don't have a solution for this problem, but I just wanted to chime in that I agree wholeheartedly with you. I mentioned this to a police officer lately. He told me to call the department anytime there is a problem...it just doesn't seem practical though. What was the reaction that you got from the city?

I've tried to figure out the motivation for people to walk in the street. I understand that riding a bicycle on the sidewalks is sometimes a difficult proposition (and apparently more dangerous - BIKELAKEWOOD!!), but walking on a sidewalk offers relatively few safety hazards. The best I can figure is that the motivation ranges from mere youthful rebellion to a way of taking hold of some turf and looking to protect it.

From what I've seen, most of the people that walk on the street are not really looking to cause trouble. They move out of the way when a car approaches. Unfortunately they are putting themselves and others in danger. There is a small percentage, though, that walk or bike with the seeming intent to start a confrontation. They are the ones that you've mentioned that refuse to get out of the way of a car, or only get out of the way after they've cursed out the driver.

Sooner or later (if it hasn't happened already) someone is going to get seriously injured when they trip or fall into the path of a car...or when they lose the game of chicken to the driver. There was also a case in Milwaukee a couple years ago where a group of teenagers refused to move from in front of a car, pulled the driver out, and beat him (almost to death).

Maybe streetwalking cameras on all of the utility poles is the answer to this problem and the city's financial problems.

Just wait until it starts to snow. The conditions of the sidewalks push many people onto the streets. How are you supposed to push an suv stroller through all that snow and ice? Maybe they need strollers that are self-propelled with all snow tires.

With its population density, you would think Lakewood citizens and property owners would take better care of sidewalk shoveling. It's not like most people have a big yard to mow in the summer, either. I guess a lot of Lakewood, like a lot of the world, is just too lazy to get off their butt.

As a reasonable healthy and agile person, I will survive the sidewalks this winter. However, some citizens are older and/or less agile. Maybe they can call RTA Paratransit or Westlake Cab to take them 200 feet down to the store.

I know what some of you are thinking. "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the ..." Well, last winter I volunteered my hand shovelling services several times to different property owners. No one was very receptive. On my own, I randomly shoveled some sidewalks without notice. Fortunately, no one called LPD on me. One passerby did complain to me that it was ABOUT TIME I shoveled my sidewalk (which wasn't my sidewalk) LOL.

Doug

I do a lot of walking and I'm astounded at the amount of times two or three people across will literally walk over you or into you.

Think of this as an opportunity to re-invest Darwinism into society. The new tort laws are, "be careful, dumbass"

To answer an earlier question about what the police did about this when I made a complaint:
They said they would send a patrol car out near my street after the high school lets out (that is when the majority of walkers take over the street).

It may have helped for a day or two, but I am still seeing this problem all over the city. I even saw this on Clifton Blvd during rush hour traffic. An individual walking with no regards against traffic in the far right lane. Cars had to actually get over so they wouldn't hit him. Complete disrespect for rules and laws.

I really find it hard to believe that people are walking in the streets because of the condition of the sidewalks. I am not talking about senior citizens who may have a hard time if there is a small pothole in the way.

I happened to read a quote from Danielle on another thread concerning shopping carts...
"I know many people feel this is a non issue but we have to stop the ghettofication of our city."

Little things like people walking in the middle of the street, shopping carts left all over the streets is what steers people away from nice cities like Lakewood. If this type of behavior is considered to be OK, then it will continue to happen until either the city steps in or the people that actually care about it, get up and leave the city.

Dan Pilgrim wrote:
I happened to read a quote from Danielle on another thread concerning shopping carts...
"I know many people feel this is a non issue but we have to stop the ghettofication of our city."

Little things like people walking in the middle of the street, shopping carts left all over the streets is what steers people away from nice cities like Lakewood. If this type of behavior is considered to be OK, then it will continue to happen until either the city steps in or the people that actually care about it, get up and leave the city.

My thoughts exactly............

I also agree, but lest we not forget

Multiple For Sale or For Rent signs for the same property?!! I know the market is tough, but multiple signs look trashy and leave a negative impression.

Christmas lights.......still up

Trash on tree lawns...days upon days before pick-up.

..

Lots of issues contribute to the decline of an area - including the decision by good people to do nothing.

I couldn't agree with this more. The problem I see is that this behavior (walking in the middle of the street) will need more then a few "good people" to step up. Charyn, you should feel lucky that all you got was a unfriendly salutation. Who knows what could happen next time if you were to say something, as you should be entitled to?

I am new to this board but am curious to see the reactions of the city council, the ones that read these threads. Now is the time that something needs to be acted on before this problem gets out of control. Just like the shopping carts.

I know the DARE program has had mixed success/reviews. However, this program brings a police officer into the class room of fifth graders, and then again during middle school.

Perhaps DARE could reinforce the importance of pedestrian/traffic safety.

"DARE! to keep them off the street!
DARE! to teach their wayward feet!
DARE because they seem so dense!
DARE to give a kid some sense!"

Ellen

All

I would like to throw a couple things into the mix.

Ken Warren pointed out to me last year that this was a problem. I am still amazed it is now not only a problem, but the tip of the iceberg that will sink civilization as we know it!

Is it better a group walks on the streets or the lawns?

I am a man of average height at 6'4" I believe. It is unsafe for me to walk on many of the sidewalks in Lakewood, especially at dusk or at night. Low hanging branches have more than once poked me in the eye, or scratched my face.

I grew up playing baseball, football, stone the christian in the streets, as did many who are writing to this now.

Beach had a problem, when the kids pull basketball nets into the street and refuse to move them till halftime it is a problem. All the rest is a minor inconvenience. Take a breath, exhale, let it go.

I know of some streets in Lakewood where they have no sidewalks! Those residents are proud they have to walk in the streets. They literally flaunt it.


.

I know of some streets in Lakewood where they have no sidewalks! Those residents are proud they have to walk in the streets. They literally flaunt it.

Hell Jim, I know of some cities without sidewalks....except, of course, in the cul de sacs.....

Jeff

Jim,
I guess everyone has their pet peeves. For some people it is kids in the street - for others it is improper signage.
Certainly this is not one of the critical issues in Lakewood, but as mentioned below, this is the type of nuisance that detracts from the livability of the city.
Chris