The request comes of the heels of a citizen campaign to address perceived public safety issues at the city’s crosswalks that was sparked by a motorist hitting a pedestrian on June 28 in the crosswalk on Santa Monica Boulevard at Westmount.
Since that accident, West Hollywood residents, including several candidates in the 2015 race for City Council, have appeared at the city’s Transportation and Public Safety commissions to ask that more steps be taken to improve crosswalk safety. Suggestions have ranged from closing mid-block crosswalks altogether to ticketing pedestrians glued to their mobile phones while crossing busy streets along with drivers who hit them and installing crosswalk stop lights synced to traffic lights. Several of the suggestions are outlined on Cross Safe WeHo, a Facebook page created to promote the effort.
Under the proposal by Duran and Heilman, the city’s Public Safety Department would work with the Public Information Office to engage a production company to produce the announcements.
The City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Council Chambers at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica.
I used to manage the Cal National Bank that was under the Trader Joe’s from 2004 to 2007. This has been a problem for YEARS. I complained about this issues back then and nothing ever came of it. The city can pass ordinances about declawing cats and the sale of fur, but something substantial like public safety seems to be secondary. I have never been able to understand this city council and I am perplexed at why people keep voting them back into office over and over and over and over and over…
@Lynn – Good, practical suggestions that unfortunately will probably take years for the City to implement (if ever). However, there is a window of opportunity. The new Sprouts Market to be will be built in the vacant lot next to 24 Hour Fitness will share the parking garage with the gym. This is the perfect time to rework that intersection and we might even get the owner/developer’s support. I’m afraid that a $15,000 PSA video is a total waste of money unless it’s displayed on a giant video screen right in front of each cross walk. Even then, getting anyone… Read more »
Can the city legislate common sense? Will a production company’s announcements create common sense? Do we have traffic laws and consequences for their disregard? Back East deer proliferate in some regions often jumping into roadways where deer previously roamed before we encroached. Signage alerts drivers to the eventuality of a calamity. Anyone who has hit a deer or had one jump through their windshield knows no one escapes unscathed. Although neither the driver nor the deer get ticketed but the consequences speak for themselves. Pedestrians are not deer however many of the pedestrians, especially in Weho, behave like them. Entitled,… Read more »
first, please educate the drivers. tell them what the law is regarding pedestrians, then tell them west hollywood is going to ticket all offenses, then start writing the unlimited tickets.
If there’s one thing we can count on..it’s city council throwing money at a situation hoping it will magically disappear.
$15,000 to educate grown adults to look before they cross.
Are we talking about a PSA video? If so, where will it be broadcast/streamed and will the intended audience see it? Maybe it should be shown on the video screens at the gym (assuming it has them). Many of the people in the crosswalks are going to the gym. But the biggest problem is distracted drivers AND pedestrians. I often see people step into the crosswalks who are texting or talking on their phone and never look at the traffic. I still like the idea of flashing lights embedded in the crosswalk. Has anyone seen the Solar Roadways kickstarter? It… Read more »