Rob

Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.

These signs posted in the MIDDLE of a median.. are a joke on roads with two lanes in one direction. As a pedestrian who uses the crosswalks on Fuller Road EVERY day to and from work at the Hospital I can tell you I am LESS safe crossing now than I was when the signs were not there. As noted.. drivers smash into anyone who stops (since the signs are not visible to drivers in the outside lanes). Also.. I have witnessed years ago the effects of one lane of traffic stopped when there is no indication to the other lane of traffic what is going on.. when a little girl stepped out in front of a bus stopped to let her cross and the other lane did not see her. She went under the car (and her umbrella over the car). I NEVER stand anywhere near the curb since these signs were posted... and if someone tries to stop (always only one lane) I wave them on and wait.. since I don't want to be killed by the vehicles in the other lane. Unlighted signage in the middle of a median is the WORST IDEA EVER.. who's bright idea was that, and how many traffic accidents is it gonna take (or are we waiting for a death?) before these signs are removed!!! THESE CROSSINGS ARE NOT SAFE.. and they are LESS safe than ever before!! REMOVE THOSE SIGNS! Signed, ---Concerned for my life pedestrian.

alarictoo

Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.

There are a couple of these lovely "psychic crosswalks" close to my home. I cannot tell you how often in the last several months I have seen pedestrians and cyclists cross the road, often within 20 feet of one of the crosswalks, without using the crosswalk (or any other existing crosswalk). So, my question is: Will these police officers also be enforcing laws concerning jaywalking, etc. during this process? Seems to me that is where the real money is to be made.

Ken

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.

This is just one of a variety of traffic "safety" campaigns that the Ann Arbor Police Department runs, primarily for revenue generation. Of course, the dominant one is radar speed traps at under-posted roads. The police are missing a resource here in its fight to make pedestrian crossings safe; enlist the aid of street-savvy panhandlers that dot the landscape at the major intersections.

Pete

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.

Now I know why I buy 50 to 100 times more stuff from Amazon.com and the like than I do from downtown merchants. Not that I wouldn't LIKE to shop locally, but between poorly written laws and jaywalking pedestrians, I just can't afford to venture into the downtown area. Too bad - there go a LOT of dollars out of the community.

simone66

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.

This new rule will just prompt me to jaywalk more when it is SAFE to do so. I say this because I'm an extremely self-sufficient person and I don't need a nanny state to enforce to me where to stand to cross the road, and the threatening to drivers of getting tickets if they don't stop at these cross walks. I drive and I walk about town, and I've seen the most ignorant and rude unsafe behavior by both pedestrians and drivers. I will cross at stop lights, or jaywalk, this rule is going to take quite some time for people to get used to. I wish we could just install HAWK lights instead. It's a stupid rule to be driving on the street and being on the look out for bad drivers, but now to also look out for people "approaching" a cross walk and stopping for them for their "anticipated" crossing. It's amazing how slow some of these people tend to walk when they get a ounce of control from this local ordinance. Shake my head.

734baggins

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.

Why aren't the flashing lights RED?

Roadman

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 12:19 a.m.

The AAPD should try a "targeted enforcement" on unsolved sexual assault cases. Let's support further police layoffs and cutting their benefit packages down to size. Where have you gone Steve Rapundalo?....Ann Arbor turns its lonely eyes to you.

Mike

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 10:55 p.m.

Quit complaining about this! You elected these control freaks..............with all of the parking enforcement and laws like this I go to Brighton to enjoy my evenings out plus most of them actaully know how to cross the street without a flashing light...............

Nicholas Urfe

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 10:49 p.m.

Breakin' rocks in the ... hot sun I Fought the Law and the ... law won I Fought the Law and the ... law won I saw pedestrians and I didn't stop I gotta ticket from a mean cop I saw pedestrians and I didn't stop I gotta ticket from a mean cop I Fought the Law and the ... law won I Fought the Law and the ... law won Breakin' rocks in the ... hot sun

Tom Woods

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.

Is a cross walk any crossing with large white parallel lines or are they only the ones with the specials "local law" signs?

CynicA2

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 9:23 p.m.

Yet another good reason to make sure you vote out the clueless-cretin, micro-managing, Stalinist-Hieftjeites who have been running this town down the road WAY less travelled for the past dozen, or so years. Because they are so God-like, they think they can invent their own traffic laws and conventions, which no one outside of this over-rated burg has ever heard of. How much money have they pissed-away on this ridiculous crossing law, to solve a non-existent problem. Now they want to pick your pocket with extra enforcement so they can buy some more "public art", or something equally worthless.

ms 2013

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 9:13 p.m.

we have 1 in front of miller they never stop

heresmine

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 9:07 p.m.

There are so many posts. Not sure if this is covered, but city ordinace gives a pedestrian the right to cross the street at any place at any time. The restriction is if they don't have a crosswalk, they can't impede a vehicle's progress.

microtini

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.

Watch... for that pedestrian crosswalk on Plymouth Rd. between Barton Dr. and Swift where the bus stop sign is two feet from the stripped walkway. Listen...to the horns of the cars behind you when you stop for someone in the crosswalk who turns out to be waiting for the bus.

clara

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 8:15 p.m.

From AAA of Michigan: If you're walking • Cross at intersections or in crosswalks. Don't enter a crosswalk while the "Don't Walk" sign is flashing. Watch for turning vehicles even if the "Walk" signal is on. • Make sure that drivers can see you. Make eye contact. Wear retro-reflective material and carry a flashlight at night. • Walk against the flow of traffic. You'll see oncoming traffic and be more visible. • Teach kids how to cross the street safely at intersections and set a good example.

Old Salt

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.

OK BUT but the city of Ann Arbor will pay for all damage that the car behind me caused by nor stopping and rearending me.

Susan Ursus

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.

Ann Arbor isn't the only city to ever use painted crosswalks as a way to pretend that it cares about pedestrians more than cars. If the city really cared about pedestrians, they'd put actual traffic lights where crosswalks are located. No lights, or those half-assed crosswalk lights, are not a substitute for traffic lights, which drivers will actually obey (most of the time).

John Smith

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.

I was rear-ended at Huron/S. Division, heading North on Division, turning right onto Huron. I was going the speed limit, slowing down to turn, signal on, in the right turn lane, with a green light. Suddenly, a few pedestrians jumped out into the road, a good 20+ ft to the right of the marked crosswalk, where it was impossible to see them until it was too late, because of the cars parked in the lot up to the corner. The guy in the van behind me never hit his brakes, slamming my car through the intersection. So, while his fault for not paying attention, pedestrians not following the rules really caused the accident. Yes, it happens. I've seen similar events happen along Hill St., too.

lefty48197

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.

Why don't we lay off the police and use the money to build overhead crosswalks or underground pedestrian tunnels? No cars hitting pedestrians, no cars hitting each other... Sounds like a win/win situation to me. No wonder Ann Arbor won't do it.

Plubius

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.

Anyone who believes that this isn't strictly about generating revenue is kidding him/herself.

Gill

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:54 p.m.

Does crosswalk striping on the road (which isn't visible when there is snow), or a random pedestrian sign along a street (like along Newport Rd) qualify as a yield to pedestrian area, or does it have to have a "stop for pedestrians" sign at it?

Nicholas Urfe

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.

Why is it so hard for some people to accept stopping for pedestrians, and sharing the infrastructure we all pay for? Being in a car does not make your time anymore valuable than anyone else's. Operating heavy machinery comes with heavy obligations. It does not come with additional rights It does not confer entitlement.

Brad

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:41 p.m.

Aren't a number of those intersections controlled by traffic lights? In which case the "ordinance" isn't even applicable?

Adrienne Cormie

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.

I hope they include in their announcement that if pedestrians are not present at crosswalks, drivers don't need to stop.

Heady99

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.

Note to self: Another reason not to go to Ann Arbor - the college kids will love this!!

ruminator

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.

For this driver, trips to Ann Arbor are totally optional. The streets are in bad repair. Stop lights are poorly timed. Parking is troublesome. Students and others cross most streets at will and often disregard the pedestrian signals. Now, I am informed that I may be a target of "targeted enforcement". Sorry Ann Arbor business community, I won't be visiting by choice any time soon. There are plenty of cities who actually want my business.

Richard Carter

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.

So am I correct in gathering that the big difference between Ann Arbor and the rest of the state and most of the rest of the country is the part of the law where the cars have to stop if safe to do so for someone at the curb but not in the actual crosswalk yet? Fine, rescind that part and when we walk, we'll just have to put one foot in the street. Not that big a deal, as it's easy to pull your foot back when people break the law and don't stop, and it should clear up the "are they waiting for a bus?" confusion.

HappySenior

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.

Looking for this list where AA is 17th best walking city: I find http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/ AA is not listed and Detroit is #22. This post from March 2008 says AA is 3rd best according to Prevention magazine.. http://www.concentratemedia.com/inthenews/a2walkabilityrank0001.aspx This post from May 2011 says Ann Arbor is in the top 10. http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2011/05/06/americas-most-walkable-cities/ What criteria are these people using?

mgoscottie

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 12:14 p.m.

Can't they just ticket people that can't cross a street without a police escort, is it really that complicated for people?

ypsigirl

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.

I work at University of Michigan Hospital. I would gladly stop for people in the crosswalk IF they walk in the crosswalk. People just cross wherever they want and you are stopping 5-6 times. It is ridiculous to cross inbetween the signs when the signs are there and the crosswalks clearly marked. If you are smart enough to work, cross on the crosswalk!!!!!

Alan Goldsmith

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.

Here's a link to the graffiti defaced Hawk signal at Huron and Third from the Ann Arbor Chronicle: http://annarborchronicle.com/2013/01/11/w-huron-third/ When do the police expect to make an arrest in the case?

grimmk

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 6:14 a.m.

What about pedestrians who jay walk? Why not target them?

eze

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 5:28 a.m.

When will they give up on this fantasy idea that people are going to walk and bike to work when it's 20 degrees out and blowing wind. This is the north for pete's sake, most people here aren't going to walk to work! Such terrible city government.

Penny

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 5:20 a.m.

Yikes! All of these crosswalks are accidents waiting to happen. I drive a bus & do obey the law of the crosswalks. The problem is that I am the only vehicle obeying - sooooo I am stopped in the right lane, the pedestrian is on my right & thinks its ok to just cross. The rest of the traffic is flying by on my left & the person crossing can't see around me. WHAM! Who is the brainiac behind this law?

chucklk

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 5:06 a.m.

Anyone notice that in many of the redesigned streets downtown the traffic lanes have been dangerously narrowed?

Honest Abe

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 4:07 a.m.

So, the AAPD is basically putting together a taskforce for the cross walk violators!? By the way, how's AAPD doing in regards to catching the Ann Arbor attacker who raped a woman in a parking garage and also was going around town, sexually assaulting female victims??? Great job AAPD! We all feel safer, now. (NOT)

hepcat

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 4 a.m.

I walk about fifteen miles a week in Ann Arbor. I can tell you that when I wait at a crosswalk only about ten per cent of vehicles stop.

JRW

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:44 a.m.

"City officials said ensuring pedestrian safety is especially important in Ann Arbor with more than 17 percent of residents walking to work, more than six times the national average." Huh? If the population of A2 is stated as 114,000, then 17% = 19,380 people. There are 19,000 people (not students) living and working in DT A2? I don't think so. Counting students as walking to class is NOT residents walking to work.

buvda fray

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:41 a.m.

Could someone please help me understand why I continue to drive a car at all? I must confess it is such a selfish endeavor to find gainful employment and drive there from my home every day so I can put food on the table. Dodging pedestrians and reading their minds at curbside is part of the price I must pay for being so self centered. I should quit working for the man, park the car, get a bridge card, watch more tv, file for a medical dope card and breed pit bulls to trade for cash, jugs of booze, 30 round clips, and... oh, wait, this is Ann Arbor. Make that woven hemp ponchos, organic green tea, save the whales bumper stickers, and a northface coat in case I am called upon to hike the himalayas one afternoon in a protest march demanding that the world recognize our demand for respect based on idealistic righteousness trumping all manner of tradition. Oh yeah, and what if the bus stop sign is at the cross walk? Is they waiting on the bus or is they preparing to cross the street?

JRW

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:40 a.m.

Allan Goldsmith says: Don't you love made up numbers: "City officials said ensuring pedestrian safety is especially important in Ann Arbor with more than 17 percent of residents walking to work, more than six times the national average." Totally agree. Those 17% who walk to work must all live within a few block radius downtown in those expensive condos and work in downtown offices. What jobs in the downtown pay enough to afford those condos? How many lawyers can there be living and working in DT A2? Unless they are counting students who live in center city and walk to class? They should not be counted as "walking to work." Very suspicious numbers. "Ann Arbor has been recognized by Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association as the third most walkable city in the nation." Walkable for whom? The rich students living in the $1000/mo bedrooms in those high rise warehouses walking to bars and restaurants on Main Street? Hardly makes A2 a "walkable" town.

Joe Kidd

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.

There is a website, dumblaws.com where this law belongs. This is a good example of how a law making body can be chuck full of people who should never have the ability to pass any law. Unfortunately that happens all the time. To require drivers to stop at a crosswalk because a person is standing at the curb is utterly stupid. On Miller from Ashley to Newport there are numerous crosswalks. So many you can't keep your eyes on the road at night because the poor lighting makes it hard to see the markings on the roadway and anyone standing there. How is a person from outside Ann Arbor supposed to know that this idiocy is in force here, and potentially get a ticket for doing what is perfectly legal, sane, and appropriate statewide? I stand at curbs all the time doing what I am supposed to be doing, waiting for traffic to pass. To make traffic stop is the same as impeding traffic, a ticket-able offense. So if I prefer waiting, am I now required to proceed? Or is it up to me to wave traffic on because I am not ready to cross since I am looking at my map on my smart phone or just happily taking in the view? I think to protest this I will seek out one of these intersections, stand at the curb and see what the officer does when I make traffic stop, then wave them on. I will make every car stop, stare at them for as long as possible, then wave them on. Maybe I will fake entering the crosswalk, then stop and back up. Start, stop, start stop. Or just turn and walk away, kneel down to tie my shoe while cars are waiting. I suppose to make the playing field level A2 should also make it an offense for a person to stand at the curb at a crosswalk and not cross when traffic stops. That will cease my shenanigans and even things out. I spend several years as a police officer and if I were working for AAPD now, I would not ticket a driver for this offense. The police are going to get the heat from this, not the morons who put the ordinance in place. Unbelievable.

JRW

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:34 a.m.

How about setting up sting operations for pedestrians who dart across streets all around town and who ignore crosswalks. How about setting up a sting operation for bicyclists who zoom through intersections without even looking, let alone slowing down. These are major hazards for drivers and all concerned. Why just focus on a handful of crosswalks?

Krupper1

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:33 a.m.

Attention home invasion "hobbyists" . . . from Tuesday, Jan. 22, to Saturday, Jan. 26, you probably want to target the City of Ann Arbor as our understaffed police force will be busy chasing revenue, er, rather mean ol' drivers.

snapshot

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:12 a.m.

Obviously we need fewer police officers on the "street". We also need way better elected leadership. These leaders are way too full of themselves and have created a dangerous situation to "fix" something that wasn't "broke" just to satisfy some warped perspective of safety. these folks wouldn't know a "dangerous" situation if it, well, until it bit them.

Katherine Griswold

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.

In response to Richard Carter and a number of other commenters, I've copied the code as approved by City Council on December 19, 2011, and listed in the online Municode system used by the City of Ann Arbor. (The Municode link is on the City Clerk page of the City website.) 10:148. - Pedestrians crossing streets. (a) When traffic-control signals are not in place or are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop before entering a crosswalk and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian stopped at the curb, curb line or ramp leading to a crosswalk and to every pedestrian within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. (b) A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into a path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. (c) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. Contributing to the confusion is an outdated link on the City website. The "Walk, Bike Drive" page has a prominently place link "Stop for pedestrians. Ann Arbor law" with the outdated "approaching" language. At the bottom of the right column on the same page is a link to a press release for the revised ordinance.

martini man

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:34 a.m.

From what I have read in these posts, it seems most folks are not all that happy with the "pedestrian rights" agenda in regards to cross walks. There are times that I have to drive through Ann Arbor, and with the bus stops right adjacent to the cross walks ,it's hard to discern which person is wanting to cross the street or is just hanging out, or waiting for a bus.I do however avoid Ann Arbor whenever possible, and spend my money elsewhere . I would advise more people to do the same, but that's just my opinion. But if you Ann Arbor liberal elite who are in offce, really want to make the"walkers" safe ..you could take a few million that you waste on asthetics and make the cross walks safe.

justcurious

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:29 a.m.

Ryan, please do an article on how many tickets have been handed out to bicyclists for failing to obey the traffic laws also. I'm thinking they could be counted on one hand.

bruno_uno

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:07 a.m.

following this sting operation, the city will pursue full force for those jay walking and cars idling more than 5 minutes

ypsilady73

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 1:58 a.m.

I hope every pedestrian who jaywalks at Fuller Rd near Bonisteel gets ticketed too. They cross in flocks regardless of traffic.

Jordan Johnstone

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 1:56 a.m.

What about the pedestrian who refuse to cross when car stop for them?

Richard Carter

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 1:09 a.m.

So hard to live in a City where having to stop for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk (the City indeed took away the "approaching" language) is forced on people... oh wait, that's the entire State. And most of the country.

AAW

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 12:55 a.m.

How about ticketing the people who don't use all the new pedestrian crosswalks that have been put in?

Nicholas Urfe

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 12:55 a.m.

Oh dear! Drivers of heavy machinery, in their steel cages, are going to be pressured to obey the law and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. This is all so confusing! Help! I'm being oppressed!!!

a2citizen

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 12:01 a.m.

"...more than 17 percent of residents walking to work..." That works out to over 19,000 residents walking to work. Is the city sure about 17% ?

TheDiagSquirrel

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:58 p.m.

For decades, we have had Walk/Don't Walk signs at every traffic light. Since when did these fail to be good enough for pedestrians? If they cant figure that out, they are going to jaywalk anyway, even if you put a pedestrian strobe light show on every corner!

Myles

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:43 p.m.

this is why I hate driving in Ann Arbor.....

Katherine Griswold

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:35 p.m.

Ryan, Ryan, Anecdotal evidence may make for interesting reading, but traffic laws, even local ordinances, need to be based on traffic engineering data and standards. Please ask for this from a traffic engineer. I have repeatedly requested, via the Mayor and Council, a statement from one of the professional traffic engineers employed by the City. To my knowledge, none has endorsed, or provided a written statement on this controversial local crosswalk ordinance. Who, if not a professional traffic engineer, is approving the language in the new educational material? I hope it is not disseminated again in our schools. It conflicts with what students are taught, per the AAA school safety patrol training material. And how are visitors to the city educated?

MRunner73

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:33 p.m.

Duh; Can you say "revenue"?

golfer

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:31 p.m.

wow i am glad we did not warn the enemy in the world war 11 that we were coming. why do you publish the locations and warn people. i am sure you would have had more than you are going to get!

leezee

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.

.....and here we go again.

H R L

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:26 p.m.

These crosswalks need improving! They should all have flashing lights, Ann Arbor is always full of people traveling from out of town who don't have these ordinances and are not aware we have them. Plus it catches the drivers eyes that someone is crossing. Then they need to be lit up at dusk/night because it is hard to see if anyone is at the curb/crosswalk. Crossing at a normal traffic light it is usually lit and you know when someone is crossing.

gmcne

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:23 p.m.

There is a light at William and Main, for example. Is a car truly required to stop on a green light if a pedestrian, who has the "Do Not Walk" sign, is at the curb?

fieldfarms

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:16 p.m.

This is one of the stupidest laws I have seen A2 pass. I have driven down Plymouth Road at rush hour, there are way too many flashing cross roads in a short span. What ever happened to look before you cross the road?

Ryan J. Stanton

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 11:05 p.m.

Has anybody actually witnessed a rear-end accident at a crosswalk recently?

Frank Lee

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:53 p.m.

You can line a round hole with flashing lights and have an officer monitor it. A square peg still wont fit.

Paul

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:40 p.m.

All this does is encourage people not to look for cars when crossing the street. Unless its the norm on every street its just setting up people to get in a bad habit of not watching out for traffic. Guess what, the car ALWAYS has the right of way. Many people are dead today who had the right of way

Amy Biolchini

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:38 p.m.

While driving on Plymouth Road this week by North Campus I noticed all of the drivers being extremely respectful of people crossing in the pedestrian crosswalks (most of which are well-marked with flashing beacons). It was good to see that even on that busy road, cars were stopping and giving pedestrians plenty of room.

mun

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:28 p.m.

Will the police also ticket pedestrians who don't look up from their cell phones while crossing the street? Will they also ticket bicyclists who don't stop at stop signs, like the ones at the intersection of State and Ann? And what about people from out of town who don't know that they have to stop for those at the curb and not crossing? I'll get me some popcorn for this one.

Frustrated in A2

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:26 p.m.

Stupidest. Ordinance. Ever....

TiggerRocks66

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:21 p.m.

Some are getting very frustrated with BIKES acting like they are cars using the main road and turning left in left turn lanes, etc! WE can't see u ppl all the time, your not a car and need to be obeying the bike laws like we have to obey the car laws with people. And I agree with someone who said WALKERS must obey the laws too and look up from their phones and texting and stop assuming we always can stop in time for u to step off the curb. When did things have to get so dang disrespectful? Bikers using car lanes? Walkers ignoring their part in safety and cars being in a hurry all the time

nancy

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:21 p.m.

I'm one of those motorists who was rear-ended, and not at one of the target locations listed. $400 in damages. Of course it's often downright dangerous to stop at a crosswalk; I'm lucky the person behind me wasn't going faster. Stobe lights appear effective and seem to me to be the best answer.

Mike58

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:09 p.m.

Just more good reason to NOT go to downtown Ann Arbor.

bunnyabbot

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:09 p.m.

They'll probably use shill pedestrians as part of the staging.

bunnyabbot

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10:03 p.m.

This week I stopped for a woman standing on the edge of a crosswalk on Miller. She then gave me a dirty look and waved her hand. She was waiting for the bus. Of course I knew this was a possibility when I stopped but couldn't tell as she was standing with her toes off to curb. Glad to see none of the crosswalks I have to deal with daily that I know are shared with a bus stop are on the list. I did however have to stop that evening for a man crossing the road NOT in a cross walk, barely saw him with his all dark clothing on.

Paul Wiener

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:49 p.m.

60 comments already! Most of them have spoken about this continuing idiocy better than I could. I know of no one who takes these crosswalks seriously - and well they shouldn't. They're a danger, an embarrassment - often confusing, impossible, terribly placed, redundant, a public menace. No doubt they've caused more accidents, injuries, scares and insults than any other single civic regulation in this town. Any policeman here should be embarrassed to have to enforce these dangerous, disgracefully stupid, nearly invisible "laws." My support would go to any guerilla group that dedicated a few hours a week to painting them out. It's be hard to imagine that a professional traffic planned these crosswalks. Nothing could speak worse about Ann Arbor's town governance and the narrow-minded pettiness of its law enforcement.

Bob

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.

WARNING! The Ann Arbor police will soon start enforcing the law!

nicedoggy

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.

If the city of Ann Arbor is truly sincere about pedestrian safety why isn't something done to stop the chronic, almost weekly crimes happening to students in the Hill street corridor late nights . MUGGINGS, ROBBERIES, AND ASSULTS. OVER AND OVER . THIS IS unaccecptable. Oh, but this doesn't generate city revenue!!!! Tickets = Money$$$$

actionjackson

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.

Most police officers will use common sense in a situation like crosswalk enforcement. Many cars blast through within inches of a pedestrian. Others sit and wait long after the pedestrian has completed crossing. Drivers that also use common sense are not going to be ticketed for following rules concerning pedestrian safety.

Scott Reed

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.

I can't wait until I see some car-driver fined for this; it will absolutely make my day! Self-righteous yet incompetent drivers are out of control in this town. We need expanded sidewalks, reduced speeds, narrower streets, and MUCH stronger deterrence measures against pedestrian-hostile drivers - I think we must put fear into them.

conundrummy

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:35 p.m.

These crosswalks are one of best pedestrian improvements I've seen. We are so privileged to have a car. Slowing down or stopping for the occasional human or family seems like a no brainer. Some people are hell bent on not stopping and I will be smiling ear to ear when you get that ticket. And go ahead and fight the ticket after you have taken the day off work. You will loose anyways. Thanks to the city for standing up for a right and just law.

billchase2

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:33 p.m.

Glad to hear. If they're going to keep this law, then they need to enforce it. I can't count how many times cars have driven right in front of me, long after I "approached the crosswalk."

Deb Anderson

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.

I can't wait to slam on my brakes at a crosswalk with a cop car behind me, then they'll see how ridiculous this law is when their squad car is in my back seat.

Richard Carter

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:27 p.m.

At this point, just how DOES Ann Arbor's pedestrian ordinance differ from the State one? They rescinded the confusing "stop for people APPROACHING the crosswalk" part... what's still different?

pchbob

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:23 p.m.

The City and a2 police are more about looking for easy, non-sensical revenue than safety, we know the truth. Just lost in fighting a similar ticket, officers can say anything without proof or video, citizen automatically loses, no regard for consideration of statements and facts. It's all about the dollars.

Goober

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:20 p.m.

Who is going to ticket the cop I saw turn a corner while pedestrians were in the crosswalk? I should have gotten the car number so I could include it in a comment for all to see.

PittsfieldTwp

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.

Was driving West down Plymouth Wednesday night in the section where there are at least three or four of these new crosswalks. Right at the section where Kroger is, a couple was standing in the middle of the street, hidden by stopped cars, waiting for traffic to clear so they could cross the northern section. THEY WERE NOT IN ANY OF THE NEW CROSSWALKS. Just jay walkin' 50 yards from one. Then later that evening, I was on my return trip driving east on Plymouth. Same thing again: a couple crossing the street a few yards down from the new fangled crosswalk, in the dark, causing panic. Useless.

Ann English

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.

By 2200 block of Washtenaw Avenue, do you mean that stretch of Washtenaw southeast of Tuomy Street? I notice that no other side streets are close to it. Four one-way streets will be monitored, and some of these crosswalks have traffic lights, others don't. As long as these streets DO get a lot of foot traffic even in winter, monitoring them closely for five days won't be wasteful.

HB11

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:13 p.m.

What about ticketing the pedestrians who "loiter" at the crosswalk entrance? Seriously, this is a waste of police resources.

HONDO

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:09 p.m.

Nice heads up, can you also write an article when they are cracking down on drug houses? If you follow the rules, then whats the problem. How about " PEDISTRIANS BE KNOWLEGDEABLE ABOUT PROPER CROSSWALK USAGE" That would seem like a more worthwhile article about this topic. Everyone here has valid concerns and complaints about the " pedestrians" and their lack of being aware when approaching and using the crosswalk. You know the cops are here to protect us, to have a headline like this is just bad journalism.

deb

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.

Where does the 17% number come from?

WalkingJoe

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:07 p.m.

Since i live in Pittsfield Township I can only safely comment on what happens out this way. On Golfside between Washtenaw and Clark they put in three new crosswalks recently. I have yet to see anyone use them. Just Wednesday my daughter and I witnessed a "gentleman" cross the road not ten feet from a new crosswalk, put his hand up as if to say "stop, because I'm so important I don't use crosswalks" and when someone (not me by the way) honked at them and pointed to the crosswalk he flipped them off. I have seen this type of person doing this more and more recently. I will gladly stop for people properly using crosswalks but it really irks me to see these new crosswalks be installed and then see people still cross wherever they want. And everyone wants to blame the drivers.

ruraljuror

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.

Does anyone know what the rule is? Are drivers supposed to stop any crosswalk if a pedestrian is waiting at the curb, or just the ones with stop signs and/or flashing lights? It's very confusing, and this confusion is obviously dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. I always stop at any crosswalk if a person is waiting to cross, but oncoming traffic doesn't, which puts the pedestrian in peril. Then I'll get drivers behind me honking because I've stopped. I really don't know what I'm supposed to do, but the city really ought keep it consistent at all crosswalks to eliminate confusion.

Napalm.Morning

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.

"Third most walkable city in the nation". . . (I) must've have snoozed through that announcement. . .are there any municipal designations, or top ten listings that AA has not received? Oh. . .wait a minute. . .what was our standing on "The population with the most inherent common sense and acceptance of personal responsibility designation/listing"? . . . I'm guessing we finished dead last.

Carolyn

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 9:02 p.m.

Heading north on Huron Parkway during rush hour, I notice a pedestrian dressed in black waiting to cross to the east side at the unlighted and unmarked crosswalk (having made it halfway from the west side). I slowed to stop, but didn't because I looked in my rearview mirror to see multiple cars unaware, going very fast. The fear of being rear-ended is very real given how drivers closely follow other drivers especially during high traffic times.

Frank Lee

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:57 p.m.

As the officers lay in wait, please make sure their vehicles are not idling. "Unnecessary idling produces little or no discernible benefits, and it releases harmful pollutants into the air, consumes fuel, and causes added wear and tear on vehicle components." However, all of these negative effects are acceptable should a single pedestrian bring four lanes of moving traffic to a stop. Ann Arbor is so busy dreaming up ordinances that they contradict themselves. Traffic law is to be regulated at a state level and remain uniform state wide

Jaime

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:57 p.m.

I was driving down Liberty today and there was one of those big lighted signs warning people. Like say "Hey, watch out, cops ahead". Why advertise? Nothing better than a ticket to make someone pay more attention the next time. Interestingly it said it is a local law. I believe it is also a state law that you must stop for people in a marked crosswalk.

M

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.

Maybe while the police are waiting by pedestrian-less crosswalks another hosue will get burglarized. There's been a bunch of those recently and shockingly no pedestrian deaths or injuries. Priorities, anyone?

Richard Carter

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.

Whenever the police want to step up enforcement of one law, it cracks me up that half the responses on annarbor.com are "why won't they enforce MY favorite law?!?!" Maybe they'll get to it next time around?

Bertha Venation

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.

I put ABS on the Hoveround.... just to be sure! :)

GoNavy

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.

I'm all for the enforcement of laws. Will there be a simultaneous push downtown to target jaywalkers?

Ryan J. Stanton

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:39 p.m.

I have requested information from the city pertaining to how many cases have there been where a pedestrian was ticketed for violating the pedestrian safety ordinance. In the meantime, can anyone speak from experience on this?

Bill

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:32 p.m.

Good luck enforcing an Ann Arbor only law that confuses and irritates drivers and is not the same as the law throughout Michigan. I am all for enforcing the law regarding crosswalks as long as that is a state law that was developed by professionals and not a law conceived by a local council without the proper background or training to create laws. As mentioned by other readers, the police should be enforcing the law for pedestrians and bicycle riders. It is nearly impossible to stop at the crosswalk on State Street as you go through campus as it has developed into a multi-block walkway. I also agree that pedestrians should momentarily stop texting as they cross the street and look to see if there might already be a car passing through before they enter the crosswalk.

KJMClark

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.

Looking forward to the day when the crosswalk stings are so common they don't need to advertise. Looking even more forward to the day when there's no need to conduct crosswalk stings because motorists just obey the laws without having to be ticketed. Thanks to the majority of my fellow motorists who already stop for pedestrians like we were all taught to.

MG

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.

Are they also going to ticket the bikers who just zoom from the roadway into the crossing so they don't have have to stop? What if a ped doesn't push the crosswalk button, will they ticket the driver then too? Its nice that the crosswalk signs just light right up and not have an equivalent of a yellow light in a traffic light (to warn the driver to stop if they can). What if the pedestrian is on the other side of the divided lane (i.e., they pasted the lane you are in and walking in the opposite direction)? Is that a ticket offense? Nice ordinance Ann Arbor. Still mass confusion over this. I'll note that Plymouth Rd turns into a parking lot during rush hour as every single pedestrian suddenly gets the right of way at the instant they get to the crosswalk, instead of the light intelligently queuing them to cross at strategic intervals. Finally, how about instead just issue a ticket when a driver ignores the flashing lights, and there is a visible pedestrian waiting, and there is plenty of time for the driver to stop? At least there is rhyme and reason to this approach that everyone can understand.

dsponini

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.

I will stop for someone "within" the crosswalk, that's what the sign says. But if someone is on the curb near a crosswalk, talking on their phone...I'm not stopping.

JPLewis

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.

Not a single pedestrian will be ticketed. None. Not a single one. Nada.

jmac

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.

Can the police also be vigilant about ticketing pedestrians who cross against the light at crosswalks yet still expect cars to stop for them??? This new ordinance has emboldened some pedestrians to believe that cross walk and traffic lights apparently don't matter and that cars should/will stop regardless of the color of the crosswalk light or traffic light. Red means stop, green means go, whether on foot or on wheels!!!!

Machine

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.

Instead of worrying about crosswalks, why not focus on traditional things like speeders and people who run red lights? I regularly seek cars whiz by City Hall at 50 mph and there's never a police car in sight. Meanwhile, there's always a police car camped out on Plymouth Road where traffic rarely exceeds about 40 mph.

Linda Peck

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:59 p.m.

It is kind of surprising to read this as it would seem to be a violation of the law, so why would this be a special occurrence? Wouldn't this happen anyway? That is, if the motorist was caught? Perhaps this means that at other times, the police don't bother with this infraction. Is this a stupid question?

cubicle

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.

To my knowledge, I haven't blown through a crosswalk when someone was waiting. I have, however, had to play the "Are they waiting for the bus or trying to cross the street?" game more times than I can count. Between that and trying to spot pedestrians when it gets dark at 4pm, driving has become quite the game!

Ghost of Tom Joad

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:44 p.m.

The streets would be a whole lot safer if the students would look up from their cell phones once in a while when walking down/across the street. Perhaps the police will ticket the people that I see walking in the street along the construction on Hill and South University as well? Or maybe the bicyclists who completely ignore stop signs as if they are not obligated to "share the road" as well? Not likely...

TheDiagSquirrel

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.

In somewhat related news, January 22nd-26th would fall near the end of the month, which would mean their trying to fill a quota. I guess they have to justify building these crosswalks somehow, since they are only for the A2 population with absolutely no common sense

Katherine Griswold

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.

The "crosswalk enforcement" press release announcing this campaign represents a very troubling trend in Ann Arbor -- another cleverly written, yet vague PR piece when there is a critical need for more public input and substantive action. In this case, improvements to streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other related infrastructure. This PR piece is the cheapest way for the council majority to appear to be focusing on pedestrian safety. Please read the second paragraph of the press release "ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 17, 2013 —Ann Arbor crosswalks will once again be a focus for increased awareness of pedestrian and motorist safety. In conjunction with the Ann Arbor Safe Streets and Sidewalks task force and the city's Transportation Program, the Ann Arbor Police Department is conducting a pedestrian crosswalk and safety targeted enforcement campaign at 14 crosswalks between Tuesday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 26. The campaign will span five days, and police officers will keep a watchful eye for drivers not stopping for pedestrians crossing the street at crosswalks. Motorists are required to stop for pedestrians at the curb or within the crosswalk." "Police officers will keep a watchful eye..." What does this mean? Good traffic engineering and police enforcement is not feel-good PR. Nor is it the possibility that Ann Arbor police will be ticketing drivers who obey the posted "STOP for within crosswalk" sign, but who disobey the local ordinance that requires a driver to stop for a pedestrian on the curb. Ann Arbor City Council must prioritize needed pedestrian safety improvements -- starting with school walk zones -- and then approve funding. In addition, they must repeal the local, unenforceable crosswalk ordinance and aggressively enforce the state-level crosswalk law that is posted on the signs.

Alan Goldsmith

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.

Don't you love made up numbers: "City officials said ensuring pedestrian safety is especially important in Ann Arbor with more than 17 percent of residents walking to work, more than six times the national average." In a half block stretch of Seventh there are THREE crossings, one on each corner of 7th and Washington (one with flashing lights, the other without) and a third a hundred feet past this intersection heading south. The Hawk crosswalk on Huron is a hoot--confused interstate drivers using the I-94 business route look like a Three Stooges movie trying to figure out Ann Arbor's unique set of laws. Still no release of information from the City about the increased number of rear end car crashes from sudden stops, injuries, property damage, pedestrian accidents, et. al. There are never any after action reports on projects like this to see if there has been any benefit vs. the risks. And if you point this out, you hate pedestrians. Lol.

The Watchman

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 7:40 p.m.

Can't wait to read about the first pedestrian ticketed from crossing outside the crosswalk, not allowing the driver to stop safely or other factors. The Ped and Bicycle community will be in an uproar. Let the games begin!