New housing developments always have roads, but rarely have sidewalks. Pedestrians in many of our downtowns are treated like obstacles that drivers must avoid and swerve around. Pedestrians must wait far too long to get a walk signal from driver-oriented traffic lights, and then are rewarded with a blasting horn when they don't cross the street fast enough for impatient drivers. Just trying to cross a downtown street is a hazard. Vehicles rarely yield to allow people to cross streets.
Vehicles block crosswalks at stoplights, forcing pedestrians through a maze of vehicles.
Other cars swerve around stopped vehicles waiting to turn left, and force pedestrians back onto sidewalks. Cars turning right on red lights cut off people in crosswalks. States and municipalities can do so much more to enhance walking in our communities. Working together, instead of shifting the blame, PennDOT, local officials, business leaders and residents can correct these problems. No one should forget that walking, which is our oldest and most reliable form of transportation, is the basis of sustainable small community life.