Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30

walkers were killed because of the actions Of
the drivers of cars
Fifty-seven per cent of the $40 600 accidents
in which pedestrians were involved happened
at intersections of streets or while people were
attempting to cross streets. In cities, as former
Police Commissioner whalen of New York OBJ
served in his annual report. the closer regula-
ton of pedestrians would protect human life,
If the pedestrians didn't like it,
He said; Traffic accidents in which pedes-
TRANS are hurt will continue unchecked until
the police department has some authority over
the pedestrian At points where police are able
to exercise control over pedestrians such acci-
dents have been practically eliminated"
But the people would bitterly resent strict
control OF their movements, although the in
crease of casualties may force strict jay
walker laws" Moreover in crowded cities it
is dificult to watch all points. and after super
vision is given to main intersections where
there are twice many casualties as else
where, it is dificult TO protect the pedestrian
from the result Of his own or some one else's
carelessness.
IN fact, 32.2 per cent of motor accidents in
] volving pedestrians took place while they
were walking across the street. And how can
the police watch all the children who play in
the streets of the great cities? The hazard is
increased by the mere fact of the presence of
TT is incompatible with safety to human life
and limb" says Julian Clarence Levi, president
of the Architectural League of New York, that
pedestrians should be forced to occupy the
same street levels and sometimes the same high
ways with swiftly speeding motor vehicles in
thickly congested areas"
Generally speaking, then, it being impossible
to exercise strict supervision at all points, the
means suggested to reduce this fearful list of
killed and wounded walkers is to remove pedes-
TRANS and vehicles to different levels at cross
ings or along densely crowded streets in cities.
The problem is much more complicated than
in the suburban and country districts, where
the building of sidewalks along the highways
and pedestrian overpasses at the most denSely
travelled intersections be relied upon to
take the walker from the path of the oncoming
Car.
The intense congestion in the great Cities
the heller SHELTER crowds, the masses poured
into streets from the skyscrapers and factory
buildings. the crowded tenement sections hous-
ing tens Of thousands of children in small areas
whose only nearby Fairgrounds often the
city streets-all these factors make the problem
of safety for the pedestrian in cities
uemely complicated one
Here heavy trucks compete for space with
boys playing base ball, delivery wagons with
young mothers pushing baby carriages across
the street in the center of the block
In cities, due to numbers haste and heed
lessness there are accidents even in such pro-
tected areas as safety zones. Detailed casualty
lists emphasize the contention of New York
architects and engineers that the o'.ly depend
able method of insuring safety in the crowded
sections of great cities lies in placing pedes-
TRANS and vehicles on different levels.
FRANCIS KEALLY, prominent New York
1 chitect, has suggested that overpasses for
pedestrians equipped with movable sidewalks,
be built across crowded intersections
Such arched walks could be made very at
tractive, suggesting the beautiful Japanese arch
which is feature of the Flowery Island. They
would add greatly to the appearance of street
and would permit the crowds to cross above a
street without regard to the traffic passing be-
meath They can be built of steel construction
and while ornate, would be relatively mex
pensiye.
But it is pointed out that overpass construc-
ton to separate vehicle traffic from railway
crossings is rapidly gaining ground, and while
the movemaDA - pA~- 49, r-~s~ AiSl---~~ ~haHe