Evening star., 1938-12-29

sary for pedestrians to cross inter-
sections through unexpected con-
flicting streams Of traffic. For ex-
ample, pedestrians crossing Pennsyl-
vania avenue southbound on the
westerly side Of East Executive ave-
nue. should not encounter the un-
expected right turning from the
southmost lane on Pennsylvania
avenue.
Signals must be properly timed
so that pedestrians would not be
required, before being permitted to
cross, to wait for more than short
intervals after the main group of
vehicles has passed.
Safety Islands.
There must be strict enforce
ment of the pedestrian right of way
making left and right turns on the
green light.
Safety islands for pedestrians
must be provided at unusually wide
intersections, especially If existing
signals are operated so that pedes-
trians risk being marooned In the
roadway where islands are not pro-
vided"
The A. A. A. Board also presented
large charts showing the effect of
present regulations and practices on
accidents and fatalities.
Mr.. Marsh declared the District
should not expect to Jump suddenly
from present conditions to the ideal
situation merely by the adoption Of
some new rules, explaining that i'm
provement must necessarily be &C.
complished gradually.
Flat opposition to any form of
pedestrian control was voiced by
Horace M. Fulton of the Logan
Thomas Citizens Association. Using
words he said he had taken from a
speech a couple years ago by Mayor
La Guardia of New York, he said
"you can't regiment the American
people and you can't goosestep
them"
Associations Votes Cited.
Mr.. Fulton reported that his asso-
citation had voted twice this fall
against pedestrian control in It's en-
tirety and he argued that this was
done on the grounds that the pro.
posed rules would add to the
burdens of the pedestrian and act
as a reward to the aggressor (appar-
emily meaning motorists" He
added that his association had voted
against pedestrians crossing in the
middle Of blocks and against plans
for the construction of pedestrian
tunnels.
Harry c. English, appearing for
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peoples of the
Community Center Department Of
the public schools, said that agency
felt there would be great difficulty
In obtaining enforcement of that
section of the proposed regulation
forbidding any one to cross streets
at any place other than crosswalks,
but he gave support to a rule re-
quiring pedestrian0 to obey traffic
lights and traffic officers.
Since other witnesses also had
te1ACk1 q OAAllld1 VlCW, AOI
Counsel Seal said 1t should be clear
ly understood that If one section Of
the rule was adopted without the
other it would mean that while
pedestrians must obey traffic lights
and officers, pedestrians still would
be permitted legally to cross between
intersections even In the downtown
congestion zone.
: DR.. George H. Havenner, veteran
civic leader, remarked that he felt
such q situation would be well COW
cred by the adoption Of a rule SIM
ilar. to that in Connecticut, which
places a prohibition against reckless
or needless movements by pedes-
TRANS, without specifically requiring
crossing Fonly at cross-walks.
A declaration that the proper and
most practicable solution was In tho
adoption Of . system Of pedestrian
lshts, which would warn vehicles