Folks in Woodbury will want to know about roundabouts and pedestrian safety. Can you talk about the differences between them and intersections?

I don't like the roundabouts because know one really respects them or crosswalk.

How often do you encounter distracted pedestrians who've been hit by cars? Does it really happen as often as some folks claim? (e.g. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-30/distracted-walking/56588668/1)

Can you clarify the law pertaining to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks? I walk a lot, and I struggle with when drivers should be stopping and giving me the right-of-way.

Marked crosswalks, pedestrians are to use the signals. Unmarked drivers are supposed to stop. Pedestrians have the right of way on unmarked but really need to use logical and LOOK before stepping out. 3000 lbs of vehicle hitting you because you have the law on your side isn't worth it. Just look and don't assume that they will stop.

I ride a motorcycle and I automatically assume the auto drivers do not see. I also assume that one of them is going to do something stupid even if he does see me.

I saw a crosswalk in the parking lot of Byerly's grocery store in Roseville that was marked with one of those plastic post that says State Law Stop for Pedestrians. Maybe it's a technicality, but does state law about crosswalks apply to private parking lots?

Enforcement, enforcement, enforcement. California has the same pedestrian crosswalk laws but they have been strictly enforced for decades and people know violating the laws will get you an expensive ticket and police are not hesitant to enforce the law. In Washington, DC police will give you a ticket if you enter a crosswalk at a stop light. MN needs tighter enforcement of the laws on the books regarding pedestrian safety and better education of young drivers. I run in urban areas of the Twin Cities and I routinely have to wait for cars to go by before I can cross at a marked or unmarked intersection, nobody stops. I don't know how may years or deaths it will take but all cell phone/smart devices should be banned while driving i.e. inattentive driving.

I have a real issue with the pedestrian law. I don't disagree with stopping for pedestrians but I don't always feel safe stopping in the middle of a busy street when I'm not confident the driver behind me will see me and stop in time. I see a lot of pedestrians who wave me on when I attempt to stop for them, so I can only assume they don't feel comfortable with it, either. I'd much rather risk a ticket than risk having someone hit me from behind, causing me to run over a walker. I asked a state patrol officer about this one time and his response was that the driver behind me was responsible for stopping - faint comfort if I end up with body damage, or worse yet, if the pedestrian does.

Since others have brought up crosswalks, I want someone to please explain to me the Right of Way (RoW) at Wooddale and the Cedar Lake Trail in SLP.
Here we have an awful 5 way intersection of cars, bikes and walkers. Two directions of driving (N and S Wooddale) have no stop signs at all. Trail users have stop signs BUT also a cross walk painted on the road. Drivers off of eastbound Hwy 7 have a stop sign, but are generally making a R-hand turn, so I can never figure out if they have the RoW over a cyclist from either direction going straight to continue on the trail. Also, there are N and S bound bike lanes on Wooddale,
So, do ALL cars have to stop for ALL trail users or just pedestrians? Bikes need to follow driving laws, but how does that work when you're not on a regular street and come to a crossing with a street? What if I walk my bike? My understanding is that once a person or bike occupies the cross walk, all drivers must stop, but how do I know when I can start crossing if I'm not sure who has the RoW in the first place? Plus, this is the widest darn intersection, so even if I start crossing when it is clear of cars, a car has usually appears by the time you get to the other lane.
This is the worst intersection in SLP (Beltline isn't far behind), in my opinion, mostly because there has been very little education about RoW and it is a very busy intersection.
Thanks for guidance. Would love to see some folks out next spring educating users at this location.

As a recent transplant from Illinois, I am AMAZED at all the pedestrians who just walked out without bothering to check traffic. In an interaction between car vs pedestrian, it is the pedestrian that will lose on impact. This is especially upsetting while trying to navagiate in shopping centers were young children who are not being taught to be careful because parents EXPECT the driver to be paying attention while they are not. Despite what the laws in each state, it is common sense is to look both ways, wait until the driver stops (or is aware of their intention) before entering the path.

In Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, we're encouraging residents to take their streets into their own hands and "do" a walking audit to a local destination. It’s an easy way to give feedback to your city as they plan for street and sidewalk improvements. Email do.town at info@do-town.org if you would like to join in!

I agree with previous posters about the roundabouts. While I think they manage traffic well, it is difficult to get cars to yield at the crosswalks (especially cars exiting the roundabout). Of the two in Richfield, the Richfield Pkwy/66th seems to be the worst. I'm not sure if the Portland one is better because of proximity to the police station, or if people are just anxious to get to the Cedar Ave freeway at the Richfield Pkwy roundabout.

I don't want on my tombstone "He Had The Rightaway" I keep my eyes open and do not assume the driver of a vehicle will take care for me.

What really drives me nuts are gaggles of walkers, runners or bicyclists that take up the entire half of the road causing me to creep along behind them when it's not safe to pass. Walkers can use the the sidewalk. So can runners, but I get that asphalt is more giving than cement. Most places have laws against riding bikes along the sidewalk (and if you're riding instead of pleasure riding, sidewalks aren't conducive to what you want to do anyway). But if you're going to be on the street on your feet, you need to 1) walk/run the direction facing traffic and 2) move over in a single file when you see a vehicle coming. Somes streets are very narrow when they are parked on both sides with cars, and full of vehicle traffic. Your gaggle isn't helping.

I also have a problem with bicyclists not obeying traffic signs. If you're on the road, you're considered another vehicle. You must stop, yield and signal just like a motorized vehicle. I don't care if it "ruins my momentum"...it will *really* ruin your momentum when I've stopped, looked, and proceeded into the intersection (and I've seen you coming and assumed you know the rules and will stop...you're not right at the stop sign ignoring it yet) and you hit my vehicle and flip right over it.

I'm very glad you're riding your bike. It's great. Stay safe so you can keep riding it. Oh, and wear a brain bucket.

Also, walkers and bikers, please wear light-colored, reflective clothing at night and in the morning when it's dark out. Our town doesn't have very many or very bright street lights...your black outfit is really hard to see. Also, if you're biking, you must have a headlight and reflectors on your bike in the dark.

Finally, with all of that being said, I'm not a "hater" of walkers/runners/bikers. I just want them to be safe. Those folks can't figure they own the road and the people driving loaded weapons will stop completely and let them go by. On the other hand, the people driving those loaded weapons need to realize that they *are* driving a loaded weapon and use it accordingly. Take the extra time to watch for walkers/bikers/bikers, give them a wide berth when you can, and we can all get to where we're going safely.

*steps down from soapbox*

You may enjoy this one. A couple years back when my children were younger I was walking with them to a local playground. We had to cross a road with a marked crosswalk. Several cars passed by without stopping and I noticed a marked squad car approaching, and he was not slowing down either. I made eye contact with the officer and gave him the "Mom" look. He immediately put his lights on, backed up and informed me he "was not required to stop at the crosswalk because we were waiting on the sidewalk and that he was only required to stop if I was actually in the crosswalk." This both surprised and infuriated me because he expected me to actually have myself and 3 children in the crosswalk hoping that speeding cars would stop. So according to law enforcement....walk out into the crosswalk, don't check your safety and the law with protect you from being hit by a passing motorist...good grief!!!

Pet peeve/mild obsession of mine: T-intersections. They're rarely marked with crosswalks, but if there's a stop sign or traffic signal, it's considered a controlled intersection and a legal crosswalk. But that's where pedestrians need marked crossings the most, because there are fewer visual cues to drivers that one street is meeting another there. Does any city or location handle T-insections well?

I'm sorry, but I don't give a damn what the law says about stopping for peds in crosswalks. I am not stopping, it is far safer for me to keep moving along the road rather than slamming on the brakes for a ped that can wait for a clear spot or wait for the ped light. I'll take the ticket, but common sense says to not slam on the brakes unexpectedly. I work with a guy who did stop for a biker at a crossing on a county road, got rear-ended and broke his neck, that was many years ago, he still hasn't recovered. Sorry peds, stand there and wait.

No one really wants to see any body get hurt. I am sure that No one wnats to be the person responsible for killing someone. Please, walking, driving or riding bikes, pay attention to your surroundings. Please obey the laws, be responsible and most importantly, keep you and others around you safe. Afterall, none of you really want to meet me on the street.

Why would I not want to meet you on the street? Are you more dangerous than traffic?

Ultimately, reading all these comments reminds me why I don't often drive. I prefer letting a bus driver have the responsibility, since it is their JOB to drive safely and responsibly. I realize, they're not all perfect, but they keep me safe and help me not have to be the stressed out driver watching for all sorts of other people's distractions.

Regarding stopping for walkers. While I stop for walkers when feasible when I see them at crosswalks honestly it can be a frightening experience.

I find very few drivers watch for people standing at crosswalks that aren't metered in some way and if there is someone right behind me there is no way I'll try to stop at the crosswalk unless the person is literally in the crosswalk because I have no confidence at all that the guy tailgating me wont' slam into me...

Also, the other day I stopped at a crosswalk on a street that is right next to an elementary school - and this was at 8:50am while people were walking to school and the guy behind me, instead of stopping, just zoomed around me and flew through the crosswalk and he would have taken out the two kids walking had the timing just been a few seconds later.

On our busy street, Schmidt Lake Road in Plymouth, it would be nice to have the crosswalk signs that flash (walker pushes the button and the lights flash on top of the pedestrian signs)... might not "make" people stop, but at least it would get more of their attention. I also recommend highly reflective gear for our dark mornings and evenings AND a really good flashlight... but that still doesn't guarantee they will 1) see you or 2) stop.

My apologiea to James for the above comment. I thought he was a policeman and I have heard similar rheroric from some policemen before.

Hi Vis is a great way help you be seen, but don't trust that you are seen. Reading the posts here, I can tell that most of the people here are safety concious. Simple rules remain, Make eye contact with the drivers, walkers or riders when ever possible. Wear protective and visible gear and clothing, slow down when pedestrians are around and never count on the other person seeing you.

The 4 comments above make my case for better enforcement. As more ane more cars crowd our roads and people are becoming more rushed by the day, the problem is going to get even worse. If we don't step up enforcement in a big way more and more peds. and motorists are going to be killed.

To all those who worry about the person behind hitting them if they try to stop for a ped. Ask yourself, If I found myself suddenly on a collision course with a deer, a truck, or a train; would I worry about the driver behind me who is charged with keeping his vehicle under control? I think the answer will clearly be no. So think of colliding with a human as a train wreck and apply the brakes.

Dale, interesting way to put it. I stopped for a pedestrian in St. Paul where they enforce the crosswalk law more so than other places. It was an odd intersection where the cross street zig zagged, meeting the bigger street I was driving on at two different places. Anyway, there was a pedestrian waiting to cross. I stopped. The car behind me stopped. But the third car back hit the car behind me. I stuck around and told the cop about my role in what happened. He said, you did the right thing, you don't have to stay. I still felt a little guilty but the way you put it I don't feel so bad.

Just my two cents, I only stop for pedestrians if they are either handicapped, elderly, or if it is raining or snowing out. I normally won't stop because I have had too many close calls with getting rear-ended or people zooming around me and almost hitting the person I stopped for.

I don't think it is wise to encourage people to walk in front of vehicles. It is too dangerous, and what does anyone gain by trying it? A few minutes time if you are the ped? Is that worth putting your life in the hands of someone who is probably texting and speeding? No. There is a lot being put at risk for little to no gain. It is not wise. Peds should wait for the cars to pass, then cross. Right or wrong, it is the best way to ensure the safety of everyone.

Then you are in violation of the law. The law needs more enforcement which will help with training drivers NOT to ignore it. Other states have adopted it and within a few short months the drivers GET it.

Folks, officially this Ask a Patch Pro Q&A session ended on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. However, the comments will stay open for anyone, Patch Pros and commenters, to keep the discussion going. Many thanks to everyone who has participated, Pros and commenters alike.

Roundabouts= urban planning fad. Dangerous for pedestrians,cyclists and motorists.

The big storm taking aim at the http://www.coachoutletonlineoe.com/ Coach Factory Outlet East Coast a little more than a week before the election has scrambled campaign plans, with both http://www.louisvuittonbeltspc.com/ Louis Vuitton Belts candidates canceling events and President Barack Obama moving up his departure for Florida to beat the storm.In an http://www.coachoutletsstorebm.com/ Coach Factory Outlet extraordinarily tight race, Hurricane Sandy has forced Obama and Republican Mitt Romney to toss out http://www.guccibeltsmh.com/ Gucci Belts carefully mapped-out itineraries as the candidates work to maximize voter turnout while avoiding any suggestion they were http://www.coachouletbtf.com/ Coach Factory Outlet putting politics ahead of public safety. Romney canceled plans to campaign in Virginia on Sunday, opting instead to http://www.coachoutletuse.net/ Coach Factory Outlet join running mate Paul Ryan in Ohio.On Saturday, Romney was in Florida speaking of bipartisanship, while Obama http://www.coachoutletb1.com/ Coach Factory Online tried to nail down New Hampshire’s four electoral votes.The former Massachusetts governor presented himself http://www.coachoutlethcs.com/ Coach Outlet Online as a staunch conservative during the Republican primaries but has struck a more moderate tone as he appeals http://www.coachoutletonlinetpc.net/ Coach Outlet Online