To the Readers' Forum:
My thoughts on the call for a crosswalk on Washington Street is as follows:
As a motorist I appreciate the call for a crosswalk for the safety of pedestrians but I feel, through witness evidence, that until a motorist can feel confident that pedestrians truly utilize such safety zones, this will not solve future incidents.
Until pedestrians respect the right of way of motorists and are held to the standard, crosswalks will not resolve this issue.
If a pedestrian can make a choice to step into traffic within 10 feet of an established crosswalk and not be held to a standard, future incidents will continue. If a motorist chooses to not respect an established crosswalk, they should also be held to the standard. Education on both sides and enforcement of all standards should help to alleviate future incidents.
Karl Eckberg
Jamestown