Pedestrian Shaming in Charlotte

[nicholas]

27 minutes ago, davidclt said:

This appeared in South End at the Camden East West Crossing. Cheeky but probably true.

Lol at "the helmets will not actually keep you safe while you cross the street."

Realistically there probably needs to be increased enforcement of both drivers and pedestrians.  I do my best to yield to pedestrians wherever I go, but I can't tell you how many times I've had to slam on my brakes for people who just walk out into the road apparently without any regard for where they are.  I'm not anti-jaywalking but if you're gonna do it, do it smartly.  Often times there are crosswalks literally like 20 feet away, yet people casually wander across the road glued to their phone completely oblivious to their surroundings.  It makes you wonder how some people have made it this far in life.

[davidclt]

On 8/26/2022 at 8:59 AM, tozmervo said:

CDOT continues to prove they have no cares to give about doing this well. . . the signs keep moving and the illegal left turns keep happening. Really, could they not integrate the directional, Stop and Left Turn Prohibited signs on a single pole? Instead, the wandering Left Turn Prohibited (which is merely in the absence of enforcement a suggestion) is now covering the street name (on an attractive CDOT standard-issue u-channel post - so glad South End is getting value out of its Business District).

The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons are installed but not yet active.

[go_vertical]

I think the fact that not long after prohibiting left turns onto Tremont they closed off one lane of East/West a block north making left turns there so frustrating.  If someone isn't thinking they'll go past that only to realize they HAVE to turn left at Tremont or take a long, convoluted, traffic-heavy detour to get where they want to be.  I'm now used to crossing over to South further up at Park Ave., Bland, or Carson, but sadly many people feel like they have to make that last left because they have no other choice.  Clearly they do but then they'll get to their destination five minutes later and that is just unacceptable. 

Edited February 22, 2023 by go_vertical
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[Matthew.Brendan]

Close it to cars. It really is that simple.

[KJHburg]

6 hours ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

 

Close it to cars. It really is that simple.

I say close only from Worthington to Tremont which will eliminate this problem but give access to the Lowes tower parking garage that is off Worthington.  

[KJHburg]

this is terrible.

https://www.wfae.org/charlotte-area/2023-02-23/10-pedestrians-were-hit-near-3-west-charlotte-bus-stops-how-can-the-city-make-them-safer

[southslider]

When you design a street with more than seven times the space for fast-moving metal than slow-moving flesh, you've not designed a street, but a murderous highway.   Buses should only stop on streets, not highways.  Wilkinson has ths space for bus lanes that would calm traffic and narrow the crossing for pedestrians. Until there is political will to reallocate space to more vulnerable users walking and riding a corridor, there is no vision for zero deaths.

[davidclt]

On 2/22/2023 at 10:52 AM, davidclt said:

CDOT continues to prove they have no cares to give about doing this well. . . the signs keep moving and the illegal left turns keep happening. Really, could they not integrate the directional, Stop and Left Turn Prohibited signs on a single pole? Instead, the wandering Left Turn Prohibited (which is merely in the absence of enforcement a suggestion) is now covering the street name (on an attractive CDOT standard-issue u-channel post - so glad South End is getting value out of its Business District).

The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons are installed but not yet active.

What "Vision Zero" looks like in Charlotte . . . the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are now (finally?) active. After pushing the button a recording announces, "Warning, cars may not stop. Use caution!" (or something very much to that effect).

[kermit]

6 minutes ago, davidclt said:

What "Vision Zero" looks like in Charlotte . . . the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are now (finally?) active. After pushing the button a recording announces, "Warning, cars may not stop. Use caution!" (or something very much to that effect).

Yea, the inconsistency of pedestrian crossings is both annoying and dangerous. 

[KJHburg]

Charlotte pedestrians have spoken.  (and believe me this is a better walkway than many neighborhoods in Nashville I saw)  Tremont and Hawkins. 

[KJHburg]

Well just 2 weeks ago this was a worn path now it is a real sidewalk.  Kudos to the city for putting one in here. Today. 

 

[kayman]

Recently there have been in some initial discussions between NCDOT officials about Charlotte having its first pedestrian scramble. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian_scramble

There currently employed in Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, New York, etc. However, I believe if we apply pressure and demand these in high foot traffic areas it can come to fruition in the City of Charlotte. 

Edited May 16, 2023 by kayman

[KJHburg]

They should use all pedestrians at once crossing did not know they are called scrambles at Trade and Tryon and maybe even at S Tryon/Camden.  I have thought that for years we should have some here.  

[Guest]

On 5/11/2023 at 3:39 PM, KJHburg said:

Well just 2 weeks ago this was a worn path now it is a real sidewalk.  Kudos to the city for putting one in here. Today. 

 

I am interested in how this got built. Are you sure it was the city? If so are there plans for the rest of Hawkins street? My assumption was the city’s plan was  to wait on land to redevelop for sidewalks to spring up, but this disproves that. I am now wondering why other parcels on the same street are sidewalkless and why if this is a standard practice it wasn’t done earlier?

[DJ8hep]

It had been a dirt path since I moved here and I was always confused by that. 
Definitely was nice walking on it yesterday. It seems they are redoing portions of the curb and gutter around that area.

[JRCLT]

2 hours ago, MothBeast said:

I am interested in how this got built. Are you sure it was the city? If so are there plans for the rest of Hawkins street? My assumption was the city’s plan was  to wait on land to redevelop for sidewalks to spring up, but this disproves that. I am now wondering why other parcels on the same street are sidewalkless and why if this is a standard practice it wasn’t done earlier?

The city has … limited funds and CDOT only gets a cut of that. If it sees a great need such as this one where the path is literally etched into the ground and someone brings their attention to it. They will try to get it done. The city undertakes many projects and not all problems can be solved at once. If not here then there and if not there then here. The city does tend to get what they want during approval of these projects (sidewalks, trees, etc.) from new development so that the city can spend its money on other things rather than them when the developer who’s already building anyway. What’s a sidewalk for them? Not much to their costs. 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, JeanClt said:

The city has … limited funds and CDOT only gets a cut of that. If it sees a great need such as this one where the path is literally etched into the ground and someone brings their attention to it. They will try to get it done. The city undertakes many projects and not all problems can be solved at once. If not here then there and if not there then here. The city does tend to get what they want during approval of these projects (sidewalks, trees, etc.) from new development so that the city can spend its money on other things rather than them when the developer who’s already building anyway. What’s a sidewalk for them? Not much to their costs. 

I understand all of this, my question is if CDOT can build sidewalks unprogrammed, doesnt that create room for inconsistent service provision? For example, why not build a sidewalk anywhere else in the city? The only criteria I see with this decision is to build sidewalks where people that have money to spend walk often. People could walk here still when it was unpaved. There are portions of this same street even where you have to walk in the road as a pedestrian. It would make sense if there is some other necessary project nearby and they are doing it while they had masons out there already.

[KJHburg]

the property owner of that building at the corner of Hawkins and Tremont has NO intention of developing his property until his ex wife dies (that is the word on the street anyway)  and he owns multiple properties around the city that are stuck in time like this.    

[Guest]

Ohhhh I think you shared that on this forum in the past. That would explain why this parcel was identified compared to others in the area. I am still curious about where the money came from and if they had to purchase an easement, etc. CDOT (and the city generally) gets away with a lot by saying they can’t just do things on a whim because all of their services are programmed. This proves to me this is not necessarily true and I would appreciate more transparency from the city when they do choose to (rightfully) reactively respond to an area’s immediate needs. 

[KJHburg]

3 hours ago, MothBeast said:

Ohhhh I think you shared that on this forum in the past. That would explain why this parcel was identified compared to others in the area. I am still curious about where the money came from and if they had to purchase an easement, etc. CDOT (and the city generally) gets away with a lot by saying they can’t just do things on a whim because all of their services are programmed. This proves to me this is not necessarily true and I would appreciate more transparency from the city when they do choose to (rightfully) reactively respond to an area’s immediate needs. 

https://property.spatialest.com/nc/mecklenburg/#/property/132431   here is the property owner paying  a lot of taxes on this $5 M plus parcel.  I would believe most of that sidewalk is in the right of way of the street.     If you see a strange undeveloped parcel intown see if this person owns it as there are multiple parcels in the NoDa area that he or his LLCs owns.  

[jjwilli]

Looks like Portman built it / paid for it as part of their new apartment project. Included at the end or their approved plans was this page.  Solid win by CDOT to have that included.

[Poo Diddy]

14 hours ago, KJHburg said:

https://property.spatialest.com/nc/mecklenburg/#/property/132431   here is the property owner paying  a lot of taxes on this $5 M plus parcel.  I would believe most of that sidewalk is in the right of way of the street.     If you see a strange undeveloped parcel intown see if this person owns it as there are multiple parcels in the NoDa area that he or his LLCs owns.  

Sorry for the sidebar in a pedestrian thread, but that tax value jump is eye opening.  It's been impressive to see the changes in Southend over the past 15 years.

[KJHburg]

2 hours ago, Poo Diddy said:

Sorry for the sidebar in a pedestrian thread, but that tax value jump is eye opening.  It's been impressive to see the changes in Southend over the past 15 years.

I noticed that too wow the building is old and not in good shape all land value.

I will now call this sidewalk on Hawkins the Portman Path due to the recent knowledge from above postings about Portman paying for it.  

[KJHburg]

This is new a 3 way stop at Hawkins and Rampart which slows traffic down in this area and is good for pedestrians. 

[CLT2014]

How Charlotte views walking to the grocery.... "There must be something wrong with this person and they need help!" Multiple people suggest calling 911 for a lady walking.

As you go further through the thread, turns out this older lady lives in a condo near the store and genuinely enjoys walking to the grocery versus driving. The fact she is walking = concerning in suburban Charlotte.

Edited June 13, 2023 by CLT2014