crosswalk fever

A (Somewhat Minor) Case of Crosswalk Fever

March 20, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Walking westward along the south side N.E. Tenth Street, approaching Phillips Ave., one finds a 45º turn to the left to accommodate a sign–nothing an OKC pedestrian cannot handle. Then, the sidewalk leads to a somewhat unusual but pleasant surprise, a striped crosswalk. This crosswalk provides safe travel across an entrance to Stephenson Cancer Center’s parking garage. The strange thing is where the crosswalk leads.

It appears to be severely mismatched with the sidewalk on the other side of the entrance. Upon further investigation–let’s get another angle on this, shall we?–the crosswalk is oriented parallel to the street, but that doesn’t mean that pedestrians should maintain a parallel course. The crosswalk leads to a narrow walkway with a 90º turn–not a problem for pedestrians–but with a turning radius of approximately zero, a significant problem for a disabled person. This then leads to traveling approximately two feet, then turning 90º on a dime again.

Just another interesting Happy Feet Find, another day in OKC.

Crosswalk Fever Hits 100…Yards, That Is

January 6, 2016 by Kelley Smith

First, it should be said that the OU Health Science Center is one of the most walkable areas in Oklahoma City, second only to the downtown/Bricktown area or possibly some of the metro area college campuses.
Also, HSC drivers are among the most courteous in the metro area. Nonetheless, there are some things that add–entertainment, shall we say?–to the lives of the people who walk in that area. Read on.

On N.E. 10th Street, just west of Stonewall, there are two curb cuts directly across the street from each other…as if, just in case someone wishes to travel from Quirky Quad near the Stanton L. Young Biomedical Research Center to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, it will be possible to do so. Now, the odd thing–where are the usual crosswalk stripes? Fortunately, located just a short distance away (approximately one short football field’s distance to the west in fact) are the stripes.

OU_Family_Med — Crossing N. E. 10th Street from north to south, Williams Pavillion to OU Family Medicine

Yes, that’s correct, here (to the right) are some real beauties! And these bright zebra stripes along with those 100-yard-to-the-east curb cuts must surely be a matched set, as these stripes have no curb cuts! This area does sport a nice sign….

Sometimes, the authorities used to put a sign between those two curb cuts near Stonewall, and we all know how that went.

down_sign — NE 10th near Stonewall Ave. in Oklahoma City.

Crosswalk Fever

November 22, 2015 by Kelley Smith

Walking is an adventure, and in Oklahoma City, the adventure expands at least eightfold. The photo to the right shows an intersection in northwest Oklahoma City. The crosswalk was just painted a couple of weekends ago (November 7). What is this?

Evidently those who walk should have no qualms about trekking across the street just inches from moving school buses and 18-wheelers. And those in wheelchairs should teleport themselves from the curb cut to the painted crosswalk, begging the question–why build the curb cut anyway?

Appropriate authorities have been contacted. Stay tuned.