It would also help if the pedestrians actually used the crosswalks and
showed some consideration for the waiting drivers.  I have waited so often
for people not in crosswalks who take their interminable, sweet time about
crossing.

Lala

At 10:19 AM 8/14/02 -0400, Henry Spratt wrote:
>Colleagues:
>
>         In keeping with Dr. Shumaker's call for increased vigilance
>regarding campus safety issues, I am concerned with the safety of
>pedestrians on 5th street near the UC construction area.  With all foot
>traffic routed to the north side of the street there will be considerable
>back and forth use of the crosswalks at either end of the construction.
>This summer, with light vehicle and foot traffic, it was at times risky to
>walk past the construction.  Cars and trucks simply go too fast on 5th
>street, and the vast majority of drivers don't seem to think about
>pedestrians. The situation will probably not get any better with the
>increased vehicle and foot traffic that begins Monday. I don't know what
>could be done to warn drivers to watch out for pedestrians, but I'm sure
>there must be better options than the signs that are there now.  For
>instance - better/bigger signs, painting larger warning "stripes" on the
>road, installation of speed bumps or humps before and after the crosswalks,
>"No Parking" along the north side of 5th street across from the
>construction fence (between the two crosswalks), increased presence of
>police to ENFORCE speed and right of way laws.  There are lots of options,
>I just hope that we will elect to be proactive, rather than reactive.
>Student, faculty, and staff lives and well being are potentially in
>jeopardy.
>
>                                 Take care,
>
>                                 Henry Spratt
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>
>Henry G. Spratt, Jr., Ph.D.
>Professor
>Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
>University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
>615 McCallie Ave.
>Chattanooga, TN 37403
>
>Ph:     (423)425-4383
>Fax:    (423)425-2285
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>http://www.utc.edu/~hspratt/