montgomery sideways

Blind Man's Nightmare

2012-02-06T00:17:00.008-05:00

On Friday, my daughter got out of school early, so we decided to go to Downtown Silver Spring for lunch. We left home about 1:30 PM. We stopped at Safeway on the way there, so we approached the intersection of Wayne and Fenton from the west side of Fenton. The crosswalk was blocked, as you can see in these photos, and sort-of see in the video. So, we did as the signs said and crossed to the east side of Fenton. - which was also blocked. Both sides of the street - effectively the entire intersection, was closed to pedestrians - I THINK. People were still crossing, so we did too.

There were no real thoughtful directions for pedestrians. Just the usual Crosswalk closed used other side signs. Only this time the joke is on you because BOTH SIDE are closed!

No police officer of flagman to direct traffic, just a blind guy who would be lost in an intersection he knows so well , if not for his daughter being by his side. . If I had approached this intersection alone, I would not know exactly how to negotiate it. Walking in the street with traffic is dangerous, no matter who you are - but people were doing it here - right in front of where the new library is going. Right through where the Purple Line is supposed to travel.

I have no idea how long both sides were blocked and people were waliing in the street with the vehicles. The obstruction on the west side of Fenton had been removed by the time we headed back, 30 - minutes later. Could have been dozens of pedestrians who passed through this dangerous work zone with no protection - could have been many more.

What does this say about how important pedestrians are in the master plan? We mean nothing. Hardly worth mentioning.

I am so discouraged. What am I up against? Is it even worth the fight? To have worked so long on this and have a situation like this take place... I just can't explain it. I could just throw-up my hands...

Gun It!

2012-01-21T12:27:00.003-05:00

Here's a short video showing something that is happening more and more lately - someone driving a business vehicle gunning it to get through the intersection as they take a left turn. The vehicles in the oncoming lane have to wait for the pedestrians, so they gun-it. It has happened to me three time in the past week, and more than a dozen times in the last year. The intersection of Wayne and Fenton is the worst.

Speaking of Wayne X Fenton, I also run-into many More bicyclists riding their bikes through the crosswalk - such as in the video from that location below. While I know it is not illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk in Montgomery County, I think cyclists should be expected to obey traffic laws when riding in the street - even if that part of the street is a crosswalk. You should get off your bike and walk through the crosswalk, or wait for the traffic signal to say it's OK to proceed on you8r bike in the street. It is dangerous and inconsiderate to ride your bike through a crosswalk.. It's a crosswalk - not a crossride.

More Sligo ROW issues

2012-01-19T11:11:00.005-05:00

Last week we got a notice from WSSC that they would be doing water main work on Sligo Avenue over the next two months. This wasn't a surprise, as they have been doing work on other streets nearby, and the ROW was painted to indicate buried utilities the week before.

I also noticed that the fire hydrants that lay in the middle of the sidewalks in a few places were painted. Yesterday I took this photo on my way to Downtown Silver Spring.

Here are a couple of examples. There are as many as six of them.

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Last year KB from DOT told us that moving these hydrants was cost-prohibitive. What about now? How can DOT be so unaware of what is going-on? Is it my responsibility to do this for them?

I sent an email to my Councilmember's office to ask about this. I tried to find information about this project online, and found a number to call. I thought I'd wait and see whet I heard from the Councilmember's office first. While on the website I looked for information about WSSC's ADA efforts, and didn't find anything. Do they have a program?

I expect that this work will last another twenty+ years, which means that if the corrections are left undone, the problems will exist fro another twenty+ years. This is the kind of situation that sparked the legislation in the first place. A classic example of why ADA is important, and why public utilities need to have ADA plans and procedures. ADA is meaningless without compliance.

AND -- WHERE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PERMITTING SERVICES??? WSSC probably has a blank permit to do this stuff (or NOT do this stuff). DOT tells me that they are no longer responsible for utilities in ROW, that it is the responsibility of DPS. Talk about passing the buck...

This is another episode in ROW mismanagement and government neglect of what is supposed to be an important issue. County DOT told us last year that moving the hydrants would be cost=prohibitive. No one is looking at ADA issues when major utilities are improved.

I realize that I am making some assumptions here. I won't mind being proved wrong.

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Truck You, Too

2011-12-31T00:37:00.005-05:00

At around lunchtime on Fridaay morning, my wife and I were making our way from the Silver Spring Metro Station to home. On Bonifant St., near Georgia Ave, we walked-up on this truck parked on the sidewalk. No sign, no nothing that you should expect to find at a n obstruction like this.. Just deal with it, I guess. We crossed to the other side, mid-block.

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Nice job, Traffic Systems Inc. Blatantly ignoring Federal and State AND County Law in broad daylight, and no one bats an eye. Nice work endangering the public with impunity. Very professional.

Later down the road, we came upon this vehicle parked completely blocking the sidewalk in front of the AAMOCO station.

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Ambiguous

2011-12-05T11:05:00.003-05:00

These photos were taken last Thursday evening at Georgia X Sligo. This intersection, which is directly adjacent to the CSX bridge underpass, has a crosswalk only on the north side during normal service. Now that this crosswalk is closed, are pedestrians supposed to cross on the south side? I don't understand what "use other side" means in this instance. There doesn't appear to be one.

Of course, the default meaning is, "find another way." Still, you know what is going to happen here - people will walk in the street to get around this location. They will take risks directly because of this reconstruction.

Does this mean that these curbs should not be redone? Of course not. It means that contractors need to take extra care to prevent an accident.

What do you think? Does this look like extra care to you?

I wasn't paying attention

2011-11-18T10:02:00.003-05:00

I took this photo last night while walking the dog. On the way back to the house I came across this "Steel Plates Ahead" sign in the middle of the sidewalk on Chicago Ave - a few hundred feet from my home. I first came across this sign a couple of nights before, so I know it has been here for a few days. Contractors are doing utility work and repaving streets in the neighborhood. There was another sign in the sidewalk coming from the opposite direction, and rubble and equipment on sidewalks in other locations nearby.

I understand that this is necessary work, and that it is going to create inconveniences that everyone will have to deal with. I also know that there is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. This sign is an obstruction that pedestrians must negotiate around by walking in the street. How is this acceptable? It is clear proof that MCDOT is not managing the right-of-way to keep it safe and accessible to pedestrians.

The contractor is doing something wrong, but MCDOT is responsible for holding the contractor to certain standards. MCDOT cannot claim that they are not aware of these violation, because I have been screaming about them for years now. Why can't MCDOT fix this universal problem? Why are they contracting with companies that don't follow ADA guidelines - even a little?

There is an hierarchy when it comes to construction projects and who must suffer the consequences. It goes something like this:

Contractors - Do everything you can to accommodate their needs.

Drivers - Must be impacted as little as possible.

Bikers - Keep the road open and they can get by.

Pedestrians - Huh? What did you say? I wasn't paying attention.

Walking to Jackie's

2011-11-13T12:27:00.004-05:00

A whie ago I bought some raffle tickets at the South Silver Spring Neighborhood Association Block Party and won a gift certificate to Jackie's restaurant. Last night my wife and I walked up to Jackie's for dinner - it's just up the street from our house on Sligo Ave.

Of course, this means actually walking down Sligo Avenue, which is always a crap-shoot - especially between Fenton and Georgia. Cars and trucks are often parked over the sidewlk - forcing pedestrians to step into the roadway into oncoming traffic - while trying not to soak their feet in the oily green puddles left from the auto repair shops that line the south side from Fenton to Georgia.

And then there is this nasty little trip hazard...

Sticking-up from the sidewalk is a two-foot-long piece of steel embedded into the concrete.It is broken and bent down to the surface of the sidewalk, but was obviously intended to help shore-up the nearby utility pole. It has been here for years, and is often accompanied by one or more trucks that make the passage even more adventurous.

One must either learn to accept this part of the journey, or drive to Jackie's. If you trip over it because you had a couple of drinks with dinner, it's your own damn fault.

I have reported this location directly to MCDOT many times over the years, but it's still here.

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Is this piece of long-time-broken infrasturcture the responsibility of Pepco, of MCDOT?

More of the same

2011-11-02T12:51:00.010-04:00

The shadow on the ground in the forefront of this photo is cast by the Silver Spring Civic Center. Across the street from the heart of the new Silver Spring is yet another example of poor construction site planning that puts pedestrians at risk. Site plans almost never take into account the amount of pedestrian traffic - preferring to deny continuous access by pedestrians in favor of complete inaccessibly - as if to say, "Keep them safe by keeping them out." The contractors would rather use the area for free parking, rather than insure the safety of pedestrian by constructing temporary facilities - as the law requires.

Three sides of this lot are blocked, and there is no continuous walkway from Cedar to Strossnider's without crossing the street. This set-up is a design for tragedy that encourages pedestrians to walk in the street with traffic.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=39.003044,-77.020855&spn=0.022945,0.048409

Has County government learned nothing? How are these plans gaining approval?

Pedestrians Redefined

2011-10-09T11:15:00.006-04:00

On Tuesday evening I am facilitating an initial meeting of a group called Walk Silver Spring. I hope to begin the process of building a community of self-professed pedestrians to advocate for better pedestrian policies and practices and to promote walking in Silver Spring. No group exists that focuses on transportation issues here from a purely-pedestrian view. No group exists that can give voice to the lives of pedestrians in Montgomery County without rely almost solely on accident statistics.. No group exists that tells the story of pedestrians from a pedestrian viewpoint. No group exists that is not sponsored or staffed by government, and that has no other purposes than the well-being of pedestrians.

Pedestrians are the least of all the transportation users. They have little representation and get a very thin slice of the budget, but they make-up more than 20% of the population. We are a quiet, but large group on the margins of the transportation system. The older, the younger, the browner, the pooer, the weaker, the disabled, the voiceless.Voices comnplaining about tiny fractures in the system that hardly seem worth noticing.

These tiny cracks riddle the pedestrian transportation sytem. They are like tiny brushfires that the County and State rush-around to put out - without enough water. The people who walk through this landscape become the helpless. Maryland and Montgomery County say, "We're sorry, but this is the best we can do for you now. Buy a car or a bicycle and maybe we can work with you."

Still, pedestrians carry-on because they must. Life is out there, and you can't let not being able to drive stop you. Of course, there are also those who choose to be pedestrians. Some are because they want to keep fit. Some have an environmental-conscience and want to use as little petroleum as possible. For many there is a social-connection that comes from walking their neighborhoods. It is a potential way to meet your neighbors.

Whatever brings you to this issue, it is time for you to stop reading and start taking steps to make things better. It is not that difficult, and many people make a difference on other issues by doing the same. Come to this meeting. Talk with your neighbors - with other pedestrians like you. Let's find a way to make a positive difference. Let's discover the story behind the stats, and make sure decision-makers hear that story. Don't accept being marginalized any longer!

PLEASE
Let your neighbors know about this meeting! Ask them to pass it along!

The Worst

2011-10-02T13:17:00.002-04:00

Here is another candidate for The Worst Sidewalk in Silver Spring...

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Truck Stop

2011-10-01T11:00:00.008-04:00

Last evening my wife and I decided to take a trip downtown to but tickets at The Filmore and have dinner at Sushi Jin. On the way home we were confronted with this ruck - again. I took these photos, and this video. This is one of the most dangerous situations I have ever come across. The intersection is dangerous anyway - without this driver making this HUGE bonehead move. The crosswalk is blocked from the crosswalk because DHCA built a beautiful barrier there some years ago. This encourages people going from the Greyhound Station to 7-11 to jaywalk. The only pedestrian entrances to this property are the driveways. Fenton Street dips dramatically at this location, and the truck is parked perfectly to hide pedestrians trying to get across Fenton at a point where speeds are higher and vision is obscured... and the Police form the 3rd DistrictStation just around the corner drive right by and seem not to notice at all.

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Earlier in the week I walked down to Lotus Cafe, and took this video on the way there. This is Sligo Avenue, on the south side near Fenton St.

Chicago Avenue near Sligo Avenue

2011-09-29T16:59:00.002-04:00

Chicago Avenue, near Sligo Avenue.

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Lake Bonifant Revisited

2011-09-23T13:01:00.003-04:00

On my way home from downtown Silver Spring this morning I came across Lake bonifant again - a scenic spot that appears when it rains or snows. I love watching the waves rolling in each time a car splashes through - but don't stand too close unless you enjoy a nice spritz to start the day. Hey, if your feet get wet it's your own damn fault for not wearing galoshes.

But seriously - this is dangerous. A pedestrian who is distracted by being splashed of having to tippy-toe through the puddles is not watching the traffic. It also encourages jaywalking . Who wants to stand there and wait to get splashed??? forcing pedestrians to cross outside of the crosswalk here, MCDOT is basically saying that it is OK to jaywalk in Montgomery County - Go ahead - do what you have to do...

In the video you will see a woman get sprayed by a passing car, and then cross against the signal. You will see several other people come into frame from the right side - who have just crossed several yards to the right of the crosswalk. You will also see people who get their feet soaked crossing in the crosswalk. Notice the waves as the course across the puddle...

Montgomery County is participating in the problem it is hoping to solve with enforcement. The Police and MCDOT are working at cross-purposes here.

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I know that MCDOT has been aware of this problem for some time - because I have told them about it many times. This location is across from the new Library site and a major pedestrian thoroughfare to Downtown Silver Spring.Fenton Street was recently paved here. The new asphalt is only a couple of feet away. It's very annoying and shows a complete lack of regard for pedestrians, but more than that - it is very dangerous.

This video is from April, 2009;

The Other Side

2011-09-22T14:13:00.006-04:00

Wednesday evening I headed from my home on Sligo Avenue to Docs in Progress on First Avenue. It was 6:30, overcast and a light rain had just begun to fall. I crossed over Georgia at Bonifant and headed north when I cam to the intersection of Georgia and Wayne - where the crosswalk was blocked.

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I took these photos....

I was in a hurry and the photos didn't come out too well, but you can still see that this is completely inappropriate for the amount of pedestrian traffic that comes through here. It is poorly marked, and a disabled person would have a real problem here. It is an extremely dangerous situation for anyone, especially considering the nature of the traffic here. How long has it been like this? I don't know. Let's see how long it takes from here...

I stepped between the tre and the fencing to get through and cross Wayne. A person in a wheelchair would have to go down to Dixon Avenue to cross - assuming that isn't block as well. No signs say this, so one might expect a disabled person to use their best judgment, I guess. Seems like a flimsy fall-back plan to me.

... and then, there are the intersections at Bonifant, Silver Spring, and Sligo Avenues to do. the other side of Georgia Avenue.SHA is responsible for making thinks OK for pedestrians during all phases of planning and construction. The photos here show that this site does not meet that requirement at all.

2011-09-16T10:52:00.001-04:00

The Pedestrian Jar - Teaser from pedestrian jar on Vimeo.

Walk Silver Spring

2011-09-12T15:17:00.002-04:00

Tiger Pit II

2011-08-26T22:36:00.004-04:00

Last month a PEPCO contractor "finished" the job on Sligo Avenue. They left this hole in the sidewalk, at the site of a water meter. The hole is a couple of inches below the surface of the sidewalk, and is neatly hidden in the shadow produced by the street light and the utility pole. Here's a look at what this means at night...

This location is a manufacture accident waiting to happen. Will it be a large enough accident to show-up on County stat? Probably not, but the victim will still have to deal with an injury caused by a contractor who has no idea what they are doing.

Walk & Ride

2011-08-26T21:29:00.000-04:00

(No) Turn on Red

2011-08-25T14:05:00.003-04:00

Walking back from downtown today I decided to stop at the intersection of Thayer Avenue and Georgia Avenue and take some video. My subject was the cars that routinely pull-out across the crosswalks, trying to sneak-out into Georgia Avenue -- which is almost impossible at this busy time of day (1:30 PM). AND - these intersections are NTOR.

I figured I wouldn't have to stand there long to get something indicative of the usual driver behavior at this intersection, and I was right. I was only there for a few moments before I caught this one.

These nice new intersections and curb cuts don't solve this persistent problem. It's going to take some enforcement to solve this. The same problem exists at Georgia x Bonifant and Georgia x Silver Spring.

Sligo side-step

2011-08-21T19:01:00.004-04:00

This video is from 2009. Not much has changed in two years...

Thoughtless

2011-08-17T17:18:00.005-04:00

These photos were taken this morning on Sligo Avenue. I was on my way from downtown when i came acros this construction sign - doing an ineffective job of warning drivers that work is being done at the corner of Georgia and Sligo. They placed this sign directly across the sidewalk , making passage difficult - especially for anyone with a guide dog, a wheelchair, or a stroller.

When combined with the fact that auto-repair shops on the other side of Sligo have parked vehicles that they are working on over the sidewalk, Sligo suddenly becomes inaccessible to many people with disabilities. Want to get to Georgia Avenue? You will have to take Gist Avenue. Oh, wait, there are probably cars parked across the sidewalks there, too.

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Sligo Avenue is a busy street during the day, and is a particularly BAD place to be walking in the street.

One seemingly-insignificant thoughtless action can combine with others to create a dangerous situation.

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Phase

2011-08-10T12:36:00.003-04:00

State law requires that all transportation projects consider pedestrian access in ALL PHASES of design and construction. While it is clear that SHA has given a lot of thought to the design of new curb cuts it is installing along the east side of Georgia Avenue, it is just as clear that they have thought very little about pedestrians during the construction phase.

I don't know when this particular corner first went out of service, but i first noted it photographically on July 30 - almost two weeks ago. Today, they began pouring concrete.

I am certain that it was blocked for some time before then, as have many of the corners on this side of Georgia Avenue between Sligo Ave. and Colesville Rd. This entire stretch has been blocked in some form or another for months. I hope this is the last hurrah for this project - at least on this side of Georgia Ave.

I know that these new curbs cuts are difficult, and that they will take time, no matter how you schedule the work. But,... Is that it? We are just going to accept this because it is too difficult to resolve?

The truth is, SHA and MCDOT could do better. MC Department of Permitting Services could do better, too. In Silver Spring, conditions for pedestrian during construction are horrendous and sometimes terrifying. Pedestrians are well-served in the design phase, but are marginalized or ignored during construction -- and "It can'nt be helped" is often the response to concerns. No one would allow this kind of behavior if we were talking about the roadway. it would be unthinkable to block two lanes of Georgia Avenue for the entire Summer. How can we then accept the equivalent for pedestrians in pedestrian-rich Silver Spring? Are pedestrians as important to Silver Spring as vehicles, or not?

SHA, MCDOT, and MCDPS should shorten the time it takes to finish these projects. It can be done if it is made a priority - and the General Assembly already did that. They should provide temporary pedestrian facilities in locations that will be closed for extended period (and especially in high-traffic areas or places that have unique dangers.). This can and MUST be done to protect the public safety.

A sign is not enough.

Parking Lessons

2011-08-05T13:34:00.009-04:00

This afternoon I took my daughter and one of her friends to Fire Statio One for lunch. As is often the case, people have parked vehicles across the sidewalk in front of the Aamoco shop and Pacci's restaurant. Even the most oblivious person should understand that these sre not appropriate places to park a car. I have spoken to a manager at Pacci's about this, but i suppose I am just a local weirdo to them.

Usually, I just walk past - having taken so many photos of this practice at this location that it harldy seems worth it anymore. How do I get these people to park these vehicles properly? Do I call the police? Do I go into the establishment and confront the owner? Do I offer to find them parking lesson?

The vehicles in these photos are parked such that there is not enough clearance for a person in a wheelchair to pass. The lip of what are/were driveways make negotiating these locations tricky. They are definite trip hazards.

SHA just redesigned and poured new concrete at this location, but the old driveway in front of Pacci's should be removed so that people don't park there ad block the sidewalk. The Aamoco station needs to park their vehicles in a way that doesn't block the new sidewalk. I have complained, but this just seems to be a situation we can all ignore...

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Not quite

2011-08-01T11:48:00.006-04:00

Last week I received a copy of a letter from MCDOT to the Federal Haighway Admiistration concerning a complaint I filed in March, 2010. In the letter, MCDOT Director Arthur Holmes informs FHWA that the situation has been resolved and that MCDOT has made the changes needed to ensure that everyone is following the law when it comes to replacing utility poles.

I have been gratified by MCDOT's eagerness to address the problem, but I am afraid Mr. Holmes' claims of resolution are not quite true.

This photo was taken today, and shows that this panel is full of dirt, not concrete.

This photo shows one of the old poles along Sligo Avenue, still in place.

This photo shows that the concrete contractors left this water main access 2-3 inches below the surface of the sidewalk - a perfect size and location to trip someone and cause an injury.

I find it difficult to believe that anyone from MCDOT inspected this project before it was considered "finished." Unfortunately, I don't believe their other claim that the procedures have been worked-out to avoid this in the future, either.

I am usually happy when I get 80% of what I ask for from MCDOT. Still, this is a pretty significant 20%, here - and it remains true that the problems with Sligo Avenue sidewalks are not resolved - not quite. I don't believe that the working relationship between PEPCO and MCDOT as it concerns ROW has not been resolved yet, either.

Georgia x Sligo

2011-07-30T15:33:00.008-04:00

The bridge in these photos is one of SHA's first projects. It was built in the 1930's to resolve a chronic problem with cars being struck by trains at this busy crossing. It is a charming, Depression-era landmark that helps to defines Silver Spring.

It is also a key trail head for theMetropolitan Branch Trail - which would allow pedestrians and cyclists access to the Transit Center without using surface streets through Downtown and avoiding numerous conflict points. Along with improvements in pedestrian access on Sligo Avenue, the first phase of the MBT would give thousands of residents better pedestrian access to Silver Spring Metro Station.

http://www.cctrail.org/map1.htm

This intersection - along with others like Ga. X Silver Spring Ave, Ga. X Thayer Ave - will see dramatic changes in pedestrian behavior over the next decade, as new buildings continue to rise, and new businesses populate the Georgia Avenue Corridor. Improvements are great, but are we looking at all the angles? Is there a comprehensive approach, or are we just winging it?

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Sidewalk Improvs

2011-07-29T21:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I braved the heat and headed into downtown Silver Spring for lunch. I walked over to Georgia Avenue, where I stopped and took this photo. It shows the sidewalk out of commission as it goes beneath the CSX bridge. I stood there for a awhile and saw pedestrians crossing Sligo Avenue a few yards to the east of the crosswalk. Sure, there is a sign there telling you to cross the street, but if you need to go the other way - say, to Jackie's, or Lotus Cafe - what do you do? Crossillegally, that's what you do.

Meanwhile, where are the workers??? Are you telling me that they shut-off this important intersection, and then left it?

This location will be the scene of many risky behaviors over the coming days. Another instance of SHA training pedestrians and driver s alike to ignore the rules and trust their own common sense. Fortunately for us here in Montgomery County we have some fairly smart pedestrians.

I don't understand SHA's approach to the Georgia Avenue sidewalk project. I'm not sure they have one, really. It looks like a shot in the dark to me.Be careful out there!

Are We There Yet?

2011-07-26T10:37:00.002-04:00

Consequences

2011-07-22T19:35:00.002-04:00

"No one forced Raquel Nelson to jaywalk the night of her son's death. The suggestion here isn't that the city owes Nelson anything for the consequences of her actions. But there is something to be said for designing cities with an eye toward how people actually behave, not how urban planners wish they would"

Read the entire story at Huffington Post

2011-07-19T15:00:00.003-04:00

http://www.conservationmontgomery.org/pdf/FINALGLASS%20COLUMN_PED%20SAFETY2011.pdf

Sidelined

2011-07-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

From last week's Montgomery County Gazette newspaper.

The whales must look after themselves...

2011-07-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

Roadside Memorial

2011-07-05T09:42:00.008-04:00

For my son and me, vacation began with a few days in Raleigh, my home town. I drove when I lived there, but now I am on foot, and Raleigh - especially North Raleigh - is not very pedestrian friendly. Still, when we found ourselves on our own for a day or two, we managed to walk a couple of places, including Chubby's Tacos, in a shopping center on Durant Rd -- A 3/4 mile walk

It was a hot and humid day - even by NC standards. The walk took us through winding streets with little traffic and no sidewalks past cul-de-sacs and mostly-new construction. AS we drew closer to our destination, we turned on to busy Durant Rd. I think it was a dirt road when I was in high school. Now it is a bustling five-lane thoroughfare between a mall with restaurants, and a middle-school. And we walked and walked, looking for a crossing point. We evn considered jaywalking, until we saw this...

I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. Kids had tried to cross here, not wanting to walk all the way up to the light, and then wait forever for it to let them cross. The death was the result of poor transportation planning - it was easy to see, even though I didn't know the details.

When I returned home I looked for the story behind this roadside memorial...

See more about this story at WRAL.com

Tragic story, but not unusual. I find it really amazing that no significant remedial steps were taken in response to this death. What, do they think it was just a tragic accident? Was it the victims fault? Until public officials realize that the blame rests on the design of the road, this kind of thing is destined to be repeated over and over again.

Even more than a year later, and the memorial marks the spot on Durant Rd. Too bad the same dangerous conditions remain there as well.

Google Maps Revisited

2011-06-09T10:21:00.004-04:00

Last year I attempted to answer a question posed by Jeff at MCDOT by doing something strange - by building a Google Map that shares the title of this blog, Montgomery Sideways. His question was; "Can you identify the specific locations of the utility poles that may be ADA violations." In response, I looked to Google Maps and discovered how great a tool it could be in identifying impediments and compiling information.

The County has insisted on a data-driven process in solving pedestrian problems, which is generally commendable. I have tried to provide information to support the need for more data on pedestrians. In the case of this map, I have tried to build a model for tracking pedestrian infrastructure. I learned this tactic during a Complete Streets Project in 2008. Nothing works to show trends and patterns like a visual depiction of compiled data. Nothing reveals neglect better, either. But, my model is admittedly very rough, as it reflects my limitations - both visually and intellectually. I continue to hope that what I have done gets noticed by someone who can bring more thought and expertise to bear.

The data collected by MCDOT and SHA is usually one-sided. They can tell you how many pedestrians have come into contact with vehicles because they know about vehicles. When it comes to pedestrians, they know precious little. They don't count them - at least not in a scientific way - until after an injury or death.. But we can count obstructions, and unlike people, we can pin-point them on a map.

After that it all seems raher simple to me. You find them, mark them, and fix them. Ocassionally you look to the map to see that the number of red dots is smaller, and the number of green dots is larger. Simple, right? Apparently not.

The data changes, so any ad hoc attempt to gather data provides only a snapshot of conditions. Any one-time count is just that. In order to truly judge pedestrian infrastructure, the observer must participate in using the system. Data must be generated by actual users. Things must be inspected from a pedestrian viewpoint. It must be a collection of reports by many people throughout the year - during varied times and under different conditions. MCDOT and SHA should participate in this electronic conversation with pedestrians. The data must be available in dynamic form - such as a Google Map.

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It seems to me that smart phones could be the answer to this need for data from users. If I knew how to write Apps, I would have already written one that allows a pedestrian with a smart phone to mark their location and submit a simple report containing a photo/video of the situation. The data would automatically be added to a map thart shows the location and gives access to additional information. MCDOT could use such a map to address problems, and could rate each report for accuracy. Each reporter would receive a rating, and fakers would soon be weeded-out. Each mark could be updated by MCDOT to indicate its status.

Pepco contractors, MCDOT and SHA contractors, USPS carriers, and others could use the App to report problems on regular routes. Data could also be added by PC for those without a smart phone.

A pilot project that features similar usage of the technology is underway at The University of Maryland, College Park.

Other localities in the US are trying this for bicycles, but Montgomery County would be one of the first to do this for pedestrians. I have provided a crude example in Montgomery Sideways Google Map, but there are flaws in my model that need working-out. The data I have entered those many months ago is old now. Many of the street views are2-or-more years old. Someone called in 311-reports based on my map entries, and I think it even worked - but I don't know the addresses, and the reports do not cooperate with my map, so it is useless to try and figure it all out. It took a long time to enter the data on the map, and I can't imagine tryig to reconcile the new, 311-data with he old Google map. Talk about torture...

Still, I believe that the right app combined with the right map could create a really useful tool for MCDOT. One that could change the approach to pedestrians and make our streets safer and more accessible to pedestrians. Data from users is the key to knowing so much about pedestrians and gauging the success of our pedestrian accessibility efforts. I have proven that it is possible to get information from people about pedestrian infrastructure. I have already proven that you can gather the data easily,and quickly, and that the data can be displayed in a number of dynamic ways to reveal numerous trends and problems.I have pointed to technology that already exists tand is ubiquitous that can allow pedestrian infrastructure users to report on conditions. The only thing I have not done is write the App, and I don't know how to do that.

But, a member of the County's Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee is working on that right now, and there is a little bit of money to try something out. I am just waiting to see what happens. I will let you know how it turns out...

All of the pieces are in place.All we need now is the foresight and will to pull it off. The possibilities are amazing!

Rolling Outages

2011-06-01T20:55:00.006-04:00

The sidewalk crew made more progress today, but again, they left an avoidable mess that blocks the sidewalk overnight. Pedestrians will stumble upon this obstruction and most likely step into the street to get by. The procedure that this contractor is using does not take into account pedestrians - which is ironic, considering what they are doing here. they left totally obstructed sidewalks for a total of seven days - over Memorial Day weekend. Totally avoidable with a little forethought. No one is monitoring this work but me.

These seemingly-insignificant instances are repeated hundreds of times a year in Montgomery County. Each of these situations may lead to hundreds of risks each day - and each risk successfully managed breeds confidence that reinforces the practice of jaywalking. Taken cumulatively, these tiny infractions combine to make it clear why so many pedestrians are hit in Montgomery County. It's not because pedestrians are stupid, it is in part because Pepco and others are not paying attention to important details - or Federal law. Because of this, I can never be sure where the next dangerous passage might be.

On the Edge

2011-06-01T10:06:00.006-04:00

Over the last week a crew has been sporadically working on the sidewalk panels surrounding most of the utility poles on the south side if Sligo Avenue. It is great to see this work in its final stages, but the methods used in completing the work is all wrong - and creates dangerous situations for pedestrians.

According to State law, access and safety of pedestrians must be considered during ALL phases of construction. The crew working on these sidewalks seems painfully unaware of the law.

The crew that is working here is about five guys. They are excavating by hand, and mixing concrete in buckets. They seem to be able to excavate four pabels in a day, and fill three of them with concrete - leaving the last panel for the following day. There are two problems with this plan - The first "following day" was five days later, and the hole and blocked sidewalks made passage dangerous for the entire time period.

Now, they have excavated another hole and left if for some undisclosed future day. They left this dangerous situation overnight last night, and have not returned to complete the work today.

Unlike most of the other panels, this section is very close to the travel lane, where speeds can be up to 40 MPH. Pedestrians must stpe into the road to get by here. This is a busy and confusing intersection with lots of sight-line obstructions. Very Dangerous!

Pepco should only hire contractors who are fully trained on special ROW situations like this one. MCDOT needs to be certain that Pepco hires contractors who know what they are doing, and who can complete a job without endangering the public.

A Pedestrian Plans his Weekend

2011-05-27T11:56:00.005-04:00

Being a pedestrian requires planning. Coping as a walker in a car-world isn't easy. There is no hopping in the car and dashing off to the store to pick-up a few things. On the contrary, I try to do most of the shopping for the week at once - on Saturday morning. This involves pushing one-hundred pounds of groceries back from sSfeway in a cart.

Now that it is Friday afternoon, and the sidewalks around my home look like this, How am I going to get the groceries home tomorrow morning? Both passages to my home are blocked - one by a missing sidewalk panel, and the other by exposed cables and a pile if sand.

Planning ahead - I guess I will take a rake out there and smooth out the pile so that I can cross at the crosswalk. otherwise, I suppose I will have to cross mid-block in front of my home.

Either way, I have to change my routine.

I watched yesterday as a crew of men worked on theses panels. They were moving very slowly, and did not complete there work. Now that it has become evident that the work will not be completed by this Memorial Day weekend, the neighborhood will have to deal with this obstruction for another five days, at least.

The timing couldn't be worse. The planning couldn't be slacker.This is another example of outrageous insensitivity and shows a lack of concern for public safety. Way to go PEPCO.

Some of the work was completed, but a lot is still left to do. Some poles remain, some panels still have asphalt. Some panels still have sink holes.

2011-05-26T22:35:00.000-04:00

Step-by-step

2011-05-24T14:17:00.001-04:00

The last of the old utility poles that lined Sligo Avenue from Ritchie to Chicago are gone. They were removed this morning. Only these piles of sand and these protruding cables mark the spots.

Pole Dancing

2011-05-23T10:34:00.004-04:00

Here are photos I took on Friday of the utility poles on Sligo Avenue - near Chicago Avenue. It has been almost 18 months since my utility pole adventure began, and the pedestrians of the neighborhood are still suffering. It is no wonder why people avoid trying to make a stand.

Bus-ted

2011-05-23T10:00:00.004-04:00

This bus is running a red-light while taking a left turn on to Georgia Avenue from Wayne Ave. A dozen pedestrians had to put on the brakes for this bus. The photo is blurry for the same reasons this is dangerous - it was dusk and the bus was travelling fast.

How did I get this shot? I always have my camera ready at this intersection. Something risky almost always happens when I go through here. A friend of mine was struck and disabled here. Even with new pedestrian infrastructure in place, this intersection is one of the riskiest in the area. Busses - and drivers who pull stunts like this - are a major contributing factor.

Bonehead

2011-05-17T21:25:00.006-04:00

This evening my son and I walked to downtown Silver Spring and ate at Sushi Gin on FentonSt. On the way back we came across this truck, parked and unloading at the 7-11 on the corner of Fenton and Sligo. This is already a dangerous location, mostly because the stretscaping encourages passengers from the Greyhound terminal across Fenton to cross mid-block through heavy traffic. Access to the crosswalk is completly cut-off.

We got around the truck by walking to the store entrance, but I am certain most people would just step into the street to get by. DANGEROUS.

View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map
I wonder if a police officer would notice this and do something about it without a call from me.

Eastbound & down

2011-05-17T11:57:00.007-04:00

Last night I attended the final East Silver Spring Citizens' Association meeting of the 2010-11 season. If you know me, then you know that I would rather have dental surgery that attend another ESSCA meeting, but it had to be done.

I have a low opinion of ESSCA, although I do admit that this organization has done a great service to the community over the years. They have protected the neighborhood from thoughtless development with dogged determination. The problem is that the organization is aging, with no real plan or program for the future in evidence. What makes the organization so powerful in protecting the community makes it weak in communicating with it. ESSCA has become a very insular organization that protects the status quo as fiercely as it defends against over-sized buildings. For example; Bob has been president since the year I graduated from high school. Things change slowyt at ESSCA, to say the least.

The reason I attended last night's meeting was to see Kurshead Bilgrami - or KB - present revised plans for sidewalk improvements on Sligo Avenue. I planned to spend the rest of my time listening, not talking. This, on its face, is a ridiculous plan. However, it worked this time - mostly because there was almost no one at this meeting. Maybe ten, if you count the guests.

Here are the revised plans.

KB explained each plan in detail and took questions. The group seemed to be happy with the changes he had made since the last meeting, which mostly dealt with bicycle issues. A breif discussion, and the plans seemed to be approved.

KB noted that a fire hydrant will be moved out of the way in one location. I pointed out that there are at least four other hydrant on the street that cause obstructions and do not comply with ADA. I asked if they could look into doing all of them at once. What is the point of moving one out of the way if there is another one on the next block? The answer? The usual - it's expensive.

Residents who use Ritchie Avenue expressed concerns about the lack of sidewalks on most of that street. A neighbor was hit by a car on Ritchie near the intersection with Sligo last week. It was night and she was travelling beside her blind father when she was struck. The driver did not remain on the scene. She suffered a sprain and other injuries.
View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map

I know this intersection well. Walked by it on the way home.

KB said he would look into remedies, including adjusting the parking.

There was a brief discussion about the practice of needing 100% support from all property owners to build a new sidewalk. One holdout on this street is preventing improvements for pedestrian safety. Is there a way to override this antiquated practice? At what point does public safety trump a property owner's wishes? Why is there a right-of-way, after all?

Given that Silver Spring has dozens of streets like Ritchie Avenue - with no sidewalks on one or both sides - this should be an important issue to resolve. If you live on a street with no sidewalks, you should think about that. Is your right to maintain a more bucolic atmosphere more important than access for the disabled? The elderly? The young?

I left the meeting happy that the presentation had been well-received, but a little depressed at the sad state of the East Silver Spring Citizens' Association. Six people voted to return the Executive Board back to their positions for another year - even though many of them weren't there. The last time I had been to such a meeting was in 2005, when I ran against Bob for President. 78 People voted that night, and I lost by 2-1.

Back then the voting was done poorly, and the animosity I felt from the grey-haired and entrenched members of the audience put me off ESSCA for good. I paid dues and went to a couple of meetings since then, but I have usually found them to be more of an obstruction than a help. Still, I think the organization plays an important role in our relationship with the County, and it makes me sad to see things so slack and poorly managed.

DelegateTom Hucker finished-off the meeting with a report on events during the recent legislative session in Annapolis.

The Grey Lady of Silver Spring

2011-05-14T11:01:00.002-04:00

Over the River

2011-05-10T00:13:00.008-04:00

On Saturday night my wife and I took what has become a familiar journey across the Patomac to see live music at The State Theater. We have been to this excellent establishment a dozen or more times over the last few years, and we were excited about see The Infamous Stringdusters for the first time.

The trip to Falls Church is a long one - even for experienced pedestrians like us. It involves walking to the Silver Spring Metro, getting of at Metro Center and connecting to the Orange (NOT Blue) line to Vienna, and taking that to East Falls Church Metro. From there you walk over to Washington Boulevard, and up a long hill to The State. No bathrooms, the entire way. You really must plan this one.

Or, you could spend about fifty dollars and take a taxi. Either way, you have to get back, too. Hopeully, the show is worth the time, effort, and money. Fortunately, this time it was. I thought this cover of The Police song "walking on the Moon" was appropriate to post here.

Since we are so practiced at this journey, we have figured out how to make it bearable, if not comfortable. This sometimes includes straying at the Econolodge up on 66, or a rest stop for dinner at Clare and Don's Beach Shack. It always included walking past this location, often late at night.

On this dark night we came acrtoss this piece of equipment completely blocking the sidewal along Washington Blvd, near the north exit onto Rt. 66. We had to walk in the street to get by. This sin't the first time we have been confronted with the very same thing in other places in the neighborhood.

Someone hasn't read the memo!

Forgotten, but not gone

2011-05-09T12:10:00.005-04:00

On Saturday evening I walked over to 1200 East-West Highway to meet with and talk to a Greater-Greater Washington Blog writer about the conditions at that intersection. Even though the intersection had been blocked for years, there was some hope that SHA would make some needed improvements to make the area more safe until the construction project was complete. There was also some hope that SHA would nudge the owner of the property to get the work finished sooner. After a meeting last December, we were told that temporary measures would be taken to prevent pedestrians from being confused by ambiguous signs and directions.

As usual, some promises were lept and some were only partially kept.

It has now been six months since the little flurry of attention on this location, and pedestrian access has not been restored. What's more, the situation is every bit as dangerous as when we last visited - sans snow. Exactly what pedestrians are meant to do here is not clear. It is especially confusing for a person with low or no vision.The only thing that is obvious is that people are still crossing where they should not be crossing - and that things here are risky.

This location has been in a similar state for more than three years. Despite numerous complaints and meetings, thins have not really improved at all.The facilities for pedestrians and people with disabilities are slack - almost as if they were not important.

SHAME ON SHA.

Redeemed

2011-05-07T17:41:00.007-04:00

I took these photos this afternoon as my wife and I headed to downtown Silver Spring. This is the stretch of sidewalk adjacent to the Silver Spring Library/Purple Line station, along Bonifant St. I was surprised and gratified to see the situation cleared-up and the pedestrian ROW restored. Much safer and encourages good behavior - like crossing at the intersection. I can't believe that it was too much work to make this happen, so I can only surmise that this situation was caused by a lack of awareness. OK, so now you know, right?

So often these complaint-based remedies substitute for a real plan. Project managers must keep in mind the impacts of the project on the ROW. It must be reviewed regularly, and adjustments must be made for different phases of construction. The location of this particular project speaks to a new model - one that prizes pedestrians and people who get around without their own motor vehicle. The process of building this civic landmark should also speak to the importance that we are placing on people who do not drive - either by choice or because they have no choice. No matter who is walking there, it should be by design, not by accident.

PS. My wife says don't even try to walk here in heels. The asphalt is very soft.

2011-05-02T13:20:00.000-04:00

2011-05-01T11:46:00.000-04:00

Leading the Way

2011-05-01T01:01:00.014-04:00

On Friday evening I went with my wife and son to Thai Duram restaurant on Bonifant St. As mentioned before, the restaurant is next to the construction site for the Silver Spring Library and Purple Line station. The sidewalk along Bonfiant has been closed for a while now, and apparently the impacts this my have on pedestrians have been long-forgotten - if they were ever truly considered at all.

How do I know? Well, I took these photos on the way home - and they show several free parking spaces without parking meters. If the County knew that people were parking here, they would certainly put-up meters, right?

So, a major County project is now a prime candidate for Top Offender in Downtown Silver Spring. And the project has really only just begun. It is dangerous, slack, and shows a profound lack of understanding about pedestrians, urban construction, and safety. It is such a ham-handed approach that I find it literally offensive.

I watched as a few people walked in the street here. Some getting out of the cars they just parked there, others were pedestrians using thier usual route to get where they were going. It was dusk , so the lighting was distracting. Lots of car lights, but the sun was still setting in the west. Lots of Friday evening traffic - both pedestrians and vehicles. A bustling Downtown as the skies cleared and the weekend began.

Narrow passages at certain points that put you very close to cars turing on to Bonifant from Fenton. You could walk for a short stretch on the sidewalk, but both ends were bloced so that you had to walk in the street to get out. SCARY.

I sent word of this to people, but no one responded and things are still the same. Any suggestions? Is this something I can call in to 311?

What a great example Montgomery County is setting here. Total neglect of an issue they claim to care so much about. We can accommodate parked cars, but pedestrians have to deal with it however they can. How long? Another week? How about a month? Six? More?

We have room to let cars park here for free, but not for temporary pedestrian facilities.Oh, wear brightly-colored clothing .

Practice What You Preach

2011-04-21T06:35:00.008-04:00

Last night I walked by the Silver Spring Library construction site. I witnessed two pedestrians walking in Bonfiant St. to get by. There seems to be plenty of room right now for temporary pedestrian facilities at this location. Why are there none??? This is yet another location in Silver Spring that has been closed to pedestrians for an extended period without any attempt to make things safe.

On the one hand Montgomery County spends money on the Street Smart campaign that tells people to do the right thing and be safe. On the other hand, they don't follow their own policies and create this dangerous situation on public property.

The County can't claim that the property owners isn't cooperating - not this time.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&oe=UTF8&start=192&num=200&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&z=20

Day at the Beach

2011-04-19T14:12:00.005-04:00

Anyone who has followed this blog will recognize my old-familiar nemesis - Thayer Canyon. This is a busy place - with hundreds of people filing through here daily. Yesterday, this location had all of the ingredients for a lovely day; crystal clear water, sand, and warm breezes. But, all you will get is a twisted ankle in a wet shoe.

Could the design flaw of this piece of infrastructure be any more evident? And - there are hundreds of these all over downtown Silver Spring. Like the tilted PEPCO pole, these traps have become a seemingly invisible symbol of inequality in our community. For some, unnoticed. For others, unavoidable. It all depends on whether or not you can drive.

I can't imagine that this is a good situation for the tree, either.

Deja Vu

2011-04-12T13:43:00.006-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I walked with my son to Downtown Silver Spring to run some errands and get a bite to eat. This truck was parked in the same place as before, but this time the driver was sitting there too. He looked to be sleeping, so we just scooted by and continued on our way. I wasn't feeling that augmentative, anyway

As we continued along Fenton St. we were joined by a nicely-dressed blind man who was quickly making his way behind a white cane. I looked at my son and said, "This is me when you go off to college." As we approached an intersection where a couple were waiting for the light, the man unknowingly entered their personal space, and the moved a little to the left after noticing his cane. I wondered, if this man had come upon the truck I had just sidled around, would the truck driver have moved his truck? Would he even notice the cane? Would the blind man make do, turn around, or decide to take a risk?

Action like parking a truck over the sidewalk - when there are other , safer options - is unacceptable on its face. You can see the 3rd District Police station from this location. I imagine that dozens of officers drove by this dangerous situation without noticing it and taking appropriate action. This seemingly-insignificant situation is repeated by trucks all over Montgomery County hundreds of times each day. Delivery trucks, landscaping trucks, tree service trucks, construction trucks, contractor trucks. Combined, these situations create a significant impediment and a major safety risk on County and State roads. Acceptance of these practices has the effect of training pedestrians to walk in the street with traffic - over and over, hundreds of times each year. I walk almost everyday - and I come across a situation like this almost every time I walk.

Fact is, if you are a pedestrian in Montgomery County, you MUST walk in the street.

For those of us who depend upon the sidewalks to access our hometown, acceptance of this behavior means peril. Do Police Officers spend so much time in their vehicles that they don't see this situation? In my opinion, this is a glaring example of just how invisible pedestrians can be. Given that some of these pedestrians are blind, I worry...

Truck You!

2011-04-08T16:37:00.010-04:00

This afternoon I went for lunch with Jeff and Ramin, who are working on an assessment tool that the County can use to improve pedestrian access and connectivity . It was a really interesting meeting, where I learned some more details of how MCDOT plans to develop this tool over the next few months. I hope to be involved throughout the process. I will report when I know more.

What I really wanted to show you are the photos i took on the way there.

This is adjacent to the intersection of Sligo Avenue and Fenton St. This location is an office building that used to feature an Eagle Bank. The bank closed years ago.

As mentioned in earlier posts (Snar'd One!,Five Days Later) this location contains a number of risk factors - including a narrow passage, landscaping issues, a utility pole, and heavy traffic - both pedestrian and motor vehicle. The bushes here have long been a restriction, if not an obstacle. It is good that they are being removed, but this vehicle is park in a way that forces pedestrians to step into the street, AND, it restricts a drivers view of the pedestrian to boot. VERY DANGEROUS.

No one was with the vehicle. it was lunch time, and I would not be surprised if the owner of the truck was having lunch somewhere - oblivious to the extremely dangerous situation he had set-up with his careless action.

-------
These photos were taken at the site of the future Silver Spring Library. The sidewalk has been blocked along the north side of Bonifant, from the corner of Fenton to the row of older buildings that house Thai Duram and some other shops. There is no obvious danger here, but it is another location closed to pedestrians for extended periods of time.

Given the location of this blockage, you can expect pedestrians who are headed eastward to walk in the street to get by - no matter what you do to pursuade them to do otherwise.The only way to prevent this is to provide a separate place for pedestrians to walk through this location without crossing over. Temporary pedestrian facilities may not be appropriate for every location, but I believe that most very-urban sites (like this one) need them. In the light of day it may be difficult to imagine that anything is wrong with the way this site has been handled, but what about late at night? In the rain?

In any case, a person in a wheelchair will have to cross to get by here. In order to do this safely, they would have to backtrack to Georgia Avenue - several hundred feet away.

Acceptance

2011-04-05T17:34:00.004-04:00

This afternoon I walked to Lotus Cafe on Selim Dr. to chow-down on some spring rolls. On the way trhere I walked down Gist Ave., where the sidewalk was blocked in several places by motor vehicles parked in front of Murray's Auto Clinic. Onm the way back I walked down Sligo Ave., which was also blocked by illegally parked cars in three places. I had to walk in Sligo Ave. to get by. A person in a wheelchair would be in big trouble here.

You're Never Alone

2011-03-25T17:09:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I received an award from Inpact Silver Spring during their annual Impact Now! breakfast at the Silver Spring Regional Services Center (how about finding a better name for this great institution?). I received the Pioneer Award for - well, you know.

As I listened to Jeff describe me to the large crowd, I realized that I actually have been trying to bring people together for a long time, despite my recent lone-wolf routine. I have stopped looking to create a non-MC-affiliated group to advocate for pedestrians here, mostly because I kept failing at it - to my great personal disappointment.

To stand with the other recipients - who had both tried and succeeded in spectacular ways - made me feel a little lonely. Whatever success I have achieved on this issue is mostly due to my efforts to bring people together, so why do I feel so alone? Perhaps it is because I stopped trying to bring people together for a while, and focused on my own personal experience.

I have always encouraged others to record and share their experiences. If not with me, then with public officials. I just took my own advice.

As for the video below, I had not planned to speak. I had just not prepared at all. I knew I would be asked questions afterward, so I only had talking points prepared. Probably better that way!
Looking back, I wish I had thanked Councilmember Valerie Ervin for nominating me for this award.

So, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ERVIN
Knowing that you understand means a lot.

I have watched Impact Silver Spring from afar for many years now. After meeting some of the staff and community members who are involved with them, I can say that I am really impressed. The work that they are doing in the community - though it is hard to quantify - is important and obviously driven by inspired people. Optimism and risk-taking combined to open-up the community. Receiving recognition from them gives me hope, and I don't feel so alone anymore.

I am so grateful to be able to add my story to the tapestry of personal tales that Impact is weaving so carefully and intricately.

Trash Day

2011-03-18T11:39:00.006-04:00

It has been my experience that - in a situation where multiple uses come into conflict with each other on the ROW, pedestrians get the least consideration. In these photos, you can clearly see the entire ROW. The road is clear, but the bus stop and sidewalk are blocked by recycling bins and trash containers. A person in a wheelchair would have to turn back at theis point. A blind person would have trouble negotiating this location with a guide dog or cane. Bus riders are expected to hang-out with the garbage. Even an able-bodied person (whom one might refer to as a "pedestrian-by-choice") would have to step into Sligo Avenue to get by.

If Montgomery County and SHA want more people to choose pedestrianism, then obstructions like this need to be addressed. They won't fix themselves. Problems like this will continue to exist as long as they are tolerated.

But hey, it's only one day each week, right? So, who cares?

Thayer Canyon Revisited

2011-03-15T20:41:00.005-04:00

Just outside the Safeway near our home is a sidewalk that is really treacherous for pedestrians. I like to call this stretch, "Thayer Canyon"

The "tree boxes" found on Thayer are similar to ones found all over Silver Spring. The pavers covering these boxes move dramatically over time. During rain and snow the substrate becomes soft, and the pavers move when stepped on. These paved boxes are often found in places where the sidewalk is also narrow - like out side the Safeway. If two people meet along this stretch, one of them MUST walk in the box. The missing and uneven pavers are a sure way to twist your ankle, bruise your shin, or suffer a fall - if you are not very careful.

This is especially true at night.

I can't believe that these boxes are anywhere near ADA compliant. Even if they are, they remain a danger and discouragement to all would-be pedestrians in Silver Spring. And yet they are still being installed - the latest in front of 8630 Fenton in 2010. I have had to walk through them once or twice - It's not fun.

2011-03-10T13:28:00.000-05:00

Area Man's Biggest Accomplishment Not Ever Killing Anyone With His Car

2011-03-07T12:40:00.002-05:00

"Overall, I've got a lot to be proud of: I worked my way through college, I'm a good friend, I have a solid job," said Widmer, whose most enduring† deed thus far is never having sent a pedestrian rolling over his hood or slamming his car into a bus full of schoolchildren.

Read the whole story at
The Onion

Signs

2011-03-06T01:21:00.009-05:00

I have often said that the twisted and tilted utility pole could easily be a symbol for Silver Spring. Pedestrians are certainly well-familiar with them.

A fitting sign for a place where the sidewalk abruptly ends. This sign should also read, "No pedestrians."
Oh, and here is another one on the next block.

There should be another, smaller sign just before this one that reads, "Sidewalk Narrows." I understand the need for signs this large in some circumstances, but speeds in this congested area should allow smaller signs. Smaller signs won't take-up so much of the walkway. In the interim, can't crews deploy these signs in places where they don't block critical passages (such as the curb ramp at this location)?

Is it too much to ask that construction site managers consider pedestrian access?

2011-02-27T11:42:00.000-05:00

2011-02-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Where the Sidewalks End from Eric Fidler on Vimeo.

Greetings From Lake Bonifant

2011-02-23T09:58:00.008-05:00

Here are some snapshots from my recent visit to scenic Lake Bonifant.

View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map

http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2009/11/under-my-umbrella.html

Two Weeks and 3 days ( 17 Days) Later

2011-02-13T18:39:00.007-05:00

I can only imagine the number of locations like this one that could be found all over Montgomery County.

Twelve Days Later

2011-02-08T17:01:00.005-05:00

I took these photos on the way to downtown Silver Spring today, and the video on the way back. They show a substantial pile of plowed snow blocking the south side of Sligo Avenue between Woodbury and the ride-on bus stop near Fenton. Pedestrians are forced to walk in the street on this busy road. At night this is evn more dangerouse, as there is no street light at this location. TWELVE DAYS later.

Va. man develops pothole app

2011-02-05T02:29:00.004-05:00

Read this story at The Washington Post

I have been asking MCDOT to look into something like this to report pedestrian problems for a while now. It would only take a few reliable pedestrians with smart phones to asses a great deal of the pedestrian transportation system in a given area. A pedestrian safety app could utilize both the camera and GPS of a smart phone in conjunction with a brief description to notify MCDOT and SHA when there is a problem.

In June of 2008 I organized a pilot project test of PDAs used to gather pedestrian and cyclist conditions in downtown Silver Spring and East Silver Spring. While the data was not comprehensive, the 8 teams of two volunteers gathered more than 200 data points in under three hours. There data was a snapshot, but a continuously-updated, smart phone-based system could keep a running tab on things - including conditions at night, during inclement weather, and during construction.

Something akin to what I have set-up on Google maps could be used to collect data. The ability to overlay data from different sources could help MCDOT and SHA pick-up on formerly unseen patterns.

I have no idea what something like this would cost to maintain. The technology is off-the-shelf. Social media could play a major role. No training for the public needed. Include this in subsequent Street Smart campaigns. The possibilities are numerous...

Grab hold of the technology, Montgomery County. Find out what is going on with pedestrians - before they are hit.

2011-02-05T01:06:00.000-05:00

Eight Days Later

2011-02-04T16:14:00.016-05:00

This afternoon I set-off for downtown Silver Spring with my son, and I tool these photos along the way.

The sink hole in front of our home is larger and continues to grow.

Another sink hole has returned and is also growing larger.

The sidewalk in front of the unoccupied home nearby is still covered with ice,

Yet another sink hole forming further down the street.

These photos show the section of sidewalk between Woodbury and the bus stop near Fenton. Still blocked with un-shoveled ice and snow. We walked on it - it is treacherous.There is still a large wall of ice blocking the sidewalk, and another blocking the bus stop.

One week and one day later, and Sligo Avenue is still effectively closed for pedestrians on the south side.http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2009/12/montgomery-county-to-pedestrians-youre.html

The Great Wall

2011-02-01T12:04:00.009-05:00

Last Saturday, January 29 I walked over to the intersection of East-West Highway and Blair Mill Rd. to participate in a site visit organized by Stephen Miller of Greater Greater Washington blog. The purpose was to inspect the section of sidewalk closed to the public at 1200 E-W Highway. The goup - which include people from the Dept. of Planning and SHA, the neighbor associatin president, a residnt with a wheelchair, someone ttaking video, and Regional Center Director Reemberto Rodriquez.

I brought a shovel along because I expected to come across a few blocked sidewalks along the way, and I wanted to be able to make my way without walking in the street. The going was a little rough. It would have been impossible for anyone who is not in good physical shape to make this journey. I didn't do a lot of digging on the way there - preferring to use the shovel to steady myself when climbing over the walls of now-solid ice that seemed to line every crosswalk and curb cut. A great wall of ice snaked through the streets of Silver Spring, cutting-off every curb cut and crosswalk for days.
(photo taken before the storm)

I used the CSX bridge to get over Georgia Avenue. It was clear on top, but all of the stairs were covered in ice that made them unbeleiveably treacherous - but I managed. I walked under the bride to what was once the outlet of Blair Mill Rd and took a right at the SSCI building (the sidewalks on Georgia Avenue adjacent to this building had not been shoveled).

As usual, cars are parked on both sides of the crosswalk here. As usual, cars are speeding through the crosswalk as they cut-through to E-W Highway or enter the parking deck for The Veridian. No one with a wheelchair could get through here, and anyone crossing between the cars had to be extra-careful to be seen.

When I got to the crosswalk at E-W Highway just south of the intersection,I took out my white cane and prepared to cross at the crosswalk - which was completely block by a two-footwall of ice that had been plowed off of the road surface. As I waited for the light to turn white, I watched in horror as a couple with a stroller ran across the street against the light.

When they reached the near side they realized that they had no way across. The man noticced that I had a shovel and asked if he could borrow it. I said yes, under the condition that he promise never to cross against the light again. I threww my cane down and handed him the shovel. After a few seconds I asked for the shovel back, and dug frantically to open the curb cut for them. After another few moments I had cleared a narrow path for them, and I help the woman pull the stoller over. I told them again that what they did was not really very smart, and that a few extra moments aren't worth your life. The man tried to tell me that they had no other choice. OK - whatever you say...

I picked up my cane and pressed the signal button to cross again. On the far side I dug out the curb ramp. While I was doing this, the meeting group beagan to form on the far side. I took a photo while I was waiting for the light to change. I began the meeting sweaty and blown, but at least this one location was open. This allowed the wheelchair-bound member of our group to get where the meeting was taking place.

The meeting began with a discussion of the conditions at this intersection, which were disappointing, to say the least. According to the rep from SHA, there were several problems here - the first being that access to the NE corner and the adjacent crosswalk had not been cloed-off, as we had been told it would be almost a month ago. As we watched, several pedestrians crossed here. The signal light was still uncovered - actually encouraging pedestrians to use this unsafe infrastructure. None of the approaching sidewalks had closed signs. This construction sight was a major obstruction, and yet there were almost no safety measures in place. In effect, the crosswalk that was supposed to be closed was still open and advertising that fact, and the crosswalk that was supposed to be doing all the work was blocked by ice. A no-win situation, for sure. The man from SHA seemed perplexed by the lack of measures he had assured us would be taken, assured us once again that they would be in place on Monday. (I have not been back to check).

Our discussion made it clear that here are two problems here - the problems at this specific location, and the systemic problems that allowed these conditions to exist and persist - despite numerous complaints over three years. Of course, this is not a new topic of discussion in Montgomery County.

The closure of sidewalks adjacent to constructions site here has been a regular occurence for as long as anyone can remember. Even though Planners have clearly stated that sidewalk closures should be allowed only as a last resort, closures are the rule, not the exception. Most construction site in Montgomery County feature closed sidewalks at some point during the project. Many do so for years.

The guys from GGW blog took video and interviewed me and others there. I am interested to see how this all works out.

Five Days Later

2011-01-31T16:05:00.023-05:00

Last Wednesday we had a rather large snow/ice event that left about 9 inches of heavy frozen stuff. Linbs came down and thousands were without electricity for a day or three. The roads were a mess and vehicle traffic was snarled. Pedestrians were walkig in the streets everywhere because the sidewalks were impassible.

As usual, it took a couple of days to recover from the wintry blast, but the roads were clear and the lights back on by Sunday. Pedestrians, however, are still walking in the streets. If you drive everywhere you may think that the worst is over. In fact, vehicle speeds - that were reduced to handle the inclement weather - are now back to normal. Unfortunately for pedestrians, the storm is still being felt.

I walked to downtown Silver Spring this afternoon for lunch with my wife. I took these photos on the way there an back.

Let's begin with the sink hole in front of my home. Every since December, 2009 pedestrinas on Sligo Avenue have had to deal with the dangers caused by this extended and botched attempt to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Montgomery County DOT has filled these holes more than twice, but it is clear that the situation will only be permanently resolved when the old poles are finally all gone and concrete is poured in these panels.

As we continue along Sligo Avenue you notice that, while most neighbors are thoughful and clear the ice and snow off of the sidewalks adjacent to their property, some do not. Vacant homes or homes where the occupants are out of town don't get done. The path is covered with snow that has been stomped into slippery ice. Five days after the snow and no concrete in sight.
This photo shows the crosswalk at the 3rd District Police Station. The sidewalks are clear, but access to the ramp is blocked with plowed snow. This encourages pedestrians to spend more time in the road as they maneuver to an open spot, several feet beyond the crosswalk on either side.
Continuing westward on Sligo we come to a real problem area. The two homes on either side of Woodbury have sidewalks adjacent to their property on two sides - Along Woodbury to their front, and along Sligo on the side. These property owners shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes, but obviously feel no compulsion to do the long stretches along Sligo. The sidewalk here is always blocked during significant snow. 125 feet of blocked sidewalk.

Clear sidewalks in front - but they stop short.

This glacier-like mass of ice will be here for weeks.

This property owner had his driveway plowed. The snow was deposited in a 3ft high berg over the sidewalk.

In front of this office building, a utility pole support wire and ice-crushed landscaping create a very narrow passage.

Most of the curbcuts on Fenton street are at least partially blocked by plowed snow. Some curbcuts have been adequately cleared, and others remain completely blocked. The four photographs above represent the conditions of curbcuts along Fenton Street. Some curbcuts have been cleared but the crosswalk is still blocked by plowed snow. Fenton Street is not accessible to people with wheelchairs or walkers, and dangerous to people with impaired vision

In front of the Greyhound station on Fenton Street. Plowed snow reduces the passage to mere inches.

This is the bus stop on Sligo Ave near Fenton. Completely blocked by snow. Rides have to wait in a nearby driveway.

The bus stop at Sligo Ave and Chicago Ave. The sidewalk has been cleared, but the crosswalk has not.

The crosswalk/ pedestrian refuge, and Sligo Ave and Chicago. The refuge is still covered in snow, as is the curb ramp on the far side.

Your power is back, cable TV and internet access are back, the roads are clear, and things are pretty much back to normal, right? Wrong. If you are a pedestrian, disabled, young, old, or simply trying to catch the bus it is definitely NOT over for you. Pedestrians are usually the last group of people to recover from a major ice storm. Let's hope we can fully recover before we get hit again. Imagine how treacherous things will be when these conditions are concealed beneath a fresh blanket of snow?

PEPCO Doesn't Care

2011-01-24T01:08:00.006-05:00

I've read stories where Cowboys in the Old West would shoot prairie dogs - or ground squirrels - because these rodents dig holes that are sometimes difficult to see and almost perfectly designed to break a horse's leg if stepped into. It is not the prarie dogs' fault. They don't mean to do it. It is in their nature and they can't change. Instead, they were driven away from places where Men wanted to ride in safety - even if no one had ever heard of a horse falling into a hole and breaking it's leg.

The metaphorical prairie dog in this situation is PEPCO. Of course I don't believe that PEPCO is intentionally doing things to put me and others like me in danger, but they are. Of course I don't believe that PEPCO is intentionally dampening the idea that you can walk in this neighborhood, or any other neighborhood in their huge service area - but yet again, they are doing just that.

PEPCO provides an essential service - one that makes this type of complaint possible. PEPCO has a good record - overall. But there is a problem here, and they seem reluctant to do anything about it. A system that creates dangerous situations and perpetuates the denial of access to the right-of-way to thousand of citizens is wrong.

PEPCO, through their lack of understanding and expertise - effectively dug these holes. They
don't care about people with disabilities. They don't care if I fall into a hole and break my leg, and - more importantly - they don't care if I decide to give-up because it is too difficult to overcome their indifference. They don't care if I decide to become a recluse - a shut-it - another disabled person sitting at home.

I have lived in my home for almost fourteen years. Yesterday I had to cross mid-block to get my groceries home because these holes are back. Sligo Avenue has never been accessible in all that time. If I am such a great advocate, then how can this be true? If I fail at being heard, then what chance does anyone else have? I have taken A LOT of action, and things are just about the same as they have always been. Inaccessible for thousand of people. People who are not able to drive, for one reason or another. Large-scale discrimination.

Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State

2011-01-20T15:40:00.003-05:00

http://www.ghsa.org/html/publications/spotlight/pdf/spotlight_ped.pdf

Sink Holes

2011-01-19T15:05:00.006-05:00

On January 4 I called MCDOT to report that there were sinkk-holes in the ground where old utility poles were removed the week before. The next evening a crew came down Sligo Avenue and temporarily patched the sidewalk panels that were missing with asphalt. This was a big improvement, but only temporarily - as evidence by the reappearance of the sink-holes.

As the air warms today, the asphalt and the ground beneath soften. The dark asphalt, combined with the fact that some of these temporary fixes are still intact, make these re-emerging holes particularly difficult to see at night and especially dangerous.

Crosswalk vs. Parking

2011-01-05T12:55:00.005-05:00

This location used to be Blair Mill Rd., but is now a strange hybrid driveway/cut-through that connects E-W Highway to Georgia Avenue and the Condo garage. Pedestrians like myself pass through here rather than waling a short block further to the intersection of Georgia and E-W Highway.

Cars park along the side of this drive, and visibility is very limited at this crosswalk. Vehicles are usually parked either partially or completely blocking the crosswalk - on one or both sides.

I was nearly struck here by a car speeding into the garage from Georgia Avenue.

View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map
It appears to be marked as a crosswalk, but is often disregarded. I have called about this, but no one seems to know how to deal with this now that it is not part of Blair Mill Rd.

2011-01-04T15:53:00.000-05:00

Tiger Pit

2011-01-01T13:54:00.016-05:00

My wife and I went out for New Year's Eve. We walked over to Blair Plaza for dinner at Oriental East. We lived in Blair Plaza Apartments (just across the parking lot) for three years when the kids were both toddlers. I took the kids for lunch at Oriental East most Wednesdays for a year or more. Going back is nostalgic. It reminds us of good times and is a place for a subdued celebration - a not-too-extravagant treat.

All we have to do is walk there.

We walk at a good clip. When people visit - people who normally drive everywhere they go - they usually have some trouble keeping pace.My Mother complained that we were moving too fast for her last time that she visited, and we were constantly putting on the brakes so that she could stay with us. Pedestrians can be very similar to drivers when they "zone out." Walking has a rhythm, left, right, left. This repetition can produce a kind of trance that allows the Walker's mind to wander - not thinking about each and every step, but getting into the rhythm.

A sytem that requires the pedestrian to think about each and every step is not a system at all.

As we made our way down the street I stopped to take these photos.

They show an almost perfectly designed trap.

The street light is mounted on the pole on the opposite side of the hole in the ground. The hole is located by design where you expect people to walk. In other words; the pole was removed in order to make this place accessible to feet. The shadow of the pole from the light falls directly onto the hole. It sounds like some sort of sick nursery rhyme;

"The Shadow from the pole falls on the hole..."

I am OK because I know they are there. Another cruel design in this trap is that not all of the poles have been removed. so between weaving and hopping, there isn't much chance for rhythm. The University of Maryland football team could train their running backs by having them run down the south side of Sligo Avenue. The sidewalks here are like an obstacle course, but more menacing. The only thing missing from these holes are the sharpened spikes smeared with feces. Barbed wire might be a nice touch.

Oh, and just to be sure it works, lets leave them there for a week. Just to be sure.

And then people wonder why pedestrians are always ignoring the rules and walking in the street. If you really want to know the answer to that question, park your car for a week and try to get where you're going on foot.

Close Enough for Government Work

2010-12-30T17:36:00.016-05:00

For more than two years now, construction sites on East-West Highway at the intersection with Blair Mill Road have completely blocked the sidewalk, forceing pedestrians to find other ways to get to their destinations. People with disabilities find a particular hardship in passing through this area - for a number of reasons.

For two years this has been a confusing and dangerous area for pedestrians. The current situation is still just as confusing and treacherous as ever.

These photos show the condition of the crosswalk across E-W Hghway, on the north side of the intersection.

The crosswalk is not alinged with the curb ramp. Pedestrians exit the crosswalk into mud. Wheelchairs or other wheeled devices cannot roll off the crosswalk at the current location.The curb cut is several yards to the north. The car to the left in the photo below is located at the current curb cut.

The landing on the west side is narrow, broken, uneven, and studded with trip hazards.

This stretch of sidewalk has been out of commission for more than two years.I have personally made many complaints about this, but no one seemed to know how to remedy the situation. DPS, SHA, and DOT have listened, promised to take action, and then let things remain pretty-much the same. I guess someone will need to be killed or injured before urgent action is taken to resolve these dangerous situations...

SHA or DPS would never allow a project owner to block E-W Highway for two or more years, but they have no problem with closing this section of ROW to people who don't drive. As I have said before, pedestrian collisions are not usually due to a single factor, but rather a combination of them. This location already comes equipped with many hazards introduced by neglect, poor enforcement of County code, and poor implementation practices by SHA and their contractors. The likelihood that a pedestrian or driver will make a mistake that will be compounded by these conditions is too high to be acceptable.

Here is a "Pedestrian-eye view" of the walk along East-West Highway - travelling south, approaching the interaction with Blair Mill Rd. What you have to do if you are a pedestrian trying to get to the crosswalk.

Here is an overall view of the location. I recommend pausing the video when you want to study a particular bit in detail.

And here is video I took two years ago:

View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map

Dry Socket

2010-12-30T17:16:00.005-05:00

Two days ago crews removed a few of the long-troublesome utility poles on my street. Unfortunately, what was left behind were several large dirt holes - some of them several inches deep. These holes are difficult enough to maneuver during daylight hours, but they are nearly-invisible at night.

Do we care about pedestrians? Well, some people do. Obviously not the crew that worked removing these poles.. Imagine the uproar if a crew left comparable holes in the road service after a days work...

Ice Ice Baby

2010-12-28T19:56:00.005-05:00

I have heard a lot over the years about the slippery brick paving of the sidewalks along Fenton Street. Personally, I have never experienced slipping on these walkways - although I do have LOTS of other problems with them.

People tell me that they are treacherous during rain or ice, and I believe them.

The other day my wife and I went to the Safeway to stock-up for the impending inclement weather. The snow was just beginning to fall steadily, and on the way back I noticed that the ice was sticking to the brick, but not yet showing on the concrete. The bricks were, in fact, slippery. The concrete was fine. I took a few photos to show.

These bricks are treacherous. They are uneven in places - and these places seem to have no reason other than aesthetics. I imagine they have some curb appeal, but they are trouble for pedestrians - especially those with disabilities. Especially during inclement weather - when people should be expected to walk. While the streets are treated to melt the ice, the brick sidewalks may go for days without attention - if they ever get any at all.

Poles on the Ground

2010-12-28T12:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I returned home to find a crew removing the old utility pole from in front of my house and others along Sligo Avenue. My son had his wisdom teeth out yesterday, too. I found the similarities amusing...

Having your wisdom teeth removed is a right of passage for many teenagers. It signals a time of change - reaching maturity. It is painful, but the pain is soon gone, and the lifelong benefits begin.

Let's just hope the extraction locations heal soon.

New Plans for Sligo

2010-12-19T17:43:00.005-05:00

Here are plans for sidewalk improvements on Sligo Avenue, east of Chicago Avenue.

It ain't over 'til it's over...

2010-12-19T15:10:00.005-05:00

Our region got about two inches of snow on Thursday. This is considered a small amount, and the roads were clear by mid-morning on Friday. The sidewalks, however, remained ice-covered and slippery through Saturday. People and businesses did not shovel their walks, and the cold temperatures re-froze the slushy sidewalks.. Combined with bad practices like parking over sidewalks and across driveways, the little bit of snow can prove to be dangerous - even when drivers think the ice event is over.

White Cane

2010-12-13T14:07:00.007-05:00

Just before Thanksgiving my daughter decided that she wanted to take another try at getting her permit to learn how to drive. We had been to the Motor Vehicle Administration branch on Industrial Parkway three times over the last four months, and each time we failed in this pursuit. Twice, we couldn’t meet the incredibly high identification standards, and she failed the test on our last visit.

This time we felt really good about her chances. She studied, and we walked straight in and she passed the test in about five minutes. She bounced out of the testing room and happily reported that she had passed. “I only missed one,” she proudly added. All we had to do then was survive the hour-long wait for her card.

As we sat on the perforated and contoured steel bench among the rows of other beleaguered MVA customers, my daughter laughed and said, “ you’re not going to believe the question I missed.” After I replied that it must have had something to do with an obscure topic, she smiled and said, “ It was a question about recognizing a blind pedestrian.”
You must be kidding…

The multiple-choice question asked how a motorist is to recognize a blind pedestrian at a crosswalk. My daughter answered “You can’t tell.” Here was a girl who had walked next to a blind pedestrian for her entire life – and she gave the incorrect answer. Even though the Driver’s Handbook says otherwise, she understood that you really can’t tell if the person at the corner can see you – cane, or no cane.

Chalk it up to inexperience. She could not possibly understand the way a driver thinks. Even though she has traveled many miles in a car, she is still primarily a pedestrian and transit user. Her sense of scale is different than most people. She is just beginning to learn and appreciate that speed de-humanizes people, so drivers need signs like white canes or dogs to identify hazards.

I have struggled with the idea of using a cane for some time now. It is a matter of vainity. I have a psychological barrier to admitting my disability – especially to strangers. My personal safety up to this point has been built around my physical appearance. As a tall-ish, 200-pound guy, I look like I can handle things. At least, that is how I hope to look. Somehow, toting a white cane blows a hole right through that projection. It’s like saying, “OK, so, I need a little help here…”

At least I know now that my daughter still buys the image, anyway.

So, I need to find a way to take up a white cane – not because I need one to find walls and curbs and the like, but to identify myself to drivers as a blind person. Like an "I'm Blind" sign. If I don’t choose the white cane I am putting myself at risk because drivers won’t recognize me as disabled and may not take care when driving around me. When my daughter leaves home to go to college in a couple of years I won’t have anyone to walk with me. No one to say “go” when the light turns white. My coping strategy is going to change by necessity. It’s almost time to ‘fess-up.

I hope by the time I am out there alone that government has discovered the importance of the pedestrian transportation system. I hope that innovative pedestrian solutions are sought as a matter of course, not of complaint. Most of all, I hope that I can remain active in my hometown after my kids are on their own. I hope that I won't succumb to the urge to stay in all the time to avoid the dangers and humiliation. Instead, I hope to grown enough to deal with my situation with confidence and grace.

After sitting for more than hour waiting to pay, we finally got my daughter’s learner’s permit. As in other areas of her life, she will have to depend on driving friends to get her learning hours. One day she will feel the freedom and responsibility that car ownership provides. It comes with an exhilarating feeling of pride that you have finally made it to the American dream. She will discover the wonder s and trials of driving. She will eventually forget what it was like before having a driver’s license, but I will always remember with particular pride that she got that question wrong on her test, and that it was the only one she missed.

Walking for Change

2010-12-04T11:30:00.013-05:00

Last September I was invited to attend Montgomery County's main media event for Walk to School Day at East Silver Spring Elementary School – the place where I organized the first such event in the county in 1999. On October 6, I was flanked by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown as County Executive Ike Leggett recognized my years of work to promote walking and walkable communities. It had been years since I had been involved with Walk to School Day, and the trip from the 3rd District Police station to the school was a stroll down memory lane for me.

Since those early years, Walk to School Day has become a popular event at many county schools and an essential element of Montgomery County’s pedestrian-safety education campaign. It is difficult to say whether or not 11 years of observing this special day has done anything to improve the pedestrian situation in our communities, yet I thought participating in Walk to School Day again after all these years might provide me with some useful perspective.

Walk to School Day was part of an effort to make the areas around the school more walkable. The routes leading to the school should be the best in the neighborhood -- not the worst. At the time, the Montgomery County government was just waking up to the problem.More than 100 pedestrians have died on county roads since then, and thousands more have been seriously injured. These numbers have improved only slightly over the years, but things are generally much better around schools than they were 11 years ago.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown

My kids are upperclassmen at Blair High School now, so it has been a long time since I walked to ESS with little kids. In 1997, my son, Will, entered kindergarten, and I walked him and his younger sister, Rachel, every school day. We moved here because the school was centrally located in the neighborhood, and I knew we could walk there. While most parents jump in their cars and race to the school when there is trouble, I had to run.

Even though the school was geographically close to homes, no route there was very walkable. Traffic speeds were high, especially during the periods when kids were walking to school. The sidewalks were narrow and obstructed by utility poles and fire hydrants. It seemed that the closer we got to the school, the worse the infrastructure became.

It was obvious that no one had given much thought to walking in the neighborhood for a long time. Fewer than 15 percent of the students made their way to school on foot in the mornings. The rest arrived by bus or were driven by their parents. A parade of minivans and SUVs lined in the school’s driveway each morning and afternoon. Bad sidewalks and inattentive motorists made parents feel that driving was the only safe way to get their kids to ESS. Because this was not an option for me, I decided to try and do something about the sidewalks instead.
My campaign began with calls to my councilmember, which soon led to new concrete sidewalks in a few locations around the school. The first Walk to School Day was a celebration of the new walkways and continued pressure to do more. It turned out that Walk to School Day was not only a community day but a chance for politicians to place themselves in photogenic situations with kids and safety mascots like McGruff the Crime Dog and the Crash Test Dummies. Hundreds of participants came out, including County Executive Doug Duncan and U.S. Rep. Al Wynn, among others. Over the next three years, federal officials, such as the surgeon general, the U.S. secretary of transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration heads made the pilgrimage to ESS to participate in Walk to School Day celebrations.

Car-centric Silver Spring residents usually don’t have much space in their busy brains for such a mundane topic. For most, bad sidewalks are overcome by driving. Walk to School Day was supposed to change that kind of thinking -- if only for the few minutes it took to walk to the school.

As a gateway to community change, Walk to School Day only partially delivered. The Montgomery County government embraced the event so tightly that it risked squeezing the life out of it altogether. Sometimes the media coverage took over, and the photo opportunities became more important than the message itself. However, this cynical interpretation always disintegrated when smiling and singing kids paraded their safety banners down the street with public officials and showed them what ordinary people are facing every day.

Even though the community was back to dodging cars and hopping over holes in the sidewalks the next day, Walk to School Day is at its core a hopeful event. It works on many levels, and the effects of such a program are not always evident at first.

Sure, public officials make use of the event to inflate their scant efforts, but there is also a subtle effect on public perception. The entire community rallied around this cause, and kids led the way. Perhaps this little shift in attitude will one day make a difference, and walking to school won’t remain something that is done only once a year.

Fenton Street Follies

2010-12-01T17:34:00.010-05:00

Last week I went to see my dentist at 8630 Fenton - a busy office building full of medical services. I was happy to see that the sidewalk project that had blocked the sidewalk for a few weeks was complete. Then I noticed that the sidewalks had been treated in much the same way as the rest of Fenton Street, headed south to Sligo Avenue. Disappointing, to say the least.

The rest of Fenton had been rennovated in the early 2000's, and the treatment was part pedestrian improvement, and part ridiculous folly. The good achieved by improved intersections were un-done by paver-covered tree boxes. From the treacherous slippery bricks to the ankle-busting trippy-tree boxes, the dream - or should I say, nightmare? - has been completed. No lessons learned, no improved methods - just the same old thoughtless design. Once again, aesthetics triumphs over practicality.

These sidewalks treatments are so obviously intended to look good from a vehicle. I don't know the person who designed Fenton Street, but I am sure that he doesn't understand what pedestrians need - or the importance of pedestrians in this area. The brick walls are unnecessary and make the path narrow/ Street lamps are places directly in the center of key points. Tree boxes seem designed to injure. What ever happened to learning from best practices? Maybe the designer of Fenton Street needs some advice on how to build a pedestrian-friendly sidewalk in an urban business district.

Sure, despite the unfinished dirt holes, the new sidewalk in front of 8630 Fenton Street looks OK, but in a few months they will look like the rest of the street - broken, uneven, and dangerous. Fit for a pedestrian.

A few tree boxes along Fenton Street are covered with iron grates like the one shown in this photo. This eliminates the hazards. Why not do all of them this way???

Not-so-Happy Anniversary

2010-12-01T12:25:00.004-05:00

I took this photo this morning at about the same time I took the photo below - one year ago. These are the poles in front of my home, and there are several just like these up and down my street.

I took this photo this morning. The missing panel means a three-inch drop into a mud puddle. It has been one year, and our neighborhood of pedestrians and transit users continues to suffer from a lack of action. No wheelchair users permitted on this side of Sligo Avenue. A person with a vision impairment could easily trip here.

There might as well be a bear-trap in the bottom and a large safe dangling from a rope over the hole...

I Am Not My Car

2010-11-24T10:53:00.006-05:00

(My car, freshman year in college)

Yes, I was in love with cars once. We had seven good years together, but it couldn’t last.
At the age of fourteen, I began to lose my eyesight to macular degeneration and it has declined ever since. It was hardly noticeable when I first got my driver’s license at sixteen. I was set to be a driver like my father before me.
Now my vision is worse than 20/400 in both eyes. It’s probably more like 20/600. Legally blind is defined as 20/200.
I am legally blind, but I can still see quite a lot. In fact, I see more than I can’t, only my central vision is gone. It is what is commonly known as “a blind spot.”
Take an old pair of sunglasses and tape a dime to the middle of each lens. Put them on and try walking around. I see more than that, but you will get the idea.
The problem is what I can't see - and that what I can’t see is critical to things like reading, identifying someone at a distance, or driving.
I have great peripheral vision, but when I look at something directly my eyes fail me completely. Not only that, they play tricks on me. In place of normal vision, my blind spots crackle with chaotic activity.
It’s a 24-hour Pink Floyd planetarium laser show right in front of me. It’s similar to the lightshow that you might experience at the beginning of a migraine headache, only very concentrated in the center. Vibrating, pulsing, purple, yellow, and blue lights swirl around each other like hundreds of fluorescent atoms..
No matter where I cast my eyes, it’s there. It never stops. It interferes with my intentions like a chaperone on prom night. I can’t fix it. I can’t get around it. A crucial part of me is gone forever.
So, I am a pedestrian. I didn’t choose this lifestyle, but I am beginning to think that it agrees with me after all. My love for the automobile has been fully severed. But I have seen and learned a great deal as a pedestrian.
Geography is important to pedestrians and they tend to gather in places where owning a car is not necessary. We like our neighborhoods compact, self-sufficient and connected to transit. Proximity is everything. We like living where the occasional emergency cab ride doesn’t cost a small fortune.
That I ended-up in Silver Spring is no accident. When my wife Kathleen and I started looking for somewhere to raise a family, this place met a lot of the criteria – good schools, representation in Congress, close to Metro, and cheap.
Silver Spring was the logical choice for a blind guy to find some independence. Here the population is actually more pedestrian than the national average. Surely, local government recognized this and took steps to accommodate pedestrians.
One might expect Silver Spring to have some of the best pedestrian infrastructure anywhere – but they would be dead wrong. I don’t have difficulty getting around because I am disabled – it is the terrible pedestrian infrastructure and non- enforcement of laws to protect us that get in my way.
Even though Silver Spring should be the perfect place for pedestrians, the infrastructure is lousy and the State and County approach to pedestrians is even worse.
My discontent started with a stroller back in 1995. I remember trying to get to the library from my apartment by walking up Colesville Road, AKA Route 29. By either name, this is a very busy thoroughfare.
A portable chain-link fence had been set-up around a construction site meaning that I had to push the stroller in the road for about fifty-feet to get by. I watched in horror as dozens of people walked on the road with traffic racing by only inches away. This was in my nascent pedestrian days; I would never do something like that now.
When I tried to call the local Silver Spring government and let someone know what was happening I got a sarcastic and indifferent response. As if to say, “You’re kidding, right?”
I have been pursuing satisfaction on this issue ever since. Once again, my fate is decided by my blindness and my battles have included fighting for decent sidewalks in particular and a new approach to pedestrianism in general. But what is wrong with the current approach? I’ll tell you; the current approach is car-centric, and built for drivers by drivers.
Racing around in a car all the time does something to the human brain. I am convinced that speed has a hypnotic effect, and turns people into insensitive, rude, gluttonous, frantic maniacs. We spill oil all over ourselves to keep this frenzied motorized orgy going full speed. Our children are obese and stare into screens all day playing Grand Theft Auto. Our roads are getting wider and we don’t feel safe sending our kids outside to play. More and more the world is built for vehicles, not people. SHA and DOT count cars, but they are still having trouble seeing pedestrians. Our culture has embraced the idea that we are our cars, and no one without a car deserves much consideration.
I too was in love with cars once, but those days are over. My hands often smelled like gasoline. I paid several thousand dollars each year to maintain one. I got tickets and had accidents, and a large part of my life revolved around my car.Now I am free. I guess I needed to lose my sight to see that I am not my car.

Now, if I can just get others to see that, too. Especially those responsible for education, engineering,and enforcement on our rights-of-way. If this is you, perhaps you should try living without a car for a while.

The Lure of a Promise

2010-11-21T18:27:00.005-05:00

My wife and I moved to Blair Plaza Apartments from our Dupont Circle English basement in 1994. Our daughter Rachel was just 20 days old, and our son Will was 10 months old.
We loved living in D.C., but we couldn’t afford the room we needed for two kids. We took a two-bedroom, eighth-floor apartment that looked out over Blair Mill Road and the D.C. line. In winter, we could see the National Cathedral in the distance. In spring, when the windows were open we could hear Metro trains as they clattered by.
Our apartment was in a building right next to the Giant. There were playgrounds nearby, and the public library was just up the road. We thought we had found a great place to raise a family without a car.
My wife and I both worked in Downtown DC and took Metro. Two incomes, two bedrooms, a graceful Ethiopian nanny, living in proximity to all our needs. It seemed dreams were becoming realty.
Not for long.
My eyesight was worsening and I was struggling to figure out how to use visual aids at work. My boss was a jerk and made things even more difficult. Within a year the economy hiccupped and I was promptly laid off.
In turn, we laid-off our nanny and I stayed home with the kids while I looked for work. Things on the job front were bleak. Unemployment insurance paid half of what I was making; we were treading water financially and I had 26 weeks to find a source of income.
I am a Southerner — raised to be self-reliant and invulnerable. I had determined a few years before that I was going to make it on my own for as long as I could. Even though I had received some help from the state of North Carolina to pay for college, I was hesitant to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Then I discovered that I could not apply for help from the Maryland Vocational Rehabilitation Services unless I qualified for SSDI first. It takes six months to qualify for SSDI, so I applied immediately. SSDI paid about half of what I was making, too, so I decided to try and stay home with the kids full time.
I had to get used to the idea of going with the infamous “Plan B.”
If I could manage the bureaucratic nightmare, maybe Vocational Rehab would find me a job later. Then we could get back on track. In the meantime, I busied myself with bottles and diapers.
It took a while to become somewhat comfortable with the moniker “Stay-at-Home Dad,” but I tried to make it work. All it takes is some humility, right?
I knew all along that dealing with macular degeneration and raising two young kids would be tough. Just imagine wrangling toddlers while wearing sunglasses with dimes taped to the center of the lens. Over time I was surprised to find that it also had positive effects on my life. My disability has caused me to make a lot of choices I never would have made otherwise. Some of these choices were good ones.
Moving to the D.C. area is an example, but it goes much deeper back in time.
My blindness took me away from my car in South Carolina and landed me on a sofa in Maryland next to the woman I would eventually fall in love with and marry. Call it fate, but for that reason alone, maybe this blind thing isn’t all bad.
Unfortunately, it took a while to figure that out.
I spent way too much time feeling sorry for myself. Depression is one of the major symptoms of this disease. The frustration of feeling unable to fulfill the destiny that exists in your own mind can be devastating. The feelings of inadequacy that come from not being able to live up to the expectations set by the culture in which I was raised was stifling some days.

I felt dread at going out in public, because someone might see me doing something “blind.” I was afraid to stick my face into an ATM screen or offer an over-enthusiastic greeting to someone I didn’t recognize as a complete stranger.
Asking a stranger for help was humiliating for someone like me. People were supposed to ask me for help. Asking for help is a sign of weakness, and I would not be pitied by anyone. Silver Spring seemed like the kind of place where I could live without having to ask for help all the time.
There is a promise in places like Silver Spring that all kinds of people will have equal access to the many wonderful amenities here. If you believe the press releases, Montgomery County is building a New Urban Paradise in Silver Spring.
In a lot of ways this is true — but not for everyone. Walk a few blocks on these sidewalks, and you will see reality looks much different. From this side of the street, it’s clear this promise is not being kept.
In 1997, we settled into our present house. The kids are almost grown, and we have built a comfortable life for ourselves.

Sometimes I wonder how we got this far.
Then I remember that it was caring, love and patience that made all the difference. Love and caring I have down; it’s my lack of patience that still trips me up.
Being a parent and blind has made me a bit more patient than I used to be. I have learned to step over or around most of the obstacles in my life so far. Thousands of other pedestrians are doing the same every day. We love living in Silver Spring, but the promise of equal access as a pedestrian that brought us here remains unfulfilled.

Officer fined $185 for speeding in crash that paralyzed boy

2010-11-18T13:05:00.001-05:00

2010-11-16T15:25:00.001-05:00

2010-11-07T11:25:00.002-05:00

View Montgomery Sideways in a larger map

This photo of the same location was taken in 2007 and was featured on the Montgomery Sideways website. The ramp at the corner has been renovated, but the approach only a few feet away remains the same.

2010-11-03T20:13:00.000-04:00

Completion Pool

2010-10-27T14:05:00.004-04:00

I am taking guesses as to wehn the project to replace the poles on Sligo Avenue will be completed. This coming Monday will be eleven months since these obstacles were created. How many months do you think will pass before it is all over?

Photos from the Side

2010-10-17T15:22:00.010-04:00

Montgomery County Road Code

2010-10-13T14:36:00.004-04:00

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2006/48-06.pdf

State Law

2010-10-12T14:14:00.002-04:00

This section of Maryland State law concerns the Department of Transportation's obligations concerning pedestrians and bicycle riders.

Article - Transportation

§2–602.
The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest for the State to include enhanced transportation facilities for pedestrians and bicycle riders as an essential component of the State’s transportation system, and declares that it is the policy of the State that:
(1) Access to and use of transportation facilities by pedestrians and bicycle riders shall be considered and best engineering practices regarding the needs of bicycle riders and pedestrians shall be employed in all phases of transportation planning, including highway design, construction, reconstruction, and repair as well as expansion and improvement of other transportation facilities;
(2) The modal administrations in the Department shall ensure that the State maintains an integrated transportation system by working cooperatively to remove barriers, including restrictions on bicycle access to mass transit, that impede the free movement of individuals from one mode of transportation to another; and
(3) As to any new transportation project or improvement to an existing transportation facility, the Department shall work to ensure that transportation options for pedestrians and bicycle riders will be enhanced and that pedestrian and bicycle access to transportation facilities will not be negatively impacted by the project or improvement.

Remember This?

2010-10-11T11:05:00.005-04:00

Montgomery County
Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian Safety
Final Report

2010-09-30T16:50:00.000-04:00

Pedestrian Identified in Piney Branch Hit-and-Run
Striking Vehicle Sought

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are continuing to investigate a serious pedestrian hit-and-run collision that occurred in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring.

The pedestrian has been identified as Danny Elizabeth Alay-Mateo, age 22, of the 9100 block of September Lane in Silver Spring. She remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

The description of the vehicle has been modified to a 1994 -1998 GMC Jimmy, Chevy S-10 pick-up truck, Chevy Blazer, or Oldsmobile Bravada. The vehicle will most likely have damage to the right front headlight, possibly dents in the hood, and cracks in the glass windshield. The damage may be slight. The right side exterior mirror was located at the scene and the plastic housing compartment, of the exterior mirror, is believed to still be attached to the vehicle.

On Saturday, September 25 at approximately 8:13 p.m., 3rd District officers and Fire/Rescue personnel responded to the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue, near Piney Branch Road, for the report of a pedestrian struck.

The preliminary investigation determined that for unknown reasons, Alay Mateo was in the northbound portion of the roadway of the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue. For reasons still under investigation, a dark colored vehicle struck her and failed to stop and remain at the scene. She suffered significant injuries and was transported to an area trauma center.

Investigators believe that there are members of the community who know more details about this collision and they are urged to call in. Please contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 301-840-2435.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime.

HIA Report

2010-09-30T13:13:00.005-04:00

Click here to see the March, 2010 reveiew of the County's High Incident Area Program.
Keep in mind that the data for pedestrians was collected after collisions.
This report presents one or two of the pieces of the puzzle. It will be impossible to draw many useful conclusions from this little bit of information - other than to say that collisions and fatalities are not dropping fast enough, if at all.

Do Speed Cameras Make Pedestrians Safer?

2010-09-29T11:51:00.008-04:00

It you have ever wondered if speed cameras do anything to protect pedestrians, take a look at this report. The report mentions pedestrians and cyclists in passing. Most of the text addresses money, legal issues, and public perception. There is a lot of data concerning drivers, but pedestrians are only counted once they are hit. No information or consideration was given to pedestrian behaviors. There are a lot of charts showing what drivers are up to, and none on pedestrian traffic or activities.

Notice that pedestrians did not benefit from speed cameras as drivers did. Why is that, do you suppose?

Here are excepts from the report showing the portions that refer to pedestrians.