tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44995624422202105422023-11-16T01:57:27.321-05:00montgomery sidewaysA pedestrian in Montgomery County, MarylandWilliam Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-56780150593560720292013-02-07T12:03:00.002-05:002013-02-07T12:05:50.351-05:00Final entry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQUBlx60ZKGKPTCF9Dlhg0a3tpVsqyqpRgj1auAXqEw8OrEje-SHPD-5yAct7Jcyap4F0zkQZzz9yx7oNl3Zz9Z3DqMSAD_ZC8al3hA-CQSm1lmMkTvfvCWco5lC-snf2SAbQvX-e4f0m/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQUBlx60ZKGKPTCF9Dlhg0a3tpVsqyqpRgj1auAXqEw8OrEje-SHPD-5yAct7Jcyap4F0zkQZzz9yx7oNl3Zz9Z3DqMSAD_ZC8al3hA-CQSm1lmMkTvfvCWco5lC-snf2SAbQvX-e4f0m/s320/002.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
As you can see, the evidence I have collected on this blog was not persuasive enough for the Federal Highway Administration to find cause against MCDOT.This effectively ends my activism on this issue through this blog.<br />
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I hope that the blog has been informative, and has offered some new perspectives and possible strategies for making Montgomery County sidewalks accessible to pedestrians – finally.We have a long way to go.</div>
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<a href="http://dotnada.blogspot.com/2013/02/last-straw.html">http://dotnada.blogspot.com/2013/02/last-straw.html</a><br />
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William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-27563728361396290792012-05-27T22:37:00.001-04:002012-05-27T22:37:16.114-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wEUDNl-oluY" width="420"></iframe></div>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-81900366389828418712012-05-01T09:47:00.000-04:002012-05-01T09:49:40.287-04:00Bus Response<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In response to <a href="http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2012/04/reporting-near-miss.html">an incident</a> that occurred a couple of weeks ago, I received this email last Friday:<br />
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<i>Dear Mr. Smith: </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i> Thank you for your recent email following up on Service Request number 195992532 you placed regarding the reckless operation of a Ride On Bus. I apologize for the situation you experienced.
As stated in the email response Supervisor Cherry sent to you on April 24, our Silver Spring/Bethesda Ride On supervisory staff investigated this serious incident. Supervisor Cherry identified and interviewed the bus operator. He admitted to operating the bus in an unsafe manner and he extends his apologies to you and your wife. The bus operator was counseled and appropriate remedial action was taken. Additionally, he will be scheduled for driving refresher training class as soon as possible. His overall performance will also be monitored by our Safety and Training Department and our Road Supervisors for an indefinite period of time.
Ride On takes passenger safety, safe operation of our buses and quality customer service seriously. I sincerely apologize for the incident and for the lack of safety and professionalism on the part of the bus operator. I appreciate your taking the time to bring this matter to my attention. Should you have any additional concerns regarding Ride On, please do not hesitate to continue to contact us through the Montgomery County 311 Customer Service Center.</i><br />
<i> Sincerely,</i><br />
<i> Carolyn Biggins, Division Chief
Montgomery County Ride On
</i><br />
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</div>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-72184855984343600462012-04-18T18:09:00.003-04:002012-04-18T18:50:32.738-04:00Reporting a Near-MissThis past Saturday afternoon we almost deid. No, really - we were only three feet away from being plowed under by a Ride-On bus. My wife was staring eye-to-eye through the front window of the bus at the driver, who yelled at us. As usual we had waited for the crossing signal, but the bus driver did not wait for us. He floored it, and had to slam on the brakes when he finally noticed us. We were in the crosswalk, had the light, and were being careful and paying attention.<br /><br />My wife continued to cross once the bus stopped, and I followed her. I had to weave to the left because the bus was in the crosswalk. The driver yelled something through the window that I could not understand. I said, "What did you say?"<br /><br />"You have a lot of trust in my brakes!" he yelled through the door as I continued past.<br />"We have a lot of faith in your driving, too," I replied.<br />As I pushed my cart-full of groceries back into alignment with the ramp, the driver accelerated around the curve, and the rear-end of the bus nearly hit me again. He sped=off down Fenton Street. It was a 16 bus on its way to Silver Spring Station.<br /><br />I cursed as I looked down and noticed that the thumb camera around my neck was turned-off. DAMN<br /><br />I stood on that corner for another minute or two, trying to collect my wits and let some of the adrenalin coursing through my body dissipate. My wife checked her phone - it was 3:28 PM. As we walked the rest of the way home I began to get angry.That driver had acted recklessly, and Kathleen and I almost had to pay for it with our lives. Then, he yelled at US, as if we were doing something wrong.<br /><br />When we finished unloading the groceries I started looking for a way to report this incident. I tried 311, but I got a message to call-back on Monday, or go to the website and file there. This I did, although I have to say that the process was confusing, lengthy, and frustrating. It probably took 25 minutes or more.<br /><br />Here is the auto-response:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thank you for contacting Montgomery County Government. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you. A service request has been created and sent to the appropriate County department for fulfillment.<br /><br />Service Request Number: 195992532<br />Status: In Progress<br />Estimated Response Time: 7-10 Days<br />Area: Transit<br />Description: To file a Ride On service complaint, you may either call MC311 Monday - Friday from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm or create a service request below. The complaint will be investigated by a Transit staff member. To create a service request, please fill in required information that is indicated with red asterisk (*). In addition, the following additional information is required: Complaint date time, Incident Date time, Origin, Destination, Route or Bus Number, Media Used, Complaint Category, Complaint Subcategory and provide a brief description of incident. Without the above information, the complaint cannot be properly investigated. To obtain information regarding an Ride On accident or injury, please contact Risk Management at 240-777-8920.<br />For more information you may visit the following websites:<br />Please keep the service request number so that you can check the status of your request. In addition, you can click the following link to view your service request status online.<br /><br />195992532<br /><br />Thank you,<br />Montgomery County, MD<br />Please do not reply to this email. <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><br />That was Saturday, this is Wednesday. and I have gotten no response. I sent a copy of the automatic email response from my complaint to my Councilmember and asked for help.. It has the number and date on it. I told her that I thought someone should speak to this driver, and I offered to do it for them.<br /><br />Hear is what I would say;<br /><br />"Sir, you are a professional driver with the lives of many people in your hands. You should obey all traffic laws, travel at a safe speed and be especially mindful of pedestrians, who are - after all, what everyone of your riders are when they get off of your bus. You must never be in a hurry, but always in control of your vehicle. While others may drive around you with tension and anxiety, you must remain calm and aware. You're not making pancakes, you're playing a much more important role in the lives of hundreds of people, both seated behind you and crossing in front of you. Take care, driver. Be a professional."William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-61326934830121406502012-04-14T13:12:00.004-04:002012-04-14T13:18:20.746-04:00Still Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRAL_ya-7ifspzFnMa6CLYQPRBsLE-Mz7ziKBDtPmDfBZlH8R537wmf85vm1uHumNhXaQIdwUgvehWh4xZNffz4YkBV0CWY04DDKcFB6ZugPA45ooWVYD8LURr2KjwLO2U1CtAlaInEcp/s1600/VID01437.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRAL_ya-7ifspzFnMa6CLYQPRBsLE-Mz7ziKBDtPmDfBZlH8R537wmf85vm1uHumNhXaQIdwUgvehWh4xZNffz4YkBV0CWY04DDKcFB6ZugPA45ooWVYD8LURr2KjwLO2U1CtAlaInEcp/s400/VID01437.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306910632524834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMVgza06VZ_Z6I2ZixCNu-63_R-nE2NxhDjeswmx0nLV2LPzla32el2Qq7sCsVs4Yba2EEN5OjbFVbRpUboWn4w5qBenqFMEr9hlvIPHhWnLYkZ_nau4OYU9F04jkQk1Ce-bJKACP1-vZ/s1600/VID01439.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMVgza06VZ_Z6I2ZixCNu-63_R-nE2NxhDjeswmx0nLV2LPzla32el2Qq7sCsVs4Yba2EEN5OjbFVbRpUboWn4w5qBenqFMEr9hlvIPHhWnLYkZ_nau4OYU9F04jkQk1Ce-bJKACP1-vZ/s400/VID01439.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306712687701458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO1u7zsarlvOdxIVMJrZ7Fp8EkKb6kl1-ePcr_phQVVceB3099UtsfUGPy_9KxsG6OVGzmo15jRoYI8nXZ4FhNkOSvhlta58UntJf4kSrQataoct0JKjFIVzOfqgvhPv19wd6ui-uHPUK/s1600/VID01443.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO1u7zsarlvOdxIVMJrZ7Fp8EkKb6kl1-ePcr_phQVVceB3099UtsfUGPy_9KxsG6OVGzmo15jRoYI8nXZ4FhNkOSvhlta58UntJf4kSrQataoct0JKjFIVzOfqgvhPv19wd6ui-uHPUK/s400/VID01443.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306700750153218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92k_1g1mTP3AvqGIq4yOvKZz86Atb5NjuRGNNC0lhTFeDbV_Ja2J9VGL5P3UP4jGeoZ-IqLo8v7J6aBbS1epo0NXhqXiwJ1tvME_C8EiDpjzmd2noI7VJbUo8XVah4n4egrZTNsaKoW4w/s1600/VID01455.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92k_1g1mTP3AvqGIq4yOvKZz86Atb5NjuRGNNC0lhTFeDbV_Ja2J9VGL5P3UP4jGeoZ-IqLo8v7J6aBbS1epo0NXhqXiwJ1tvME_C8EiDpjzmd2noI7VJbUo8XVah4n4egrZTNsaKoW4w/s400/VID01455.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306696130437378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLjHeJrmGd1kd_8SITAtc85gwthHt6PbjhS_rQKBlr6fFqf_Z7MxOe3BM8HZU6RmCZoqWgKBnQ0OqfB2tiRziQRJp5rqeYbtcPWUESxEbClK6ghog_wZXNrIY-AuuNWu87Trk2-q78ejG/s1600/VID01453.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLjHeJrmGd1kd_8SITAtc85gwthHt6PbjhS_rQKBlr6fFqf_Z7MxOe3BM8HZU6RmCZoqWgKBnQ0OqfB2tiRziQRJp5rqeYbtcPWUESxEbClK6ghog_wZXNrIY-AuuNWu87Trk2-q78ejG/s400/VID01453.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306692534599602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzReM_Peutw-HaEjuOEt2I_kbA6L19laxowQiQEO1iHqBbYsENdG4QHGWZH2cu2UbzmHYNnghySqgnr8FS-IGz2lrcNZvc9hwwhNfO1M33ODY8Y-7pdNS9GG-lCHCtDjixrhfTgKnUCHb5/s1600/VID01452.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzReM_Peutw-HaEjuOEt2I_kbA6L19laxowQiQEO1iHqBbYsENdG4QHGWZH2cu2UbzmHYNnghySqgnr8FS-IGz2lrcNZvc9hwwhNfO1M33ODY8Y-7pdNS9GG-lCHCtDjixrhfTgKnUCHb5/s400/VID01452.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306260192445106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsTMI-2K2GNKDE4kYFY78dQD96rGtK4_CzXeC6D3MgrMbEOHBOkwEElqJ1d9t1aaza_dOtiqE_Zpe1EFhPPZIyclLI82u1P6kLH-u4ePrzwPVrhBigQoqTt6dHTbX5ynvT2-L2RKepWHu/s1600/VID01458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsTMI-2K2GNKDE4kYFY78dQD96rGtK4_CzXeC6D3MgrMbEOHBOkwEElqJ1d9t1aaza_dOtiqE_Zpe1EFhPPZIyclLI82u1P6kLH-u4ePrzwPVrhBigQoqTt6dHTbX5ynvT2-L2RKepWHu/s400/VID01458.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306249561789554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3S5PsgtoUcekG0y7hmAUXNDmXXdtcic-VA7M-kGVLq_EWacsH7QwJ42GnP9fzwRvFsPUL7uE2-rzwzFSdsy2qOPxtP247A1RZFPZTT59QucifkKEG-SCMb4eMWXB_AbJW_jTqdrFu74MT/s1600/VID01463.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3S5PsgtoUcekG0y7hmAUXNDmXXdtcic-VA7M-kGVLq_EWacsH7QwJ42GnP9fzwRvFsPUL7uE2-rzwzFSdsy2qOPxtP247A1RZFPZTT59QucifkKEG-SCMb4eMWXB_AbJW_jTqdrFu74MT/s400/VID01463.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306248261504402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN5jlvwg-ONwIeIWnyqsH-pqq_9eJft1XQ0u10IUz0ZAnO_EbkrIVkI_SwGFZfKGZcX4xGOgpau_uXVzH3f978CP3j9ShV-nGWdYrbMN175gcjdFmOD4tHpKYqwoeh-MXIrlx0odVEyKv/s1600/VID01470.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 357px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN5jlvwg-ONwIeIWnyqsH-pqq_9eJft1XQ0u10IUz0ZAnO_EbkrIVkI_SwGFZfKGZcX4xGOgpau_uXVzH3f978CP3j9ShV-nGWdYrbMN175gcjdFmOD4tHpKYqwoeh-MXIrlx0odVEyKv/s400/VID01470.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306243058648610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM9VNeSz9924Rlyvu1R7lcmCPsq5eLPABqWfNZuLIMmvnRIgrs0l-biu5tYJjimjmiXFzsmuFlOSWnYP1-RgjIBlZalBSbs1xDNHL3B-yadn9vVscJCgLKOBMDH2VCas_W60XH7tRyT9D/s1600/VID01484.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM9VNeSz9924Rlyvu1R7lcmCPsq5eLPABqWfNZuLIMmvnRIgrs0l-biu5tYJjimjmiXFzsmuFlOSWnYP1-RgjIBlZalBSbs1xDNHL3B-yadn9vVscJCgLKOBMDH2VCas_W60XH7tRyT9D/s400/VID01484.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731306240433596002" /></a>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-75790231978758255492012-04-12T23:00:00.002-04:002012-04-12T23:03:24.393-04:006 PM; Georgia X Bonifant<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QTl0uVEwaDg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />(disregard the time stamp)William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-88539480126251047592012-03-16T11:57:00.000-04:002012-03-16T11:58:10.108-04:00<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sgBKi_8powo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-88156250939473548692012-03-10T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-10T08:01:24.372-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9J3-o8qfy0R_iG7rCh5yua_iQhORReGz7k0CAm5afzPcDx3_61bR7bEvqx7bq-DDBA_IpT4i27bNX_HF8zOhXAyBi4UKKtbe0_0k4ZNmOelm9N-qm5O0YKy8oQx-DabvrmiEPEt9bFNL/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9J3-o8qfy0R_iG7rCh5yua_iQhORReGz7k0CAm5afzPcDx3_61bR7bEvqx7bq-DDBA_IpT4i27bNX_HF8zOhXAyBi4UKKtbe0_0k4ZNmOelm9N-qm5O0YKy8oQx-DabvrmiEPEt9bFNL/s400/IMG_4278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718252690118333058" /></a><br />Sligo Avenue between Fenton and Woodbury.William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-25263465009219000882012-03-08T23:45:00.005-05:002012-03-09T12:44:18.756-05:00Standard Procedure...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90fRiNtoIVi92IHDRJrlRIoFNhlsXZ_eWzbZwIQJv9FtaYQUJxQifhzIe8_JHZzmnfx4ZEpTKLM2adzATn1biyAKEQZ7RyoMd8sCz4OwEUTAJb7PFDdXgx7gQjm6rkpYVtksgaZWx9qq5/s1600/VID01341.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90fRiNtoIVi92IHDRJrlRIoFNhlsXZ_eWzbZwIQJv9FtaYQUJxQifhzIe8_JHZzmnfx4ZEpTKLM2adzATn1biyAKEQZ7RyoMd8sCz4OwEUTAJb7PFDdXgx7gQjm6rkpYVtksgaZWx9qq5/s400/VID01341.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717755175192884770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJY0QjWq8zWxkpbQJL-tZMZLD6Lc7qLNp61dQzbRsSfsG9M9EhSh1FUwDUvWXUBfKLQHA2eqoBE-kTBCR6z36Rq6GnsPOt6FjChP7ecZjBehMwy8qupVqMqa9kuxrfDMn1K_0Eej3WZit/s1600/VID01338.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJY0QjWq8zWxkpbQJL-tZMZLD6Lc7qLNp61dQzbRsSfsG9M9EhSh1FUwDUvWXUBfKLQHA2eqoBE-kTBCR6z36Rq6GnsPOt6FjChP7ecZjBehMwy8qupVqMqa9kuxrfDMn1K_0Eej3WZit/s400/VID01338.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717755169285800018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqf9x6-T6Lt-sfpO3qK2YhRpQukPJuw6cg4aS6FAbMgmYqH8PQlyzMFNBfHtydPt5kQjDt1SOgxfMxfjnEGtX_CbTARI2Ca7sjmGljOTS5A99cAxH2oTDYBvfe4tRxKjzvNh-p7sF6yiZ/s1600/VID01323.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqf9x6-T6Lt-sfpO3qK2YhRpQukPJuw6cg4aS6FAbMgmYqH8PQlyzMFNBfHtydPt5kQjDt1SOgxfMxfjnEGtX_CbTARI2Ca7sjmGljOTS5A99cAxH2oTDYBvfe4tRxKjzvNh-p7sF6yiZ/s400/VID01323.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717755170759531618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ8p-5o6n7qNIZ7QQ8PUGMuevjU5_2oJUdR_hqB0cETNrDjn92U5AAmY8pE_BeyPT_UhHNCn0xnxw4IQSpCkSfyiTQsLsihHr5NpdhhEhPXUCDJxPOiGOxQNkjUNPI41FJOtH6WIaSKNT/s1600/VID01328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ8p-5o6n7qNIZ7QQ8PUGMuevjU5_2oJUdR_hqB0cETNrDjn92U5AAmY8pE_BeyPT_UhHNCn0xnxw4IQSpCkSfyiTQsLsihHr5NpdhhEhPXUCDJxPOiGOxQNkjUNPI41FJOtH6WIaSKNT/s400/VID01328.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717755167225845042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf-ZFbl18YKoFryLgYP5-Q7ySvUbCMfzMPbrih5DzXSpwrpRhPy_B_nzgd8HqPBMI2G_Fvky5fWwKR3W6p5QULnPPBrVvNAk1PecTK2D2dEvYTLXy5oj64DaDUATLYExvsvcwtYh3dFnK/s1600/VID01322.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf-ZFbl18YKoFryLgYP5-Q7ySvUbCMfzMPbrih5DzXSpwrpRhPy_B_nzgd8HqPBMI2G_Fvky5fWwKR3W6p5QULnPPBrVvNAk1PecTK2D2dEvYTLXy5oj64DaDUATLYExvsvcwtYh3dFnK/s400/VID01322.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717755163450561538" /></a><br />I took these photos tonight as I walked home down Sligo Avenue from Piney Branch Rd. They show construction equipment left overnight in the sidewalk, along with the Road Work Ahead signs. Surely there are other options that don't include blocking the sidewalk or narrowing the passage so that people with carts, strollers, or wheelchairs can continue to get through.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B1jQA9cxZeI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-89467791327189645892012-03-05T20:34:00.004-05:002012-03-05T20:41:52.106-05:00Put it anywhere<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvYkaZQASqQYza3Yw6be1MyFhrdpNUFXJnvlTDuMzqNsayURBNcbu8ryxyF0uuc8v65shrF3n1EqJeIwUjyit4s8kCvNy2XdwZUtLKoa6UOfYqV4yxFGLBhn2qNML9GIniK4zhKSHXtBV/s1600/IMG_4248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvYkaZQASqQYza3Yw6be1MyFhrdpNUFXJnvlTDuMzqNsayURBNcbu8ryxyF0uuc8v65shrF3n1EqJeIwUjyit4s8kCvNy2XdwZUtLKoa6UOfYqV4yxFGLBhn2qNML9GIniK4zhKSHXtBV/s400/IMG_4248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716591649918346098" /></a><br /><br />Here is another example of third-party actors in Montgomery County public right-of-way being allowed to park their vehicles across the sidewalk. The truck above was actually located AT the 3rd District Police station on Sligo Avenue.<br /><br />My daughter and I were headed to downtown Silver Spring for lunch, through what I beleive was a Verizon project. I took these photos on the way. We had actually crossed, mid-block to get to this side, because the work was being done on the other side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3NCV5M5FXbxcrId7-l1ovV0RIbKY_3FNOa79ZhRJCWYliB34arqiIX-GEg4oGVHqqWZ9h9ZeYqzVBXmDcaOah6ImHjaSHt02CpOI-rE8K0U14mGbPlpIyrQBGo49A9WamBdHorGf4lhF/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3NCV5M5FXbxcrId7-l1ovV0RIbKY_3FNOa79ZhRJCWYliB34arqiIX-GEg4oGVHqqWZ9h9ZeYqzVBXmDcaOah6ImHjaSHt02CpOI-rE8K0U14mGbPlpIyrQBGo49A9WamBdHorGf4lhF/s400/IMG_4247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716591642265001042" /></a>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-56096318063806230952012-02-24T16:07:00.003-05:002012-02-24T16:15:25.036-05:00What do you get?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh9ltOh4qF66A8mdACm9C7PXgds_-vaYAA-BHhg-zP6uy_JSRSTrGA3W41afDjYLRMxO6Ij-fb4i-fc7D77pguq3oUPGXbgzJ-MiANKq1EEO1sJkU8xDCGfFd5C6KxgWJBmbUaa1wviv-/s1600/google+snip+2.PNG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh9ltOh4qF66A8mdACm9C7PXgds_-vaYAA-BHhg-zP6uy_JSRSTrGA3W41afDjYLRMxO6Ij-fb4i-fc7D77pguq3oUPGXbgzJ-MiANKq1EEO1sJkU8xDCGfFd5C6KxgWJBmbUaa1wviv-/s400/google+snip+2.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712812965547919762" /></a><br /><br />I got an email from Montgomery County's ADA Compliance officer today. She seemed surprised and a little upset that I did not know she existed. I did , of course, but what can I say. When you go to the County website about ADA, you will find nothing about right-of-way issues. PARKING, yes, but nothing about sidewalks. <br /><br />Take a look;<br /><br /><a href="http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=%2Fcontent%2Fdgs%2Fdreams%2Fada%2Findex.asp">Montgomery County Department of General Services</a>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-88441293311757362642012-02-23T21:46:00.004-05:002012-02-24T10:30:21.513-05:00The good work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdMK3JE7vbRjRWX__CyDaVxhgYo4A1BGylwopwHh23tc7-F9XdIJlmOFR0y-b4hbSrk2TnXBt20TtprRYW8kkSeVMLlCNqxvL6EkThHFdrSmavU1lz-zjcvViahp-ZqvMn07YLY8iux_x/s1600/IMG_4171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdMK3JE7vbRjRWX__CyDaVxhgYo4A1BGylwopwHh23tc7-F9XdIJlmOFR0y-b4hbSrk2TnXBt20TtprRYW8kkSeVMLlCNqxvL6EkThHFdrSmavU1lz-zjcvViahp-ZqvMn07YLY8iux_x/s400/IMG_4171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712529792490306434" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday I got a call late that a higher-up from PEPCO would be meeting with an inspector from DPS, and Jeff from MCDOT on Sligo Avenue to look at what was going on with the final steps of the<a href="http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-of-all-i-want-to-thank-jeff.html"> utility pole project started back in 2009</a>.<br /><br />We walked from Woodbury to Ritchie, looking at all the <a href="http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2012/02/walking-dog.html">places I posted photos of the day before.</a> I got assurances that someone would be out to fix things this week. OK. I'll believe it when I see it.<br /><br />What was more important was a chance to talk one-to-one with Dane from PEPCO, Chris from DPS, and Dave, the contractor who did the finishing work. They got an earful about why this stuff is important. I hope just a little of it sank in.<br /><br />there are still a lot of questions, and I am afraid that no one is going to like the answers. But, the moral of this story is that it is better to embrace this positive change than it is to try and avoid it. Do it because it is the right thing to do, and do it well because it is important.William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-64234239615218969862012-02-23T00:50:00.004-05:002012-03-09T16:16:07.993-05:00Sligo NineI can't believe it, but I am once again involved in initiating another infrastructure rehabilitation project. Yes, once again, I talk with the public utility, and they have no idea what to do about ADA. Once again, I actually put WSSC in contact with MCDOT through email. Thanks to Councilmember Ervin's office, who put me in touch with WSSC.<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.99077,-77.017937&spn=0.012108,0.024204&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.99077,-77.017937&spn=0.012108,0.024204&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br />The point is, there is nothing in place to ensure that new infrastructure is replaced in compliance with ADA. This in effect prolongs the discrimination another thirty years. I have lived here for 15 years, and the sidewalks have always been bad. If I am the most tenacious advocate in the County, then things must be VERY bad.<br /><br />Here are the nine fire hydrants on Sligo Avenue, just to be clear where they are and what they look like. I am naming them for members of the US Supreme Court.<br /><br />Kagan<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990222,-77.024873&panoid=hfTgfvMdwkZ-2QjLVodB4A&cbp=12,6.92,,0,16.96&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990222,-77.024873&panoid=hfTgfvMdwkZ-2QjLVodB4A&cbp=12,6.92,,0,16.96&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Sotomayor<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990143,-77.021853&panoid=iX9h6n3ycP2MqQm4QUgg2A&cbp=12,294.89,,1,8.59&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990143,-77.021853&panoid=iX9h6n3ycP2MqQm4QUgg2A&cbp=12,294.89,,1,8.59&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Alito<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990122,-77.020504&panoid=Y92-FfuU8U3Ze7GLfSOTIA&cbp=12,328.07,,2,17.12&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990122,-77.020504&panoid=Y92-FfuU8U3Ze7GLfSOTIA&cbp=12,328.07,,2,17.12&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Roberts<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990494,-77.017531&panoid=FfYnAuSiw0EXVvLWVaU7RQ&cbp=12,206.44,,1,23.05&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990494,-77.017531&panoid=FfYnAuSiw0EXVvLWVaU7RQ&cbp=12,206.44,,1,23.05&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Breyer<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990766,-77.01644&panoid=_qkWl825_2NCv-YowA38Ug&cbp=12,204.77,,2,13.47&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.990766,-77.01644&panoid=_qkWl825_2NCv-YowA38Ug&cbp=12,204.77,,2,13.47&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Ginsburg<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991065,-77.015123&panoid=a526h42hhCMGjI5w9sYgcw&cbp=12,143.69,,1,26.27&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991065,-77.015123&panoid=a526h42hhCMGjI5w9sYgcw&cbp=12,143.69,,1,26.27&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Thomas<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991273,-77.013433&panoid=l8fA46V-JBCLYWrY160PTA&cbp=12,166.04,,1,26.66&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991273,-77.013433&panoid=l8fA46V-JBCLYWrY160PTA&cbp=12,166.04,,1,26.66&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Kennedy<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991363,-77.012065&panoid=UdD98Mt4d0iwWgjuLKsWzg&cbp=12,150.41,,2,18.29&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991363,-77.012065&panoid=UdD98Mt4d0iwWgjuLKsWzg&cbp=12,150.41,,2,18.29&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Scalia<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991404,-77.011073&panoid=UGBgGWgeq8o_nZ3ma8KQPw&cbp=12,231.12,,2,16.54&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&ie=UTF8&ll=38.99028,-77.02487&spn=0,0&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.991404,-77.011073&panoid=UGBgGWgeq8o_nZ3ma8KQPw&cbp=12,231.12,,2,16.54&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />This reinforces my position that Montgomery County is not managing the public right-of-way properly, and is therefor discriminating against people with disabilities, like me. That WSSC and MCDOT have not had even a single discussion - that I am the initiator of that first discussion - means that nothing has changed since I filed a complaint two years ago this coming March 1st. The problem still exists. It has not been handled, or even addressed. It has been avoided.<br /><br />I honestly think I may need to move.<br /><br />Trying to make light of a situation that has me frustratyed and down - feeling like I am just wasting my time fighting city hall. Sorry for the weak humor...<br /><br />3.8.12;<br /><br />I missed one. I named it Curly...<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&source=embed&ll=38.99077,-77.017937&spn=0.012108,0.024204&layer=c&cbll=38.990133,-77.01909&panoid=g271S1TH1DKWguIVEf18rQ&cbp=12,301.76,,2,10.58&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004b99b7a9dee4755042&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&source=embed&ll=38.99077,-77.017937&spn=0.012108,0.024204&layer=c&cbll=38.990133,-77.01909&panoid=g271S1TH1DKWguIVEf18rQ&cbp=12,301.76,,2,10.58" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Sligo Nine</a> in a larger map</small>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-2987888548048223492012-02-22T13:46:00.003-05:002012-02-22T13:50:09.069-05:00Sligo Avenue in 2005<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlR7qnZww7_6CiZDxvtD-gE67Xi4eb14_LYafQGDByh140gJmPY1y6CHjzfutUlc4Qv8_34TUhj2FK4hWrqF20eslOQ7TO3SwJKypUMPkgYl_qAMCpHFfOImYJI1KVn2H5jWCnPsATN5e/s1600/DSCF0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlR7qnZww7_6CiZDxvtD-gE67Xi4eb14_LYafQGDByh140gJmPY1y6CHjzfutUlc4Qv8_34TUhj2FK4hWrqF20eslOQ7TO3SwJKypUMPkgYl_qAMCpHFfOImYJI1KVn2H5jWCnPsATN5e/s400/DSCF0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712033792779738658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3miMuTM8T7e8DBvdgzpZvmiHBSYaVn4aOjSIg65-zX2dUmedwQl8oPS0d3y1fGGvoJYVj5DBkgmyWq7fJn3tgkgQszNArYeOGg2sqzdhi_xMe9MI28mHMyx0WsIzzIAVONpY3-GI3y9ED/s1600/DSCF0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 189px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3miMuTM8T7e8DBvdgzpZvmiHBSYaVn4aOjSIg65-zX2dUmedwQl8oPS0d3y1fGGvoJYVj5DBkgmyWq7fJn3tgkgQszNArYeOGg2sqzdhi_xMe9MI28mHMyx0WsIzzIAVONpY3-GI3y9ED/s400/DSCF0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712033780943834402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuXfNRcZ8eFRxkdwh-azRAZRikJOxj_Qhcsb5S3-t7bJUA1UxDUG1XzdY_3E3SF6ta_gboZAxytCojM16kFJKCHwagyffsu_4JhqA9VDEFke1Q5zCFuwONxyELmRaboBJTPAH5xI77DBT/s1600/DSCF0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuXfNRcZ8eFRxkdwh-azRAZRikJOxj_Qhcsb5S3-t7bJUA1UxDUG1XzdY_3E3SF6ta_gboZAxytCojM16kFJKCHwagyffsu_4JhqA9VDEFke1Q5zCFuwONxyELmRaboBJTPAH5xI77DBT/s400/DSCF0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712033773642095186" /></a><br /><br />These are among the first few sidewalk photos I ever took - circa 2005.<br /><br />This particular location has been "fixed," but the conditions are still very similar along this stretch of Sligo Avenue --7 years later.William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-55851623252334272812012-02-22T13:08:00.008-05:002012-02-22T13:26:16.616-05:00Walking the dog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiySRM0AYseYMeBSWlFu7l0e8BK20wGFhFw0fMR-HztX6a6e4Yxw24Bm4u_A-hz2nlwXH5I-eeYXOFtyD9OpCj8tjIHQM1pp22noK9Khew7cEIKFj5KKpVEqcZWSMKaOkjnAx2v8eMC0g/s1600/IMG_4164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiySRM0AYseYMeBSWlFu7l0e8BK20wGFhFw0fMR-HztX6a6e4Yxw24Bm4u_A-hz2nlwXH5I-eeYXOFtyD9OpCj8tjIHQM1pp22noK9Khew7cEIKFj5KKpVEqcZWSMKaOkjnAx2v8eMC0g/s400/IMG_4164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712024204949274530" /></a><br />This afternoon I took Opie for a walk down to Sligo Neighborhood Park - down at the eastern end of my street. These uncropped photos were taken along the way. The total length of Sligo Avenue is less than a mile. The distance between my home and the park can't be more that 1.300 feet. All of these photos were taken in that distance, on only the south side. All of the photos except for one face east. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxdekHlw8c0pP_vCFEIeBQFg6sCQPxsuDljUZnojPmXYdwMQM4niG5YwzNCayPrD9L3VWFzzgUCklqbe11fZIf65Usb7QGbqyjNWJmqPLVpT2PL_9PH7nTp7aRnbR3jhcqlPaeGPYKk88/s1600/IMG_4146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxdekHlw8c0pP_vCFEIeBQFg6sCQPxsuDljUZnojPmXYdwMQM4niG5YwzNCayPrD9L3VWFzzgUCklqbe11fZIf65Usb7QGbqyjNWJmqPLVpT2PL_9PH7nTp7aRnbR3jhcqlPaeGPYKk88/s400/IMG_4146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712027187210269474" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eu2_OWvHX-cVIDqX8mkob8O66gA_5xANHF1gAv0SmHoDBjJ8p8OU_9-UvL-fCBLQOaJ7ZzGRY-VLrv1u_kHuGygbkW4SeCyIBfDjiI0gIdPUO8_yq8xpPi6aOGPkm6fiqucPyd7EJpBs/s1600/IMG_4148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eu2_OWvHX-cVIDqX8mkob8O66gA_5xANHF1gAv0SmHoDBjJ8p8OU_9-UvL-fCBLQOaJ7ZzGRY-VLrv1u_kHuGygbkW4SeCyIBfDjiI0gIdPUO8_yq8xpPi6aOGPkm6fiqucPyd7EJpBs/s400/IMG_4148.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712026713788642162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHydLx7VPFe-6HOJpYSD2s2MmB73beuGIA7NylrumWAId010t7D9iUlYrGRbhCrMSEZEIG90OBuW9dj7RkTqjNHNdh1S2zHC529yt5CEAkBtaInFyVz2-A33vBauNjLnfeBs2a1dOiVDa/s1600/IMG_4149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHydLx7VPFe-6HOJpYSD2s2MmB73beuGIA7NylrumWAId010t7D9iUlYrGRbhCrMSEZEIG90OBuW9dj7RkTqjNHNdh1S2zHC529yt5CEAkBtaInFyVz2-A33vBauNjLnfeBs2a1dOiVDa/s400/IMG_4149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712026709956548242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDdGidqOK6B8P1GV4Tk-9AmImWEdF7BRENExroXQKJXmM2q3HaOgAq6SvPUjA-aa6dkc3KAQg4z3VLUWztgO5sK8LcuQTPig8aFWvIoSGCHn2aOUWg72YNiMQo5ZM4SVBji_Lw1zx00hP/s1600/IMG_4152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDdGidqOK6B8P1GV4Tk-9AmImWEdF7BRENExroXQKJXmM2q3HaOgAq6SvPUjA-aa6dkc3KAQg4z3VLUWztgO5sK8LcuQTPig8aFWvIoSGCHn2aOUWg72YNiMQo5ZM4SVBji_Lw1zx00hP/s400/IMG_4152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712026696306794338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreace_YhJrSs0AzAvYIf0pqE02tAixZ1U1RfZl7YNw8mxT4MLvwhmVCyIF4ferSOALty5KBxKdNVOYoCHM9BnlvKywIrx4xMaXYtuC_60z7ujvd_3NeUz488esOu1CreFewFAzRmG7WGa/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreace_YhJrSs0AzAvYIf0pqE02tAixZ1U1RfZl7YNw8mxT4MLvwhmVCyIF4ferSOALty5KBxKdNVOYoCHM9BnlvKywIrx4xMaXYtuC_60z7ujvd_3NeUz488esOu1CreFewFAzRmG7WGa/s400/IMG_4155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712025919434956146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3t5fBgiBC8DhJF4Xnmd1ImbneYjiyTRhrF65uPwyzKIT_QtxZn_lqmrPy0dS6T7VoKcIp5f0T7kRkcdaMhyphenhyphen9v4ZP-HCOoS65ifq8sHQ482wa6drQcYPgpex4ViyVcbkwUynnn8dt9zH78/s1600/IMG_4158.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL2gsyN09U3-LggCyp-a17F8zTtXyG54S26tXXomD84tIhhuzMAheMAAwn8TEX_eUnK1bMXsxLytfRuV0IY9poE_uDnItvGeIU_a1Gjz7YlqohrgKxWVhnkhhv1yQdAdFKykqKxiy-cDw/s400/IMG_4168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712025056296448978" /></a>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-29375776919072156432012-02-16T11:55:00.000-05:002012-02-16T11:56:13.976-05:00<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E97uBnFNbmo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-27219889666817055492012-02-06T00:17:00.008-05:002012-02-06T01:22:12.521-05:00Blind Man's Nightmare<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHeI2bmhsvRzPNgT5cm_tRc-zQd1hQlfj9et6fguwt4Vv6WHEpv1uySdFh-AZvRLeXJHFHuhDYbv3eutf6pnTGi0mJoNZiYYvKTTeumglMs8_Yt7ceR2KkJRKMNXrNY9LyE3sQFTQydpV/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHeI2bmhsvRzPNgT5cm_tRc-zQd1hQlfj9et6fguwt4Vv6WHEpv1uySdFh-AZvRLeXJHFHuhDYbv3eutf6pnTGi0mJoNZiYYvKTTeumglMs8_Yt7ceR2KkJRKMNXrNY9LyE3sQFTQydpV/s400/IMG_3816.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705894032693766210" /></a><br />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. 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguqHR72vEAu8Ma3Gvzz_C5D6-k9hRtazds9dRh9ZlrSCC-LmrqrUgmcVzbnCFW0ex6Y0aae6wQwvidqyGPaii4NDhyphenhyphenvKtknx_u18MTlUs69E5X74reFCtCnRbIky-yWfVhAeNAnLI8qES/s400/IMG_3827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705896017165340642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXzDK1sYv6XJ6A5THtZrtvEdLjlzVh7YcJtdaGQ0rfflZOXdYdTsVikDZFpEOs_lKbvCdORKgajwDra548dB8KMzL9LkgOkBWw9AeNpr56Lvol6dN2tzLTAfH4xFoGFZhEF47slJJEoRE/s1600/IMG_3828.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXzDK1sYv6XJ6A5THtZrtvEdLjlzVh7YcJtdaGQ0rfflZOXdYdTsVikDZFpEOs_lKbvCdORKgajwDra548dB8KMzL9LkgOkBWw9AeNpr56Lvol6dN2tzLTAfH4xFoGFZhEF47slJJEoRE/s400/IMG_3828.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705896022139476850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWu0O21Kq_zGDj6GTml6V5frR5eZ4QkSRkh_U2gsGXe0arLgyF60vHUqWM_w3paIeOhpSlF-0ZqKq6lCJCGeyQ_mtpYp4sNSwVuLJWrUXW3fuDSd84UhfPwEfnHABonUdrWMAtHNo1IO6/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWu0O21Kq_zGDj6GTml6V5frR5eZ4QkSRkh_U2gsGXe0arLgyF60vHUqWM_w3paIeOhpSlF-0ZqKq6lCJCGeyQ_mtpYp4sNSwVuLJWrUXW3fuDSd84UhfPwEfnHABonUdrWMAtHNo1IO6/s400/IMG_3834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705896552371288850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB7yFqsgWD34G-6CprKn1zg0XncgAbluj4IVhkQliGFVQiT-y_iY2RmX32Bewzo1xAz96kxCIs28UpXRtWJEfeZ-6nTHR_qSiHxfBEBsTcULZFf5fr4ymYn7BVaIfO7sRaGRX1uwHZoL7/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB7yFqsgWD34G-6CprKn1zg0XncgAbluj4IVhkQliGFVQiT-y_iY2RmX32Bewzo1xAz96kxCIs28UpXRtWJEfeZ-6nTHR_qSiHxfBEBsTcULZFf5fr4ymYn7BVaIfO7sRaGRX1uwHZoL7/s400/IMG_3832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705896547459834530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaZHSps5dYI-vTWRT4PUb3vTIf46LTIvl7wdB8tiJr_I2rD-uU08013fkxUo8rnI56IzJ6xuiXH-_djYY99cZwy-qj7M0EKz4u656ekbrM5trxTlsR1wz1Ntrv2joEdMF0DuhyjWS-Om5/s1600/IMG_3830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaZHSps5dYI-vTWRT4PUb3vTIf46LTIvl7wdB8tiJr_I2rD-uU08013fkxUo8rnI56IzJ6xuiXH-_djYY99cZwy-qj7M0EKz4u656ekbrM5trxTlsR1wz1Ntrv2joEdMF0DuhyjWS-Om5/s400/IMG_3830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705896539587872322" /></a><br /><br />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!<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />What does this say about how important pedestrians are in the master plan? We mean nothing. Hardly worth mentioning.<br /><br />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...<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Lc84IVI-2Io" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-19361177804332261972012-01-21T12:27:00.003-05:002012-01-21T12:37:31.227-05:00Gun It!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.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/70pP03tZjyo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KVSMgQHhVHo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-15439163864831871402012-01-19T11:11:00.005-05:002012-01-22T10:33:37.074-05:00More Sligo ROW issues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJafnwhEepOcDe4ZzqlX3TV1n8Jm3JskAkOtpNWeCfvhn7vo0zoILYllSOu7Ta5RBkB4b9M3s61gcoVAGJRsFDaDUqZaIXHCdbydfHX-dDirpnPPfmM-aqLjGIapFza7NtONxEKR-VsHz/s1600/IMG_3602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJafnwhEepOcDe4ZzqlX3TV1n8Jm3JskAkOtpNWeCfvhn7vo0zoILYllSOu7Ta5RBkB4b9M3s61gcoVAGJRsFDaDUqZaIXHCdbydfHX-dDirpnPPfmM-aqLjGIapFza7NtONxEKR-VsHz/s400/IMG_3602.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699385092726860258" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKoDfUYkDb9NF-Fw6OLAL6z1gL1XBp-ftUu3g69LO5oikPgQ711TFrqkHOotOpEp8_daWBw7XNDGQ5hoiFNs71NEVYn41HMquj6e5wElndQiH8cIgMwxR1L1n619VI81AIJz4u3b7vffC/s1600/IMG_3603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKoDfUYkDb9NF-Fw6OLAL6z1gL1XBp-ftUu3g69LO5oikPgQ711TFrqkHOotOpEp8_daWBw7XNDGQ5hoiFNs71NEVYn41HMquj6e5wElndQiH8cIgMwxR1L1n619VI81AIJz4u3b7vffC/s400/IMG_3603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699385084284429842" /></a><br /><br />Here are a couple of examples. There are as many as six of them.<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=38.990122,-77.020504&spn=0.000448,0.00101&t=h&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.990124,-77.020652&panoid=61I4cuM-wr0ghYwoCypHxA&cbp=12,44.9,,2,16.1&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=38.990122,-77.020504&spn=0.000448,0.00101&t=h&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.990124,-77.020652&panoid=61I4cuM-wr0ghYwoCypHxA&cbp=12,44.9,,2,16.1&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=38.991065,-77.015123&spn=0.000448,0.00101&t=h&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.991081,-77.015003&panoid=Z0EI7ceDSb2b7gP-ymuvkg&cbp=12,230.61,,2,17.44&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=38.991065,-77.015123&spn=0.000448,0.00101&t=h&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.991081,-77.015003&panoid=Z0EI7ceDSb2b7gP-ymuvkg&cbp=12,230.61,,2,17.44&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br /><a href="http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2011/05/eastbound-down.html">Last year KB from DOT told us</a> 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?<br /><br />I sent an email to my Councilmember's office to ask about this. <a href="http://www.wsscwater.com/file/Communications/WaterMainReplacementBrochure.pdf">I tried to find information about this project online</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.wsscwater.com/home/jsp/misc/searchHome.faces?qt=ADA">I looked for information about WSSC's ADA efforts</a>, and didn't find anything. Do they have a program?<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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...<br /><br />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. <br /><br />I realize that I am making some assumptions here. I won't mind being proved wrong.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.991354,-77.012263&panoid=R5ISOLvItcTzWLIYlVC38g&cbp=12,103.98,,2,2.66&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.991354,-77.012263&panoid=R5ISOLvItcTzWLIYlVC38g&cbp=12,103.98,,2,2.66" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-87475754219246542032011-12-31T00:37:00.005-05:002011-12-31T01:04:28.055-05:00Truck You, Too<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxojUC5GH8FInstWOIrFJbckY_Yne4J68MJP0WYcXD4GYtDOSmG4NhicLaI8rRgCcZlW55Tq56ZxJMcx-BN5y9RIqNGK5sGb3Z8-7MS-Mvr3krQVvHM-ySZuodTPpnrL3NIzLfX4zqlbN4/s1600/IMG_3508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxojUC5GH8FInstWOIrFJbckY_Yne4J68MJP0WYcXD4GYtDOSmG4NhicLaI8rRgCcZlW55Tq56ZxJMcx-BN5y9RIqNGK5sGb3Z8-7MS-Mvr3krQVvHM-ySZuodTPpnrL3NIzLfX4zqlbN4/s400/IMG_3508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692164257097223778" /></a><br />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.<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.993389,-77.027116&panoid=BymVa_CXZy1m6ysG-h6LCQ&cbp=12,74.9,,0,3.41&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.993389,-77.027116&panoid=BymVa_CXZy1m6ysG-h6LCQ&cbp=12,74.9,,0,3.41" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEqc8vDW2WQ103w_9AwQ527AQ2QXZpeHI_dCvRZaFhpathLB0EkH_Kdx8fDyqCYNk2TMCAZmvUVFXztGt67HUlMR8uOotZC6XoJXMmXDQEvoKpAH3MsdpaCfCFMCxo-ZQGoxzkgNMNGFF/s1600/IMG_3510.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEqc8vDW2WQ103w_9AwQ527AQ2QXZpeHI_dCvRZaFhpathLB0EkH_Kdx8fDyqCYNk2TMCAZmvUVFXztGt67HUlMR8uOotZC6XoJXMmXDQEvoKpAH3MsdpaCfCFMCxo-ZQGoxzkgNMNGFF/s400/IMG_3510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692164262144796770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ly820lFTaSm7a0lF4anM-UZazLkIZ3KvarfnugqWnfCQcd3dwzaRQwtr-dCjWWc2TArr_CWssMfnJNGaIQgxK8Ka0nolEDjFm201YKuMLivpN7aQouw_axqFCk4sLD1Abjmcbz2g8vfd/s1600/IMG_3512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ly820lFTaSm7a0lF4anM-UZazLkIZ3KvarfnugqWnfCQcd3dwzaRQwtr-dCjWWc2TArr_CWssMfnJNGaIQgxK8Ka0nolEDjFm201YKuMLivpN7aQouw_axqFCk4sLD1Abjmcbz2g8vfd/s400/IMG_3512.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692164268984045810" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />Later down the road, we came upon this vehicle parked completely blocking the sidewalk in front of the AAMOCO station.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6zsUjUDYKvY1BoRhyf5SuQUooMUAV0HotViOXwsTRPa61v0THWNbCsurltNijBw099GNutuxRzUrQpsJeobxLHm9Qam_BqZo845JwKCrxAqy2pVvakF5bc5vXkMvsrXi3lSsd24QmKc2/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6zsUjUDYKvY1BoRhyf5SuQUooMUAV0HotViOXwsTRPa61v0THWNbCsurltNijBw099GNutuxRzUrQpsJeobxLHm9Qam_BqZo845JwKCrxAqy2pVvakF5bc5vXkMvsrXi3lSsd24QmKc2/s400/IMG_3515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692164286122345250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2WUq0xaqn669OQhgPdSs_YrZlZiumAfxB076U17IOajANmIHE5whz320uKGCAH1rpA0_aOay93hWViH8C0kau003aSE_l12rly0uC4D5pQ4_mm0Jja6M4dn8jvb4Z9iwBHIPWbUKd9qM/s1600/IMG_3513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2WUq0xaqn669OQhgPdSs_YrZlZiumAfxB076U17IOajANmIHE5whz320uKGCAH1rpA0_aOay93hWViH8C0kau003aSE_l12rly0uC4D5pQ4_mm0Jja6M4dn8jvb4Z9iwBHIPWbUKd9qM/s400/IMG_3513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692164274984710482" /></a><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&iwloc=000487831f6f35cfc4c88&layer=c&cbll=38.991314,-77.02655&panoid=Pq8V4pj11Fgk3usY9oofQQ&cbp=12,76.03,,0,5.13&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=217179971416662318896.0004878257b8522e7cbc9&ll=38.994194,-77.017875&spn=0.007746,0.017124&vpsrc=6&iwloc=000487831f6f35cfc4c88&layer=c&cbll=38.991314,-77.02655&panoid=Pq8V4pj11Fgk3usY9oofQQ&cbp=12,76.03,,0,5.13" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small>William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-41459337616012232692011-12-05T11:05:00.003-05:002011-12-05T11:21:20.028-05:00Ambiguous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO72DLeob1Gy9s_Yc-y0rPOG5OdQGrgoYmPB7mwjwR3ouTwRY_-1fOH1wqjgKA84s9qfcLvlP0i625BhVQ0AwdjP4xvRnxwDd2czz-U-t5GE96NbUW05e7gDgMFDRetdMxoa8NfZZLhms3/s1600/IMG_3276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO72DLeob1Gy9s_Yc-y0rPOG5OdQGrgoYmPB7mwjwR3ouTwRY_-1fOH1wqjgKA84s9qfcLvlP0i625BhVQ0AwdjP4xvRnxwDd2czz-U-t5GE96NbUW05e7gDgMFDRetdMxoa8NfZZLhms3/s400/IMG_3276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682676995789390770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvRxMApHLYvsvCMyBEsku1Jp7X3og3AiGmtJp_8e3wWphFB4Oz1urZxMR_SSGq-RInoyiLovsb0WPBF1-3Tey_pPDAIWg8Qxr50PMLlrKYdI0Rk79Qm4ahyjagiXOFY-qI5RBzo7ABvE5/s1600/IMG_3273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvRxMApHLYvsvCMyBEsku1Jp7X3og3AiGmtJp_8e3wWphFB4Oz1urZxMR_SSGq-RInoyiLovsb0WPBF1-3Tey_pPDAIWg8Qxr50PMLlrKYdI0Rk79Qm4ahyjagiXOFY-qI5RBzo7ABvE5/s400/IMG_3273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682676990416645122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRyeiDkFuzF2Cju9zDwFu1iYluk-CGV8pbdYZL9_LjJBREFcIJtH06cx2AH7lzz7uvieEnEn0JttqxjMAXHu2T2XKGZSva6hQBI4G-KEkI4Y1fVA8pJMmHDE4Dv8nGkF61mCWIS0e04_5/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRyeiDkFuzF2Cju9zDwFu1iYluk-CGV8pbdYZL9_LjJBREFcIJtH06cx2AH7lzz7uvieEnEn0JttqxjMAXHu2T2XKGZSva6hQBI4G-KEkI4Y1fVA8pJMmHDE4Dv8nGkF61mCWIS0e04_5/s400/IMG_3279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682676605154989074" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />What do you think? Does this look like extra care to you?William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-57731597188957580352011-11-18T10:02:00.003-05:002011-11-18T10:36:17.393-05:00I wasn't paying attention<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopjTUIcpeQqMX0D1EbmcfpJb7du9hO_wcol1NIN8INiyx-jP4y5jlOIO_BPHhGAtRD9dN55uLnGBJe__ScuQgo55mFeQweeip8l9N2BPj_iU67hSKKWKATwseLZrixWCG5BFXhyphenhyphen6ZMeRp/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopjTUIcpeQqMX0D1EbmcfpJb7du9hO_wcol1NIN8INiyx-jP4y5jlOIO_BPHhGAtRD9dN55uLnGBJe__ScuQgo55mFeQweeip8l9N2BPj_iU67hSKKWKATwseLZrixWCG5BFXhyphenhyphen6ZMeRp/s400/IMG_3242.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676356423314835106" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes1ff3BCMhXTDoKfTj64_YXne4X6y7g8vJZ1kETQBvJ4MmFl9xrX5nFOIlSdzK90pxjZofxlAcn7Fu6PljWCQzi3IzlOxw_uO6Yin8blGRzQ9m6t_QwDbKnBohlz1Qi4C_RgdhxWl7-Qp/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes1ff3BCMhXTDoKfTj64_YXne4X6y7g8vJZ1kETQBvJ4MmFl9xrX5nFOIlSdzK90pxjZofxlAcn7Fu6PljWCQzi3IzlOxw_uO6Yin8blGRzQ9m6t_QwDbKnBohlz1Qi4C_RgdhxWl7-Qp/s400/IMG_3239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676356414621741650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTBPBCz3CYG7Ki8jHOVfH0eqAVwm759f2B_siQtuPxU4mVZ_BG9cmSXVl1C3Bdm2n8I4W6ucq38MNlHLu1G_9da_VLiHTWWPeSR78_fa8TBmf8ONBn2sJNYnVzrQll6G24goUjGVZ0Dqw/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTBPBCz3CYG7Ki8jHOVfH0eqAVwm759f2B_siQtuPxU4mVZ_BG9cmSXVl1C3Bdm2n8I4W6ucq38MNlHLu1G_9da_VLiHTWWPeSR78_fa8TBmf8ONBn2sJNYnVzrQll6G24goUjGVZ0Dqw/s400/IMG_3237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676356408655052882" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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?<br /><br />There is an hierarchy when it comes to construction projects and who must suffer the consequences. It goes something like this:<br /><br />Contractors - Do everything you can to accommodate their needs.<br /><br />Drivers - Must be impacted as little as possible.<br /><br />Bikers - Keep the road open and they can get by.<br /><br />Pedestrians - Huh? What did you say? I wasn't paying attention.William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-27438280455225756592011-11-13T12:27:00.004-05:002011-11-13T13:17:17.342-05:00Walking to Jackie'sA whie ago I bought some raffle tickets at the South Silver Spring Neighborhood Association Block Party and won a gift certificate to <a href="http://jackiesrestaurant.com/">Jackie's</a> 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.<br /><br />Of course, this means actually walking down Sligo Avenue, which is always a crap-shoot - especially between Fenton and Georgia. <a href="http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-afternoon-i-walked-to-lotus-cafe.html">Cars and trucks are often parked over the sidewlk</a> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXtFohSOID0&feature=player_embedded">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</a> that line the south side from Fenton to Georgia.<br /><br />And then there is this nasty little trip hazard...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFAG7H3s5dnVk2quh2pe3-GAmom9MM3H-ZMOABusB63ZoyKZDlUloe9mQEgJS7AEDslp5n7GE8EXTIctfsyCiDjg4r47wjRn4-RimpV9C98otuCsqCXoTuZ-Usuhku4TdMqE_MZW5RBT3/s1600/IMG_3171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFAG7H3s5dnVk2quh2pe3-GAmom9MM3H-ZMOABusB63ZoyKZDlUloe9mQEgJS7AEDslp5n7GE8EXTIctfsyCiDjg4r47wjRn4-RimpV9C98otuCsqCXoTuZ-Usuhku4TdMqE_MZW5RBT3/s400/IMG_3171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674542774766672002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuz8LfraYFOOCm6csIYQRKF7i43AycvwnHXxRyHqVoD8LN4mtu2KUJVJJqmM62FmY5CxU6biYoEHVFmjRsfzMwnjJMD1Xq-Dp5aH4I_C2VJuwD8ncw6NdBbz18feypb91CmGDeyv8Uqfl/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuz8LfraYFOOCm6csIYQRKF7i43AycvwnHXxRyHqVoD8LN4mtu2KUJVJJqmM62FmY5CxU6biYoEHVFmjRsfzMwnjJMD1Xq-Dp5aH4I_C2VJuwD8ncw6NdBbz18feypb91CmGDeyv8Uqfl/s400/IMG_3170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674542763640033394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh6tsf5rWhSp5l365MlZKAYM2fIMR78tfo-BW4toXhTS2BDy_aUaaCRnnYDJdnP4592TBmefRa-2zAZik2LylUmuOz3pN-i7ZdkCpUWBYbY6usiXILH65_HpqpRBUCSna6v-zAM1uixh2/s1600/IMG_3169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh6tsf5rWhSp5l365MlZKAYM2fIMR78tfo-BW4toXhTS2BDy_aUaaCRnnYDJdnP4592TBmefRa-2zAZik2LylUmuOz3pN-i7ZdkCpUWBYbY6usiXILH65_HpqpRBUCSna6v-zAM1uixh2/s400/IMG_3169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674542759205081330" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />I have reported this location directly to MCDOT many times over the years, but it's still here.<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&num=200&start=162&ll=38.995315,-77.029712&spn=0.040368,0.036187&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.990222,-77.024873&panoid=hfTgfvMdwkZ-2QjLVodB4A&cbp=12,249.88,,1,9.37&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&num=200&start=162&ll=38.995315,-77.029712&spn=0.040368,0.036187&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=38.990222,-77.024873&panoid=hfTgfvMdwkZ-2QjLVodB4A&cbp=12,249.88,,1,9.37" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Montgomery Sideways</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />Is this piece of long-time-broken infrasturcture the responsibility of Pepco, of MCDOT?William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-32761217190313031332011-11-02T12:51:00.010-04:002011-11-07T13:48:29.526-05:00More of the same<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziJhlXpGi8EyLY_R_w9eHXdio4eJerJgGOPQFQZaXj_gW68bWl6gbol9cZ-JiTkvlXXxRHqWRlwaoG7nt4Xa3RLoyFgVemo8gtjaq3uQexs5lFvIvgggPt4sSuWvNvfbgKXdh3x6vYSMf/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziJhlXpGi8EyLY_R_w9eHXdio4eJerJgGOPQFQZaXj_gW68bWl6gbol9cZ-JiTkvlXXxRHqWRlwaoG7nt4Xa3RLoyFgVemo8gtjaq3uQexs5lFvIvgggPt4sSuWvNvfbgKXdh3x6vYSMf/s400/IMG_2991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670443486189411490" /></a><br />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.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp2bQujqmVzBRWWI5ksp5KbRqBXZIbqalk9YSpSTAgxrzs8mcjhWojESg8eOFI7M6oC6lfCEQtinQGPGX51hmfKPQc5nqEYNNe0AxQnMpEv5pAtwxiFl1_ylprajXQiXSOv8bk6KA5jO7/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp2bQujqmVzBRWWI5ksp5KbRqBXZIbqalk9YSpSTAgxrzs8mcjhWojESg8eOFI7M6oC6lfCEQtinQGPGX51hmfKPQc5nqEYNNe0AxQnMpEv5pAtwxiFl1_ylprajXQiXSOv8bk6KA5jO7/s400/IMG_2996.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670443187065720338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVkcb2VRgYJVvBcQNUFeGzThSPAGLanqY4hyphenhyphen9nEixpvB4xuKQZqwU9493dUZuODht05KyxKhqpgP1wadkKFX7btwlU58jGwiMymk4En1X4TlPvMoM0IfnzPSQ5alkPWoBNYmHr_7tqirO/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVkcb2VRgYJVvBcQNUFeGzThSPAGLanqY4hyphenhyphen9nEixpvB4xuKQZqwU9493dUZuODht05KyxKhqpgP1wadkKFX7btwlU58jGwiMymk4En1X4TlPvMoM0IfnzPSQ5alkPWoBNYmHr_7tqirO/s400/IMG_3006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670443175247623026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1keKegwAPmU7blnrxHqdN7wTFET3hmhu9DraG-qnjqCBFWQ9ULnT2yQx1WzAOHTStNgIZyxoQLPx0uG_4ce7iv3sTx-xzUFeLJwap6ft0r68DXWtghFnZ_TZ6j0_TGa2-oQ9vQD3o_dAG/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1keKegwAPmU7blnrxHqdN7wTFET3hmhu9DraG-qnjqCBFWQ9ULnT2yQx1WzAOHTStNgIZyxoQLPx0uG_4ce7iv3sTx-xzUFeLJwap6ft0r68DXWtghFnZ_TZ6j0_TGa2-oQ9vQD3o_dAG/s400/IMG_2998.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670443157835812098" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsni2ofv00HRC3uKHGYPvvfUE_LCA9v5IODx9cOVK6xwP2fPWAgdq2K12F_lM444bPO2n5tbaX7jpojnt6XokirSb8FDjSayVnzzJFWk8fQ4qmn6Lh5tVNKxulRsKZDTR-TRsHWzYjW2L/s1600/IMG_3005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsni2ofv00HRC3uKHGYPvvfUE_LCA9v5IODx9cOVK6xwP2fPWAgdq2K12F_lM444bPO2n5tbaX7jpojnt6XokirSb8FDjSayVnzzJFWk8fQ4qmn6Lh5tVNKxulRsKZDTR-TRsHWzYjW2L/s400/IMG_3005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670443142722621090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTh5jtrHzIHd_ZFEcf9TR6ITyGJYqE98hojuORRhQJQDo8PUIrTGKgHqaOWLO1n7xmOQfzsiHbzgVaQHUefPOONyohcOcOinWJGOurG-G1f3FFS_Y4tbQRdppszaHisfGRHeUgq3xgRW-/s1600/zzzxcxczzzxc.PNG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTh5jtrHzIHd_ZFEcf9TR6ITyGJYqE98hojuORRhQJQDo8PUIrTGKgHqaOWLO1n7xmOQfzsiHbzgVaQHUefPOONyohcOcOinWJGOurG-G1f3FFS_Y4tbQRdppszaHisfGRHeUgq3xgRW-/s400/zzzxcxczzzxc.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672327482633907282" /></a><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=39.003044,-77.020855&spn=0.022945,0.048409">http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=39.003044,-77.020855&spn=0.022945,0.048409<br /></a><br />Has County government learned nothing? How are these plans gaining approval?William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499562442220210542.post-12022784807136690372011-10-09T11:15:00.006-04:002011-10-09T12:18:06.644-04:00Pedestrians Redefined<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGpcwQEbwEjqauWpWxTLHIxVJjm6WN-4-c1b1sVyt55hJ0yGG2hl5HjTrSX7vdlqQMjldeNFPbSLb1k60uAQEhBIFkKMxqAw6cX35uMiLOMO1b1Coq1sRv93gHqouJ71uETX4BMBrU6lD/s1600/zzxzzxzz33.PNG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGpcwQEbwEjqauWpWxTLHIxVJjm6WN-4-c1b1sVyt55hJ0yGG2hl5HjTrSX7vdlqQMjldeNFPbSLb1k60uAQEhBIFkKMxqAw6cX35uMiLOMO1b1Coq1sRv93gHqouJ71uETX4BMBrU6lD/s400/zzxzzxzz33.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661521961834908338" /></a><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMhCRGyyJd21CMsKeV3OwUVrAD7PGnnyGtb7FCTJ1UGR53AcW2fuutD8yniOL92Y_OIONgdndSEtApBXyJnihhXqg7BqUdqfjVZEF27KRQSSh3b7u7iLaDHn9R3MOranCUBE4-epXkTen/s1600/001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMhCRGyyJd21CMsKeV3OwUVrAD7PGnnyGtb7FCTJ1UGR53AcW2fuutD8yniOL92Y_OIONgdndSEtApBXyJnihhXqg7BqUdqfjVZEF27KRQSSh3b7u7iLaDHn9R3MOranCUBE4-epXkTen/s400/001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661525326432190242" /></a><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6pCK-pRFtzrLLA22oPqCOCQlmTdPnPTURF4K65MhHU_P8v9sE3SjjIoGBfOLT0U-YCNemL7gDMjlZxO-5RCqHm9g9sciDLQF0vOtw4HXHsPoP4Ix49M0GAePVrQx1GlrfQTNGWB8Evy4/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6pCK-pRFtzrLLA22oPqCOCQlmTdPnPTURF4K65MhHU_P8v9sE3SjjIoGBfOLT0U-YCNemL7gDMjlZxO-5RCqHm9g9sciDLQF0vOtw4HXHsPoP4Ix49M0GAePVrQx1GlrfQTNGWB8Evy4/s400/IMG_2577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661521751813790642" /></a><br />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."<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />PLEASE<br />Let your neighbors know about this meeting! Ask them to pass it along!William Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535553476707271954noreply@blogger.com0