I live in St. Petersburg and love St. Petersburg and plan on living here a long time. However, we show a lack of courtesy toward our tourists, guests and senior citizens.
I spend considerable time in Sarasota and Venice. When you are crossing streets there, or even contemplating crossing a street, traffic will stop, in both directions, and with a friendly wave of a hand, let you cross. This makes one feel very safe and also very welcome.
Our attitude here and at our beaches is: Drive as fast as possible and get these darn visitors, guests and senior citizens out of your way. I feel we need a bit of attitude adjustment when it comes to our driving habits.
We need to show more courtesy toward our visitors and residents. We need them.
Life is precious. Let's respect it. It only takes a moment.
-- Dick Lee, St. Petersburg
Pedestrian rights must be enforced
Pinellas County is the capital for pedestrian and cyclist deaths in the United States. This shameful label was reinforced by three deaths in three days. On Jan. 17, John Hitch was killed by a street racer. On the same day, a bicyclist was run down by a Largo police officer in a construction zone. On Jan. 20, Dennison Rusinow was run down in broad daylight. Why?
Because the Pinellas County Commission has no comprehensive transit plan. Everything is focused on the use of autos, fostering a speed-and-rush consciousness that creates a total disregard for the more vulnerable means of transit. The county has its head in the sand when it comes to a comprehensive plan for transit. We need enforcement of pedestrian rights and traffic rules.
It would also help if the bus system was funded by a mandated fund like the fire and police departments, so there would be a free transit system.
-- Stefano Longinotti, Largo
Sometimes jaywalking is safer
Re: Crosswalk cads will land in cross hairs, Jan. 28.
It's comforting to learn the St. Petersburg Police Department is going to make renewed efforts to control traffic so it is safer for the pedestrian. Less comforting is the proposed fine for jaywalking.
Sure, those who cross in the middle of the street downtown near a corner should be cited. But away from downtown often the safest course is to cross away from the intersection.
Some "blocks" are the equivalent of three downtown blocks, and once traffic clears out, it's easy to get across without danger, but go to an intersection and it can be more dangerous. Some drivers speed up on yellow and run the red lights. Others turn right on red without even slowing down and others do stop - right in the crosswalk. Then there is the cross street without a light. The pedestrian can wait until there is no traffic and start across but all too often a speeding vehicle comes along with no intention of allowing him to finish crossing.
So sometimes, jaywalking is the safest course and shouldn't be punished with a citation.
-- John Royse, St. Petersburg
Ticketing pedestrians is absurd
Re: Crosswalk cads will land in cross hairs, Jan. 28.
I read this Neighborhood Times story and I'm not amused. The police are planning to ticket pedestrians who don't cross at the crosswalk. This is absurd. I wonder if they have ever pushed a button to change the traffic light and then stood there like a fool waiting for it to change and it takes forever.
I have crossed at the light and most drivers have to stop right on the crosswalk and a lot of times, the light has changed for me to walk, but the traffic hasn't stopped yet. I wonder if some of the drivers will finally hit me. There is no vehicle inspection in this state and the cars on the road aren't safe. The brakes don't work properly on many of them, old and new, and the tires have no tread. No thank you.
I'll take my chances with being ticketed or being hit rather than cross at the crosswalk. I can get to where I'm headed faster anyway.
-- Steve Oromaner, St. Petersburg
Cyclists on sidewalks are bad example
Re: Bikes share risks as well as the road, Jan. 25.
Almost daily I see cyclists on sidewalks along with pedestrians who do not know that they are to stop at a corner and look and listen, as I remember, before crossing. And it is all ages.
If adults don't know, how are the younger ones to know? I have learned to watch for them.
But at night with their dark clothes, it is not always possible. I am surprised that there aren't more hit. I have been shaken up and I do not want it again.
-- Don Cunningham, Pinellas Park
Cyclists must break law to be safe
Re: Bikes share risks as well as the road, by Diane Steinle.
I hope I am not the only person offended by this column. I am one of those bicyclists, and I am not a Mexican immigrant. I found the article to be insightful in some aspects, but ignorant in others. I found the writer's comment about Mexicans to be both racist and xenophobic. Her remarks about wearing light-colored clothing, however, were on the dot.
You need to be visible at night. I have a headlight as well as a taillight. However, I am one of those people who ride against traffic - yes, I know it is illegal. However, I like to see who is coming toward me, so that I may take evasive action if necessary. If at all possible, I ride on a sidewalk. This is also illegal. The alternatives, however, are dangerous to riders. I couldn't begin to count how many times I have had a vehicle pass me, without ever pulling over. They rarely give you warning, and then drive you off the road. If there were bike lanes or bike paths, we would not have to block your way.
Where I live on Gandy Boulevard, there is no place to walk or ride a bike. In many places there is no shoulder or sidewalk and along the Derby Lane side there is an extra access lane (used by many as a passing lane) that is almost suicide to ride in.
If Ms. Steinle would check the statistics, she would find that Florida ranks among the most dangerous states for both pedestrians and bicyclists. This is not the fault of the latter, but of a state and local government that couldn't care less about road safety. Yes, bicyclists must do their share to make the roads safe, but if they had safe places to ride, it would solve that problem!
-- Kenneth Sturmer, St. Petersburg
Wal-Mart: sneaky, cheap and arrogant
Re: Wal-Mart soars as mall crashes, Jan 28.
Wal-Mart is a microcosm of America today: huge, arrogant, sneaky, cheap, destructive, discriminatory. They have perfected corporatism. Like the majority of shoppers at Wal-Mart, most Americans are ignorant and inconsiderate. Much as Wal-Mart puts profit first, over their employees, most consumers think of their purse strings over conscience.
-- Jim Loveland, Gulfport
[Last modified February 8, 2004, 01:45:41]
