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Streets not so mean now

Dr. Delay Navigating South Pinellas

By Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent
Published February 10, 2008

The streets of St. Petersburg aren't as mean as they once were, according to the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership STPP and Center for Neighborhood Technology.

The STPP had previously put the Tampa Bay area at the top of its list of communities with lousy pedestrian safety records. But the progress the city has made since 2003 prompted the groups to invite Mayor Rick Baker to be the keynote speaker last week during a national workshop in Orlando on integrating land use and transportation.

Our city was applauded for improving pedestrian safety.

"St. Petersburg has gone from being at the top of the Mean Streets list to becoming one of the best safety turnaround stories in America," STPP president Anne Canby said.

Launched in 2003, St. Petersburg's CityTrails master plan is credited with reducing pedestrian crashes by 17 percent each year, and bicyclist crashes by 15 percent each year since 2004. Baker says initiatives such as the installation of the Enhancer system - the rapid-flashing beacons at marked crosswalks - are making St. Petersburg "a national model for pedestrian safety."

The devices average more than 80 percent driver-yielding compliance, according to city officials, making it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross streets. Countdown pedestrian signals and enhanced markings and traffic signs for mid block crosswalks also have been installed citywide.

Fourth Street S

Street soon will handle two-way traffic again

Work will begin today to convert Fourth Street S between Fifth and Sixth avenues S from one-way back to two-way traffic. City spokesman Robert Danielson said the change is the result of several meetings with downtown residents and businesses regarding traffic flow.

The work will be done today and Monday between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. City engineers expect the project to be completed by Tuesday morning. The work includes new paving and striping, and the installation of permanent signals and signs. One lane of traffic will be open during road work, but expect delays if you plan to travel through the area in the next 48 hours or so.

School buses

Driver: Cars must show more care around buses

Last week's item regarding citizen complaints about Pinellas County school bus drivers entering and exiting the school bus compound off Bryan Dairy Road and Belcher Roads generated a lot of response.

Lee Wilkes said that driving a school bus can be harrowing.

"The most dangerous thing about driving a Pinellas County school bus is that car drivers are willing to go as fast as necessary to get in front of the bus. Turning from 66th Street (westbound) onto Park Boulevard, then Bryan Dairy in the evening, is a nightmare. Cars will get into the lane that merges and try to cut the bus off. I have been in the proper lane and feeling safe when I've looked down to see a car trying to squeeze between the bus and the overpass wall. My heart almost stops as I wait for the crash."

Wilkes said that a recent incident on Bay Pines Boulevard illustrates how careless some motorists can be. "A pickup truck cut me off in the left turn lane at Bay Pines Boulevard. I had to slam on the brakes and jiggle all the students. The adults in the truck turned around and laughed. Don't they even care about the children?"

* * *

Here's a cool program that a lot of folks don't know about: the Emergency Ride Home program. It requires advance registration and ensures that folks who carpool, vanpool, ride the bus, bicycle or walk to work at least two days a week will never be stuck without a ride home after work. Registered workers are eligible for a free or reduced-cost taxi ride home in case of a personal or family emergency, unscheduled overtime, illness, or an urgent situation arising with carpool partners. Register by calling 1-800-998-7433.

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

Please e-mail Dr. Delay at docdelay@yahoo.com to share your traffic concerns, comments and questions.

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 23:55:13]