Recently I have noticed that many Troy residents and RPI community members are reluctant to be courteous to pedestrians walking in crosswalks and on sidewalks.
Pedestrians crossing the street in crosswalks should always be given the right of way, although they should always exercise caution and avoid creating unnecessary hazards.
If a pedestrian is in the process of crossing the street using a crosswalk, any vehicle must yield to him by slowing down or stopping in order to allow the person to proceed.
Additionally, as a rule of thumb, drivers should always slow down when approaching areas known to have crosswalks.
Many accidents caused by vehicles hitting pedestrians crossing the street on crosswalks can be prevented if people would only abide by these guidelines.
Another problem that I have often observed is vehicles parked on crosswalks, specifically the crosswalk near the Quad. In the case of the Quad, you may also be blocking the entrance too.
I have also often seen drivers parking on sidewalks or turning around on them—one came close to hitting me while turning around.
It is illegal to park any part of a vehicle on a crosswalk or sidewalk or turn around on a sidewalk, even temporarily. A fine could be issued for doing so.
Parking on a crosswalk defeats the entire purpose of having crosswalks in the first place because pedestrians are forced to cross somewhere else.
Remember, crosswalks and sidewalks exist for a reason: A two-ton vehicle traveling at 25 mph poses far more danger to a pedestrian than the reverse.
Please show some respect to individuals crossing the street in crosswalks or walking on sidewalks. Would you want to be hit by a car just trying to cross the street or walking away from traffic?
