JSO to start writing tickets citywide for jaywalking

[dmac]

How about paying attention those cars that continually do not stop at the circle at the Landing end of Laura for pedestrians . I see it every day, or the cars that block the intersection at Laura and Union at 5p . Always somebody blocking the intersection or running the red light.  This coming from a daily bike commuter.

[carpnter]

How about paying attention those cars that continually do not stop at the circle at the Landing end of Laura for pedestrians . I see it every day, or the cars that block the intersection at Laura and Union at 5p . Always somebody blocking the intersection or running the red light.  This coming from a daily bike commuter.

The problems with pedestrians in front of the Landing is that they try to cross in the circle instead of the crosswalks before the circle.  Crossing in the circle is like walking diagonally across an intersection. I see it every single day because I drive through there at 5pm.

[Josh]

Anyone have any anecdotal input of how Monday went?

I saw a woman being ticketed near the base of the Wells Fargo building.

[thelakelander]

Downtown targeted for extra traffic enforcement program

By David Chapman, Staff Writer

As thousands descend upon Downtown for this year’s edition of One Spark, it’s inevitable there will be at least a few lawbreakers.
Jaywalkers. Bike riders without proper safety equipment. Drivers not yielding to pedestrians.

Minor offenses some might think, but ones the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office the past several months has been taking a stricter approach to as part of its participation in a statewide program.

It’s called the “Alert Today Alive Tomorrow” initiative started by the Florida Department of Transportation and University of South Florida.

The program seeks to reduce accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists in high-profile areas throughout some of Florida’s most offending counties.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547344

[JaxByDefault]

I'm glad to see JSO stepping up enforcement. It is a wonder that Jacksonville doesn't have more (than our already ridiculously high) pedestrian fatalities. Over half of the pedestrians downtown seem like they have no idea what crosswalk signals (or traffic lights) mean--even when walking with small children. Virtually everyday downtown, I see pedestrian step into oncoming traffic without even looking.

Again, every day, at least one pedestrian will step in front of me right as the light turns green (and their crosswalk signal has been red for 30 seconds)--fine, I'll wait for them. But then they step into the next lane (think State, Union, Main, etc.) where a car that has had light priority for several blocks is going 40-50 mph and cannot see the pedestrian until he/she steps out from in front of my vehicle.

Also, I routinely see pedestrians strolling across the street in the face of oncoming traffic, forcing several lanes of traffic to slow down or stop completely for them. This is not a real bother to me, but I can see how it could antagonize many drivers into not respecting pedestrians even in situations where the pedestrian has the right-of-way.

Again, it's a miracle that we do not have more pedestrian deaths in Jacksonville. I'm all in favor of walkable urban environments, but I have never been to a city where pedestrians are so ignorant (or uncaring) about traffic laws and basic safety.