Bethesda (living, buses, statistics)

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by jetty

One has to live in the area before they can have a useful contribution to this matter.

As about the bridge, I must say that it is completly useless for pedestrian crossing from either side of Edgemoor Ln, since it is not acciessible from the street level side walk.

Personally I beleive the bridge is more of an extension of pedestrina crossing, not as the pedestrian crossing - it works mainly for the people who work in the federal govt. building and park in the parking garage ...

Well, first of all the bridge is accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator.

Secondly, the bridge IS a pedestrian crossing at the same location you want. The problem seems to be not that there is no provision made by the county, but that people don't use it or don't know that it is there. Personally I think the bridge route takes you through some lovely spaces.

Thirdly, I do work here and I love taking the bridge and have never jaywalked at that location. There are traffic lights at ALL the intersections in that block and a pedestrian bridge. How much MORE do you want, honestly it seems like some people are never happy? The result would be MORE gridlock in Bethesda when the t

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by ep1234

It's a bit strange that someone from California is trying to give us lessons about how we live, or want to live in Maryland ...

Since, for whatever reason, our Bethesda, MD. pedestrian issue has stirred up interest in California, here are some pieces of information that might be helpful before jumping to conclusions:

First of all I'm born and raise in Maryland. I left for greener grasses and returning because my wife is military and is going to work at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

I found this forum while looking to find SAFE housing for my family and ran across this post and simple gave my opinion. There are some that are in agreement with me and they are there on the ground using the bridge.

I think the thing that struck me most of all is that when I left Maryland over 15 years ago the local governments were wasting taxpayer money left and right back then and now the taxpayers are asking to waste money on something that is already in place...thats all.

Once a Marylander always a Marylander..............

[ep1234]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Well, first of all the bridge is accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator.

Secondly, the bridge IS a pedestrian crossing at the same location you want. The problem seems to be not that there is no provision made by the county, but that people don't use it or don't know that it is there. Personally I think the bridge route takes you through some lovely spaces.

Thirdly, I do work here and I love taking the bridge and have never jaywalked at that location. There are traffic lights at ALL the intersections in that block and a pedestrian bridge. How much MORE do you want, honestly it seems like some people are never happy? The result would be MORE gridlock in Bethesda when the t

The bridge is not accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator - this is visible (in other words the access is nowhere in sight :-)) on the pictures provided on this site: http://geocities.com/edgemoorlane

[ep1234]

Originally Posted by bunky3301

First of all I'm born and raise in Maryland. I left for greener grasses and returning because my wife is military and is going to work at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

I found this forum while looking to find SAFE housing for my family and ran across this post and simple gave my opinion. There are some that are in agreement with me and they are there on the ground using the bridge.

I think the thing that struck me most of all is that when I left Maryland over 15 years ago the local governments were wasting taxpayer money left and right back then and now the taxpayers are asking to waste money on something that is already in place...thats all.

Once a Marylander always a Marylander..............

Again, the bridge is not accesible from the sidewalk - as clearly visible on the pictures provided on this site: http://geocities.com/edgemoorlane

As about the government, I agree 100% they definitely waste money left and right :-)

[bgone]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Well, first of all the bridge is accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator.

Secondly, the bridge IS a pedestrian crossing at the same location you want. The problem seems to be not that there is no provision made by the county, but that people don't use it or don't know that it is there. Personally I think the bridge route takes you through some lovely spaces.

Thirdly, I do work here and I love taking the bridge and have never jaywalked at that location. There are traffic lights at ALL the intersections in that block and a pedestrian bridge. How much MORE do you want, honestly it seems like some people are never happy? The result would be MORE gridlock in Bethesda when the t

This is absolutelly not true - the bridge is not accessible from ether side of Edgemoor Lane. Not just that it isn't accessible, but also, there are no signs what so ever guiding pedestrians through the path that would take them to the bridge.

I can't imagine why would somebody be so much against a safe pedestrian crossing with traffic lights ...

[jaylo]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Well, first of all the bridge is accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator.

Secondly, the bridge IS a pedestrian crossing at the same location you want. The problem seems to be not that there is no provision made by the county, but that people don't use it or don't know that it is there. Personally I think the bridge route takes you through some lovely spaces.

Thirdly, I do work here and I love taking the bridge and have never jaywalked at that location. There are traffic lights at ALL the intersections in that block and a pedestrian bridge. How much MORE do you want, honestly it seems like some people are never happy? The result would be MORE gridlock in Bethesda when the t

I commute there every day since 2005 and I definitely haven't seen any street/sidewalk level access to the bridge. Moreover the overwhelming majority of people are crossing Edgemoor Ln at that location because they have no other options. It is unspeakable why would someone be so much against a pedestrian crossing at this location. If the county, or city government would really care about what is going on, they would hire a third party to conduct some statistical (like how many people do cross there on a daily basis) and polling serveys so they can make a decision based on the real needs of the people they suppose to represent.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by ep1234

Again, the bridge is not accesible from the sidewalk - as clearly visible on the pictures provided on this site: http://geocities.com/edgemoorlane

As about the government, I agree 100% they definitely waste money left and right :-)

The interesting thing in that picture is that you cannot see what is not in that picture. Once you get UNDER the enclosed bus station there is an escalator, flight of stairs, and elevator to the plaza (bridge) level. On the other side there is an elevator and stairs at the parking garage. There is also the stairs and elevator by Chipotle's if you don't mind walking that way. I realize this is probably an outrageous 50 foot detour given some routes but given a 50 foot detour in either way you would also have your choice of 2 traffic lights to cross too (at the intersections of Woodmont and Edgemoor, and Edgemoor and Old Georgetown). So there is a bridge in the middle of the block and crossing lights at each end of the block. There's a wealth of safe crossing options especially compared to many other more dangerous intersections in the county.

What I do think is that this bridge access ought to be better signed because it surely is not intuitive to find the access.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by jaylo

I commute there every day since 2005 and I definitely haven't seen any street/sidewalk level access to the bridge. Moreover the overwhelming majority of people are crossing Edgemoor Ln at that location because they have no other options. It is unspeakable why would someone be so much against a pedestrian crossing at this location. If the county, or city government would really care about what is going on, they would hire a third party to conduct some statistical (like how many people do cross there on a daily basis) and polling serveys so they can make a decision based on the real needs of the people they suppose to represent.

What they need to do is show people where the bridge is and where it can be accessed if they don't want to use the 2 conveniently located crosswalks. I have commuted to Bethesda since 1989 and perhaps I assume that people know about these things--I saw the bridges go UP...

[ep1234]

Originally Posted by Joykins

The interesting thing in that picture is that you cannot see what is not in that picture. Once you get UNDER the enclosed bus station there is an escalator, flight of stairs, and elevator to the plaza (bridge) level. On the other side there is an elevator and stairs at the parking garage. There is also the stairs and elevator by Chipotle's if you don't mind walking that way. I realize this is probably an outrageous 50 foot detour given some routes but given a 50 foot detour in either way you would also have your choice of 2 traffic lights to cross too (at the intersections of Woodmont and Edgemoor, and Edgemoor and Old Georgetown). So there is a bridge in the middle of the block and crossing lights at each end of the block. There's a wealth of safe crossing options especially compared to many other more dangerous intersections in the county.

What I do think is that this bridge access ought to be better signed because it surely is not intuitive to find the access.

In a previous post the bridge was accessible to the sidewalk ...
Quote: "Well, first of all the bridge is accessible to the sidewalk by stairs or elevator." (Joykins, 05-16-2008, 02:17AM)
Now based on this post, it isn't quite like that ... :-) - which is true, the bridge is not accessible to the sidewalk of Edgemoor Ln, the location/subject of this discussion.

Also, it is great that some of the street crossings mentioned in this post do have safe pedestrian crossing, but again, that has nothing to do with this particular location, where around 800 pedestrians/day cross the street in current unsafe conditions.

[bgone]

Yes, that is 100% correct - the bridge is not accessible to the to the sidewalk of Edgemoor Ln.

I have been commuting in this area for many years (since '99) and I have been always amazed by the stupidity of the way the bridge was built. Since it isn't accessible to the sidewalk, the bridge is not a substitute for a safe pedestrian crossing with traffic lights.

Every day I walk by, I wonder how long do we have to cross the street without a proper pedestrian crossing, and why is the local govt so much against it ... After all the spending left and right, one pedestrian crossing wouldn't make a huge difference - if money is the issue ...