Bethesda (environment, apartment, condos)

[ep1234]

nice place to live, but for commuters extremely dangerous and the government isn't doing anything about it - see: http://geocities.com/edgemoorlane

[Joykins]

I work there and walk there nearly every day. There is a BRIDGE across that road. Right above the street. Right at that location? Why do you need a crosswalk when there is a BRIDGE? There is elevator access on both sides.

[ep1234]

Yes there is a bridge, but pedestrian crossing habits are such that the majority of the people are not using the bridge, instead they are walking through the natural, common sense pattern and are crossing Edgemoor Lane in huge numbers on a daily basis. Moreover, people who are not familiar with the area have no idea about the existence of the bridge. So, yes the bridge is an option, but the statistics show that it is a useless, ugly piece of concrete and definitely isn't the solution for pedestrian safety / pedestrian-friendly environment.

[vanyali]

Sounds like, if the city put up the money for a bridge, they're not going to want to put up more money for a light and a cross walk. Probably worried about slowing down traffic.

I'd think they'd have to cave and put in a light & cross walk if enough people are really getting mowed down though. Are people really getting run over there, or are they just PO'ed because they want a light?

[Joykins]

The bridge is a really nice way to go. You can get from the metro station or the parking garage all the way to pretty far north on wisconsin ave without having to cross the street if you use the bridge. I am always surprised when people choose not to use it when there are signs and everything.

While the intersection has the potential to be dangerous, there are a number of lights and bridges in the area and the flow by the metro station is pretty slow due to turning buses etc. and there are lot of nearby lights and crosswalks. I mean, why blame the county when people choose to jaywalk and not take safer options that are like half a block away?

[ep1234]

Yes, it's pretty sad that the city/county is more worried about slowing down the traffic, or money than providing a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment. That particular section of Edgemoor Ln is not a major vehicular traffic way such as Wisconsin or Old Georgetown - on the other hand it is a major pedestrian commuter and public transportation area, where the priority should be given to the pedestrians and not busses, or other vehicular traffic. Slowing down the traffic is just not an acceptable answer (especially not on that section of Edgemoor Ln, if we would be talking about Wisconsin or Old Georgetown [which in turn have interestingly enough a large number of pedestrian crossings with traffic lights] slowing down the traffic might be a somewhat reasonable argument, but then why don't we just get red of all traffic lights so we don't slow down the traffic ...).

As about the access to the bridge, yes, from the parking garage it is easier to access and probably there are also signs, but from the metro station or basically from anywhere else except the parking garage, there are no signs and the access is not obvious.

As about the county, the county is (or at least should) be there (in a democracy) to serve the people who they (should) represent. Why blame the people (commuters and others who choose to use public transportation, thus contributing to a less polluted cleaner, greener ,healthier environment) when the county is choosing to accommodate vehicular traffic instead of pedestrian traffic? [Anyway, with the current trend of gas prices, that whole section of Edgemoor Ln could be turned into a pedestrian area :-)] Why is it too much to ask for a safe pedestrian crossing (with traffic lights)? It can't be that expensive - it's definitelly not as expensive as a human life.

[Joykins]

I agree the bridges should be better signed. Bethesda is one of the most pedestrian-friendly suburbs IMO but you do have to know about those bridges. Also signs to elevators for those who are handicapped.

I actually think the traffic there is slow enough because there are lights at the intersections with Woodmont and Montgomery and the buses are all turning. The thing about this street is that the median looks like a sidewalk about street level (not raised) so cars and trucks park on it. Combine that with the buses and visibility is very poor when jaywalking. Jaywalking there is really not safe. I think having lights at both intersections and the bridge really help, but people do have to know about it (plus about where the elevators are which really makes a difference to people who can't handle the stairs).

[vanyali]

Maybe they should raise the median so people won't park on it. That sounds pretty cheap & easy.

[bgone]

Raising the median still doesn't solve the main issue, which I believe is pedestrian safety and pedestrian-friendly environment (which Bethesda is so proudly advertising ...).

As about "jaywalking" ... - a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights would solve that problem as well :-)

No matter what, no matter how hard the county/city would like to force people not to cross Edgemoor Ln in that area (for example removing the handicap ramp [which they just did on 04-24-2008]), natural human being will still make people use the shortest path to get to their desired destination(s) ...

One of the previous psosts put it well, the officials should first of all accomodate the needs of the people/pedestrian traffic, not vehicle traffic, especially on that section of Edgemoor Ln whic is not a major vehicle traffic artery of the Washington DC Metro area.

[jen101]

I live in one of the nearby apartment/condo buildings and I commute to work and do cross Edgemoor Ln at this location along with hundreds of other commuters on a daily basis who either live in the surrounding neighborhoods or drive and park in the nearby parking garage.

I definitely agree with one of the previous posts, that the county should accommodate pedestrians first. In general Bethesda, but especially that area near the Metro station is one of the most populated areas (large number of apartment buildings, condos, and nearby single family home neighborhoods) - one would think that it would be a no brainer to plan traffic patterns accordingly ...

Finally someone has started something - let's hope that those who suppose to represent us will listen ...