Be careful walking in Columbia Heights. DCist reports, via TBD, that four different intersections in Columbia Heights are among the most dangerous in the city, what DDOT is calling “the most dangerous intersections for pedestrian crashes over the past 3 years.”
The intersections in our neighborhood are 14th and Park, 14th and Irving, and 14th and Columbia, as well as Georgia and New Hampshire. And I must say, I am not surprised by these intersections, and I think I know why.
In the case of 14th and Park, the stoplights and walk/don’t walk lights there don’t make sense. The traffic lights are often red in all directions and no cars are going. Pedestrians often stand for a couple seconds, look around, and then cross during the don’t walk signs. Of course people shouldn’t cross on the don’t walk signals, but I’ve done this myself because it’s just a weird situation — why is all the traffic stopped, and then why can’t we cross? Especially considering how this is a busy intersection, Kenyon and Park both join at 14th and there’s a lot of pedestrian traffic. I think DDOT should take a look at the traffic and pedestrian signals at this intersection.
As for the other intersections, I’ve written before about cars not paying attention to people walking legally in the crosswalk, they just turn then have to slam on their brakes. That’s probably part of the issue. However, I know there are often people crossing 14th Street all over the place when it says don’t walk, and often crossing in the middle of the road, not in a crosswalk. I’m sure this is part of the problem too. I think if the city wants to address these issues, they need to station police officers and ticket both cars turning into pedestrians and pedestrians doing dangerous jaywalking, like running across 14th.
A lot of DCist commenters said traffic calming is the issue, as in they drive too fast, but I’m not sure that’s it.
At least, that’s my opinion. It would stink having police officers busting jaywalkers, but if people are always getting hurt there, we need to do something. And I think busting drivers turning into people is worthwhile.
