POLL: What Would Make The Main/Maple Intersection Safer For Pedestrians?
We heard from several community members concerned about the busy intersection at Monday night's North Canton City Council meeting. Now we want to hear from you.
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What would make a pedestrian feel safe crossing the intersection of Main and Maple streets?
North Canton officials are trying to figure out just that after authorizing the purchase of equipment for the Main Street Traffic Signal Coordination Project at Monday night's City Council meeting.
Council heard from several members of the community about the hazards of crossing the busy intersection and what they thought might increase pedestrian safety in the future.
We also asked you on North Canton Patch, as well as Facebook and Twitter, what safety measures the city could take. Some said it relies much on both the pedestrians and the motorists ("Take everyone back to Driver's Ed and Safety Town," we saw one of our Twitter followers say). Others said a lot of problems could be solved by looking at traffic flow and the length of time it takes a pedestrian to cross the intersection.
We also heard from Ken Palosi, North Canton resident and Patch blogger, when he commented on Monday's story: "I cross that intersection a lot in my walks and as a former street designer I know that the problem isn't necessarily the intersection; it is the drivers in a hurry to turn that don't want to give pedestrians the right of way. Add to that the drivers who floor it when the light is turning red and you have an accident waiting to happen."
And some council members thought increased law enforcement at the intersection would send a clear message that pedestrian safety is a high priority in the city.
And we heard from Christina Vohs on Facebook: "Trying to get my kids on their bikes over to the library from the Y is a nightmare. I put myself out and stop and then let my kids go so the cars would hit me first if they don't stop. They make it really hard to live a healthy lifestyle with that intersection."
Join in the conversation. Take our poll. Let us know what you think will help increase safety for pedestrians.
In This article
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Ken Palosi
Joined Patch Wednesday, March 2, 2011 -
City of North Canton Police Department
145 N Main St, North Canton, OH
Morgan Day
8:28 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
"I definitely think stopping all four sides of traffic is the way to go. Maybe having one of those crossing signals (a lit up picture of a walker hanging above the intersection) would help. It is definitely intimidating crossing there and I'm from Columbus! If motorists have a problem with it, there are surely other routes to take." — from Laura Z. on our earlier pedestrian safety story.
Jennifer
10:27 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Stopping all four sides is not the answer! There are already enough stoplights in N. Canton causing it to take almost 20 minutes just to get up Main Street, let alone stopping traffic in all directions. Longer lights and more policing should be considered. Not inhibiting traffic flow even further! Please!!!
Ashley Villers
9:11 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
I have to agree with Jennifer, my commute from the north part of North Canton to Canton can either take 8 minutes or 28 minutes depending on whether or not I catch the lights.
People speed through yellow & red lights to avoid the rest of the city's lights. Perhaps just changing all the lights to have the same pattern would encourage people to drive the speed limit because they would no longer want to speed up to avoid the rest.
I think especially with some stricter enforcement and ticketing it would have the possibility of making the intersections a lot safer.
Terra Davie
2:30 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
My daughter and I have decided to walk 100 miles this Spring/Summer. I never realized how many cross walk lights don't work along Main Street. It was pretty disappointing. I know that there are steps being taken to make this a more walker/runner/bike rider friendly town. I hope that it becomes safer to cross the streets also.
Melanie J. Roll
10:40 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Some communities have in place a 25 mile speed limit through their business districts as well as their residential neighborhoods. This slowing of vehicle traffic allows people on foot to move among businesses with more ease. And those slower moving cars are better able to locate the signage for the various business on Main Street that they want to visit.
Folks who normally use Main and Maple Streets as “a pass through” could avoid the slower pace of those two streets by taking Everhard-Easthill and Applegrove for east west traffic, Whipple and Market for north south traffic, which all have a 35 mile speed limit.
Melanie J. Roll