Jaywalkers Beware

Hebron's got it right. That sleepy little town "uphill" from Woodstock is not waiting for some kid (or adult) to get hurt or killed before taking action.

This morning's Northwest Herald carries an article by Regan Foster on Page 2A about the efforts in Hebron to halt walking in streets where sidewalks are available, disregard for traffic laws by bicyclists and "rabble-rousers."

When do kids learn about walking in streets? Don't parents still teach their kids to walk on sidewalks and not in streets? Maybe not. It has been a long time since I was a kid.

Hebron's problems are all over the county - probably further. Of course, they aren't "Hebron's" problems when they are outside of Hebron. Its problems seem to be with students walking several abreast in the streets, forcing cars to drive around them, slow or stop. What's wrong with this? Figure it out.

If sidewalks are available, pedestrians belong on them. There is even a state traffic law that prohibits walking in streets, when sidewalks are available. Why don't police officers enforce this law?

For many it's a low priority - until the ambulance is called because a pedestrian in the street was hit by a car. Then it's hours of paperwork.

And bicyclists running stop signs? What part of not caring about your own life, let alone the state law requiring a bicyclist to come to a full stop at a stop sign, do these riders, elsewhere and here, not understand? You can watch bicyclists in Woodstock sail down hills and roll right through stop signs at all hours of the day and night. And at night with no lights. How many tickets have Woodstock police officers issued for bicycle violations in the past year?

Hebron is solving the problem the right way. Write some tickets. Publicize the problem and what they are doing about it. Write some more tickets. It doesn't take long for word to circulate through a school that tickets are being issued.

Where does this problem occur in Woodstock? On South Street. On Clay Street. On many residential streets. The jaywalking (crossing in mid-block) in front of Woodstock High School and Dean Street School goes unchallenged.

What's the solution? Tickets, publicity and more tickets. If someone squawks to the police chief, the mayor or a member of the City Council, the only question should be, "Were you walking in the street when a sidewalk was available?" End of discussion.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT