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Rally to protest 70 pedestrians killed in NYC so far this year!

8/5/2013

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Transportation Alternatives is organizing a rally to highlight the pedestrian deaths to date this year and to try to reduce the number of additional deaths.  The rally will be held this Wednesday at City Hall Manhattan.  Help spread the word and come along.  Seven pedestrians have been killed on NYC streets in the last week alone.  

Time: 8:30 - 9:00
Date: Wednesday August 7, 2013
Where: City Hall Steps Manhattan. Duane Street NY, NY 

TA states that these pedestrians had right of way and as I believe pedestrians, as the most vulnerable road users, SHOULD have right of way I will be at the rally and I fully support Transportation Alternative's desire to raise the profile on these deaths, to demand improved safety and to take action to reduce pedestrian deaths.  I then looked up the rules and was disturbed by the tone of the document and how little rights it seems pedestrians really have.  Section 4-04 of the NYCDOT Traffic Rules is below.

Section 4-04
PEDESTRIANS
(a) Pedestrians subject to traffic rules, except as otherwise provided herein. Pedestrians shall 
be subject to traffic control signals and pedestrian control signals as provided in §§4-03(a) and 
4-03(b) of these rules and to the lawful orders and directions of any law enforcement officer, but at all 
other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions 
stated in this section.
(b) Right of way in crosswalks. 
(1) Operators to yield to pedestrians in crosswalk. When traffic control signals or pedestrian 
control signals are not in place or not in operation, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right of 
way to a pedestrian crossing a roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is in the path of 
the vehicle or is approaching so closely thereto as to be in danger.
(2) Pedestrians shall not cross in front of oncoming vehicles. Notwithstanding the 
provisions of (1) of this subdivision (b), no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place 
of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the 
operator to yield.
(3) Vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to 
permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the operator of any other vehicle approaching from 
the rear in the same or adjacent lanes shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
(c) Restrictions on crossings. 
(1) No pedestrian shall enter or cross a roadway at any point where signs, fences, barriers, or 
other devices are erected to prohibit or restrict such crossing or entry.
(2) No pedestrian shall cross any roadway at an intersection except within a crosswalk.
(3) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway except at a crosswalk on any block in which traffic 
control signals are in operation at both intersections bordering the block.
(d) Operators to exercise due care. Notwithstanding other provisions of these rules, the operator 
of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.

Reading the Traffic Rules makes me feel like a dog on a short leash.  I accept that we pedestrians need to pay attention to where we are going and other forms of transportation but there are many things that can be done to make life safer for people on foot.  I will be exploring some of these as I report on the New Rochelle Street Walking Challenge.  For now, attend the rally if you possible can!

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    Author: Nina Arron

    I am an enthusiastic pedestrian, urban planner, and project manager currently living in New Rochelle, New York.  I am grateful to be living in a walkable city with affordable easily accessible public transport (both trains and buses). My appreciation became even greater after spending three years back in New Zealand where  it was much harder to fit daily walking into my life in what is considered one of the great natural, green environments in the world.  

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