Livable Neighborhoods Pedestrian and Bicycle Access & Safety Page

Pedestrian and Bicycle Access & Safety Page

Every year in the USA, almost 6,000 pedestrians are killed and another 90,000 injured. This costs almost $20 billion per year in medical expenses, lost productivity, insurance benefits and other societal costs.

We’ve seen our share of pedestrian tragedies too; but this is La Crosse and we can do better!

Common courtesy and State law requires drivers yield to pedestrians, however drivers who are in a hurry or distracted ignore this too often. Even careful drivers can’t heed warnings at crosswalks that aren’t easily visible.

The result is increased risk to pedestrian safety, especially for children, the elderly and the challenged among us.

The crossing guard at West Ave & Pine St does his best to help pedestrians, but a driver in too much of a hurry shoots through the crosswalk after he signaled traffic to stop.

Studies by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and others show there is more that we can do, including:

Improve the visibility of pedestrian crossings
Improve driver education
Increase awareness for drivers and pedestrians
Increase enforcement

The City of La Crosse has limited resources for pedestrian safety signs, street markings, warning lights and the like. Recent cuts in State revenue sharing and a tight State transportation budget make it less likely crosswalk improvements can be made.

Logan students dash across 6 lanes of fast moving traffic at Clinton & George Sts. There is only 1 pedestrian crossing sign marking this crosswalk on a busy thoroughfare.

Livable Neighborhoods, along with others in the community, are raising funds for a Pedestrian Safety Program. Donations will go to the City to purchase temporary pedestrian crosswalk stanchions, LED stop signs for crossing guards, high visibility pedestrian crossing signs, paint for improved street markings, etc.

The Program, combined with greater awareness and increased enforcement, will help reduce the risks to all pedestrians in all of our neighborhoods!

A City crossing guard helps elementary school children and a mother across a crosswalk in front of an elementary school. A small donation to the LN Pedestrian Safety Program can help keep this a routine event.

Temporary crosswalk stanchions placed before and at crosswalks along major thoroughfares can help alert drivers to be ready to stop safely for pedestrians.

High visibility crosswalk signs, before and at crosswalks together with warnings that it is State Law to yield to pedestrians can help modify driver behavior.

Broad stripes and wide crosswalk markings also help drivers recognize crosswalks. A few dollars in paint and labor can help too.

Public awareness campaigns and increased enforcement help get the message across that pedestrian safety is valued in our community.

Revised June 30, 2005