03/12/07

Is A Crosswalk Needed?

The section of Aloma Avenue in Orange County between Palmetto Avenue and Forsyth Road is very heavily used by cars and trucks (some very big), especially during morning and evening rush hour.  This section of Aloma is also home to hundreds of apartment dwellers; students, young people and recent immigrants.  Many don’t have their own vehicle and rely on public transportation and rides from friends and fellow workers.

These residents walk to shopping, to bus stops and to pick up locations for rides.  However, to cross Aloma Avenue at a crosswalk, they have to go east to Palmetto Avenue or west to Forsyth, a distance of between ¼ and ½ mile.  Most don’t walk that far to get to the other side of the street, they jaywalk.

Take a look at the following map, aerial photo (courtesy of Google Earth) and photos taken between 6:45 and 8:15 AM on a Tuesday in February and decide for yourself if a crosswalk is needed.