[UC] Re: drivers going the wrong way

[John Ellingsworth]

Title: FW: more on Walnut St injury

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1   I think it has increased . . . but, being a lifetime resident of philadelphia, and having seen numerous friends hit by cars and involved in accidents, none of these things recently discussed are new.   This city has the absolute minimum traffic enforcement possible.   Just recently, I was driving behind a police car (16th district), when we came to a green light where we were both making a left turn (at the corner of 32nd and Spring Garden, major intersection). For some reason unknown to me, the cop stopped at the light - it was green, so I was perplexed.  Then, to my astonishment, the car in the opposing traffic went through his red light and made a left turn on red!  Well, I was sure this guy was in trouble, as no driver with half a brain would do that, as you would surely be pulled over and fined.   Wouldn't you know that the cop did NOTHING, only moved after I flickered my lights at him, and let the violator go - I went in the same direction for a number of blocks, so I know he never went after the car.  I think the officer was a student of the Philadelphia police traffic enforcement school.   Philadelphia is the most pedestrian unfriendly city in this country - my theory is that one of the reasons we have such a low quality of life in general is that you aren't safe as a pedestrian in this city, and that the criminals are just driving around looking for a place to commit another crime because they know they can do it free of intervention by police.  And forget notifying the police about a traffic violation - it is hard enough to get them to show up for a call to your area for anything, let alone a traffic problem!   Some points of reference, although several years old, still valid: http://www.philly.com/packages/hellonwheels/HBOX10.asp http://www.philly.com/packages/hellonwheels/default.asp (really good) http://www.philly.com/packages/hellonwheels/hell05.asp   Philadelphia traffic code: http://www.amlegal.com/philadelphia_pa/lpext.dll/Infobase/27f6?fn=altm ain-nf.htm&f=templates&2.0   http://www.walkable.org/   Thanks,   John Ellingsworth Virtual Curriculum Project Leader   AIM: jellings28 - ----- Original Message ----- From: Mayer, Ann To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 11:28 AM Subject: FW: drivers going the wrong way         Has anyone had the same experience that I have had in West Philadelphia over the last months with numerous cars coming the WRONG way on our one way streets? This baffles me.  It has been happing with increasing frequency.  The cars continue driving the wrong way even after other drivers honk at them.  Several times I have narrowly missed being wiped out.  I have a small Saturn, and some of the offenders are in big SUVs.  I have lived in the area since the 1970s and don't recall this being a major problem in the past.   Ann Mayer   -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com>   iQA/AwUBPFgrcwbexkNIm1OFEQLNTwCg4YSmm2Dst3dMh0uaCFlic5a156wAnR3B DZ7AmHiPTB9JFDwLOxfDaooo =EUYz -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----