This article refreshed my concern about the way our reliance on the automobile has led to the existence of dangerous conditions for pedestrians. The recent death of a ten-year-old on Old Freeport Road in Ohara illustrates the need for safe places for pedestrians to travel. (Today's Valley News Dispatch has an editorial commenting on the same story, and rightly pointing out that the group of children could have waited for a ride. But should there not have been a safe walkway for pedestrians to use?)
In and around Tarentum many people do not own cars. They walk and use public transportation to get to their destinations. Some use motorized wheelchairs, and are forced onto narrow Tarentum streets when disrepair of a sidewalk leaves piles of gravel in the way for weeks at a time.
The lengthy project to widen the Tarentum Bridge road in New Kensington was frustrating to drivers. But not many drivers are aware how the whole project was conducted with little respect for the safety of pedestrians. People using the bridge walkway were for a time forced to walk in traffic at the New Kensington end of the bridge.Eventually the sidewalk was completed as far as the corner with the entrance to the Giant Eagle. Although the sidewalk has no barrier (as exists along the bridge), at least now pedestrians have their own place to walk a short distance into New Kensington. (A car would at least need to jump the curb to endanger a pedestrian.)
But at the end of the sidewalk, the crosswalk leads to a corner where no sidewalk resumes. Pedestrians, or those in motorized wheelchairs, are forced back into traffic.Although Tarentum has a few convenience stores, there is no supermarket here. The bridge walkway is a necessary route for many local pedestrians to pick up their weekly groceries.
The route should be safer.
3 comments:
I truly feel sorry that a child had to lose their life like this, but I even feel more sorry that the parents would allow a girl of ten years of age to be out at 12.45 a.m. This is my biggest concern. Does a child belong out at this hour of the night? I truly think not. This whole incident could of been curbed if there would of been more parental supervision. Such a tragedy and a shame that it happened.
I did want to post a comment also on there needing to be safer walk ways for pedestrians. I am in complete agreement on that. I know I lived in Tarentum for two years when my children were babies and I also had no transportation at the time and depended on walking across the tarentum bridge for access to the store. I have to say there should be something in place that would be beneficial to the pedestrians.
Hi Elphie, You raised a lot of good questions, and it is a shame that people in cars most times have no respect for those that are not.
As for the question about the parents. I had to ask that. My boys are 16 and 14 and I watch them like a hawk. I just have been very picky about where and who my kids go with, but I guess that is the difference in parent skills. I know that is why every where I got people notice how different and respectful my boys are. They are not perfect there only down fall is they can be mouthy at times , but other then that they give me no problems.
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