COMMENTS

BYCYCLES, THE TRAIL, AND THE LAW

By: Scott Weber August 20, 2008

I wanted to make a couple of comments regarding this issue as you see this happening all too often. Not just in Orting. But, everywhere! The schools must not have "Officer Friendly" come by the these days like they did when I went to school. They taught you to stop and look both ways before crossing a street or entering a crosswalk. As you don't have the right of way until you are actually in it the crosswalk. And you were to get off your bike and walk across the street with it.

Obviously today there is this misconception on most peoples part that they can just keep walking or riding across a street and into traffic and the vehicle better stop for they would be in the wrong if they hit the pedestrian. Not So! I know I teach this to my kids as I can see they won't learn it any other way these days.

I also want to mention that with school starting up again soon. That the voulenteers that are used for crooswalk attendents could use some training and teach proper crosswalk behavior to the students. A few of them don't look before they walk out into the street with their flags. And the most frustrating thing I saw last year was when one of them was on a cell phone while walking out into the street! What good are they doing out there trying to protect our kids when they don't follow the rules or use better judgement.