Seniors seek safer streets

It's a common sight.

Las Vegas pedestrians darting in and out of traffic without using a signal or crosswalk and getting stuck standing on medians or in the middle of the center lane.

But when you are a senior citizen, trying the same maneuvers on busy city streets out of necessity is often dangerous and potentially fatal.

Some Las Vegas residents think the needs of the elderly are not being addressed when it comes to providing safe access to get them across the street.

The senior citizens living at Quail Estates West, condominiums/town homes at 2851 S. Valley View Blvd., are one such example.

The residents have a Citizen Area Transit bus stop directly across the street from their development. It's perfect for residents like Lucy Smith, 78, who because of failing eyesight, will soon have to depend on the bus service as her sole transportation.

But the residents can't adequately get across the street to board the bus or return to their complex once they are dropped off because there is no traffic light, stop sign or crosswalk there. Instead they must walk to the nearest traffic light at Pennwood Avenue, almost a mile away from the development to board the bus or be dropped off.

Smith says she won't be able to walk that far to another bus stop, and she doesn't understand why she should have to, when the nearest stop is across the street.

For more than two years, Judi Root, Quail Estate resident and co-founder of Justice for Home and Condo Owners, has pleaded with city councilmen and Public Works department officials, telling them that the needs of the city's seniors are not being addressed, using her complex as a prime example. Root, 67, wants a traffic light installed at her complex so residents can get to and from the bus stop.

"Where is the accommodations to the pedestrians? Sure, here's a bus stop, but you can't get to it," she said.

As she completes her thought, she points to a perfect example coming toward her on the sidewalk. Two pedestrians, Maria Gable, who is hearing impaired and lives at the complex, and her friend, Joe Kedo, attempt to cross to the bus stop by dodging traffic. They eventually get stuck in the center lane of Valley View and wait for minutes with automobiles barreling past in both directions at an estimated average speed of 45 mph.

In 1997 Root sent a letter to W. Gordon Derr, assistant city traffic engineer for the public works department, asking for a traffic light to be installed across from her development. Derr responded by letter, writing that it was not feasible to install a traffic light.

To date, there is still no way for these seniors to get to the bus stop across from their development without a long trek. While Derr did not return repeated calls, O. C. White, city traffic engineer for the Department of Public Works, did address the situation.

"We've done traffic studies in that area, and at this time we haven't seen enough traffic to warrant a signal," he said.

He explained that his department was worried about putting traffic signals too close to each other, because there is a signal at Pennwood and Sahara avenues. Also, in order to place a traffic signal, certain 11 "warrants" or criteria have to be met, such as the volume of traffic, numbers of accidents in the area, and the amount of pedestrians.

"In this area, no warrants have been met at this location," he said. "We get requests all over from people that would like signals put in their development. But if we didn't have this warrant process, we'd have everyone asking for one."

He admitted that a crosswalk or a traffic light across from Quail Estates is unlikely.

"When we put down a crosswalk, the drawback is that so many drivers are preoccupied. People don't always stop so we try to be careful where we put the crosswalks. But as far as (putting a light across from) their driveway, that is more difficult because we don't look at private driveways as typical intersections."

Root fears the wait, and says it's not just about her complex, but about the rights of all senior citizens.

"The politicians should realize in this town is a majority of residents that are seniors," she said. "If they say they are interested in seniors, prove it."

Las Vegas resident Richard Everding, 80, is also concerned about the lack of resources for senior citizens when it comes to using the bus or crossing the street.

"It's bad enough that every bus stop is 25 yards past the intersection, so you have to walk to the intersection to cross," he said. "But by the time you get to the intersection and cross the street, the bus that is supposed to be waiting for you, leaves. The lights are just against you, I've just accepted it. I leave an extra 30 minutes earlier when I am taking this bus."

He is also angry with the way local drivers treat pedestrians, young and old. Because he no longer drives, he said that just crossing the street every day is a dangerous feat.

"I've got a small group ... that drive around on Lake Mead Boulevard, and their main practice is to see how close the can come to pedestrians," he said. "I had one come so close that it blew air through my pants. And I was in the crosswalk!"

Curry Roberts, another resident of Las Vegas, also worries about crossing the street as a pedestrian. His biggest concern is with traffic signals being timed too short.

"Overall, there seems to be little regard for pedestrians," the 75-year-old said. "There are a lot of people who walk and they need consideration."

He cited numerous intersections he walks at where he doesn't even have time to get to the median before the light changes.

Everding offers a simple suggestion on how to combat this problem.

"You've got to teach drivers to respect pedestrians. Just yesterday, a driver didn't think I was walking fast enough so they honked at me. Drivers like to use pedestrians for target practice."

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