Is the Seattle Department of Transportation serious when they didn't see anything amiss?

I suspect they've never had to negotiate either of those crosswalks during rush hour and the one at 49th can be worse because after the curve at 47th, cars speed up going down hill and it's hard to see people waiting to cross going south with the vegetation. It's particularly difficult once it gets dark.

I had the pleasure of almost being hit by a car that hit the brakes at the last moment on slippery pavement as the car came barreling towards me out of control. I didn't get hit, but it was close.

I've even seen some people use the turning lane as a passing lane, and if you've started out into the crosswalk, you also have to look for people who decide to pass when someone is stopped. I've experienced that a few times and it's scary when everyone else is stopped and then someone comes speeding down the turn lane to either pass or turn and don't stop.

I'm 51 years old and find those crosswalks dangerous, but I can at least run when I need to. The 80-year-old woman with the complaints probably doesn't have that option.

I think the Seattle Department of Transportation needs to look at those crosswalks more carefully and over different times in the day. I also think that people just don't think they will be caught because no one is stopping and citing those drivers for speeding and/or not yielding to pedestrians.

Karen Eckert

Admiral