7-9 a.m., Verdugo and Mountain: 270 Northbound Pedestrians, Too Many Bicyclists without Helmets
More than 70 volunteers are counting pedestrians and bicyclists at key intersections in Glendale during two-hour periods today and Saturday, to provide baseline statistics for Glendale’s Safe and Healthy Streets Program.
I and another volunteer covered the intersection of Verdugo and Mountain (just south of GCC) from 7-9 a.m this morning. During that time 270 pedestrians and 19 bicyclists crossed the street going north toward the college. Also during that time, one car came to a screeching halt, just avoiding an accident, right in front of the crosswalk. Of the 19 bicyclists, more than half were not wearing helmets. Students: WEAR A HELMET!
Very few people were crossing southbound, and of those that were, many had been seen crossing northbound an hour or more before. No doubt the volunteer team taking the 5-7 p.m. shift will find a lopsided number of pedestrians crossing in the other direction.
Here’s a look at the intersection just before 9 a.m. -
At the end of the counting shift, volunteers turned in their reports to Colin Bogart, who was stationed at Porto’s Bakery -
Wow 270! I didn’t think it was that much! It was fantastic working with you and I look forward to see how the information will further safety issues in Glendale.
[...] Stopped at an intersection on Central Avenue just two days later, I watched five young men (maybe older teenagers, but old enough to be making decisions for themselves) pass by on bicycles. Clearly together on a ride, not one of them was wearing a helmet. Bicyclists: too many of you are riding without helmets in Glendale. [...]