TREASURE ISLAND – If Mayor Mary Maloof had a choice, Treasure Island would lead the way in instructing drivers and pedestrians along Pinellas County beaches on how to properly use a crosswalk.
In a previous Treasure Island Commission workshop, Maloof related a phone conversation with a part-time resident complaining of city drivers not obeying state laws allowing pedestrians a right of way at a marked crosswalk. The complaint was enough for Maloof to investigate the issue personally.
She reported at the Feb. 21 commission meeting that she spent some time on a weekend day walking around the city observing how drivers and pedestrians interact at a few of the city’s crosswalks.
What she witnessed alarmed her. A particular crosswalk that left an unpleasant impression upon Maloof was between Walgreen’s and Sloppy Joe’s restaurant on Gulf Boulevard near 106th Avenue.
“I wanted to see what the circumstances were,” Maloof told the commission.
While Maloof did not state how long she monitored pedestrian traffic at the crosswalk, she said “traffic was heavy and only one car stopped.”
As a result, Maloof asked newly appointed Treasure Island police Chief Tim Casey to speak at the meeting about crosswalk etiquette. Casey played an educational video of crosswalk etiquette produced by the city of St. Petersburg that also will be broadcast on the Treasure Island cable channel (Bright House Networks cable channel 15).
In short, Casey said, when a pedestrian steps out onto a roadway, all traffic in that lane or traffic bound in the same direction must yield. Traffic flow in the opposite direction need not yield until the pedestrian steps into that lane of traffic. Casey noted pedestrians are to allow a safe distance for traffic to come to a halt, and pedestrians are to use a hand signal: an open palm facing the traffic.
“Pedestrians automatically think they have the right of way and that’s not the case,” Casey said.
If a crosswalk does not exist, pedestrians are to yield to all traffic.
Commissioner Ed Gayton Jr. observed similar problems.
“[Pedestrians] need to be very, very careful,” he said. “He tried to test his luck on a neighborhood crosswalk,” he said. “I tried 10 times. I did jumping jacks. (Traffic) still never stopped.”
Casey informed the commission that enforcing crosswalk ordinances can be dicey for police.
“Officers have to make a judgment call,” he said.
Fines for failing to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk can result in a $70 to $125 ticket which is a moving violation but not a criminal violation. The offending motorist could have a point or two assessed to their record.
City Manager Ron Stone stated the city needs to get more pedestrian friendly. He hinted the lack of crosswalk etiquette may be a “culture of barrier islands.”
Real estate signs
Resident Tom Rust spoke before the commission and entered a lengthy letter into the record. Rust is trying to sell his property and is frustrated at a stagnant real estate market on the island. He wanted the commission to change city code to allow Realtors or home sellers, on a temporary basis, to erect “For Sale” signs and signs directing potential buyers to open houses on city property.
Fellow resident Susan Stephens, a Realtor, also spoke to the commission, echoing Rust’s sentiments.
Commissioner Alan Bildz sympathized with Rust and Stephens and asked if the city could allow signs on Sundays so potential buyers aren’t driving around lost.
Commissioner Richard Kraus was hesitant to change the code.
“What’s the difference between a car or boat or yard sale? Pretty soon, there will be signs everywhere,” he said.
Stone cautioned the commission that such a change in code could open the floodgates to all manner of signs and potential legal headaches. Stone said there is a law firm based in Georgia that specializes in signage legal issues and aggressively seeks out potential lawsuits. The firm, Stone said, is troublesome to communities.
Stone cited the city of Clearwater’s recent legal battles with the same firm over signage issues. Some municipalities which have tangled with this law firm had to allow all sorts of signs they never imagined, he said.
Both Rust and Stephens asked for a change in code until the Treasure Island Causeway bridge construction was complete.
