With a plan to add diagonal crosswalks at several intersections in Los Angeles on the table, will the recent shift toward pedestrian friendly streets be enough to make the idea stick?
Soumya Karlamangla reports that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is considering a "controversial initiative" to "install new crisscross, diagonal crosswalks, also known as pedestrian scrambles or, more colorfully, 'Barnes dances' for Henry Barnes, a traffic engineer who promoted their use in Denver 70 years ago."
"Garcetti wants to begin modestly, possibly converting three L.A. intersections near subway stations and gauging how they fit into street management, including the city's carefully synchronized traffic lights."
The article frames the debate over diagonal crosswalks in relation to Los Angeles' traditional politics, still favored by many members of the public, of putting the car first. The city has a long history of adding diagonal crosswalks, only to remove them due to delays and confusion. This time, "Garcetti is studying adding scrambles at 7th and Flower, Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, and Aliso and Alameda streets near Union Station."
FULL STORY: Diagonal walkways put drivers, pedestrians at different cross purposes
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research