Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1927-01-23 | Page 8 | Cities Should Direct Walkers

CITIES SHOULD DIRECT WALKERS Old English Law Still StillI I to i Traffic lh tl pedestrian c Is subject r d d to jua ju aa a definite rules rilles In his UM of the streets as thos applied to the Ih drivers of o motor American cities will not make much In greater safety 01 a relief relict from Com Com- Complicated codes of o rules been for tor the control of drivers ers but there are arc only a 4 few cities In the country e gl en any attention to the th It H I surprising to know that the right o pedestrians are still con controlled trolled by an old common law lawI which developed In Eng land I land s before the automo automo- automobile bUt bile was waa invented This old rulo I that all persons had an equal right ht to use All II parts ot o the pub pub- public public lic and that all had mu- mu mutual mu mutual rights and to 1001 lookout out for tor the safety of o others This rulo w was a modified b by statute In Inmany Inmany many ways with the of the automobile The Tho complete ot of the pedestrIan pode b been en disturbed howe er This wa not unreason unreasonable able In It the th days when all WaD The could l walk y-walk to his hearts heart's con con- content tint con tent with danger Traffic slow so that any agile wallter could get out ot of the way Tho automobile has bas changed things The roadway has s become A- A place where things thine happen very Instead ot of or tour miles per pcr hour traffic moves III of from 20 miles per hour upward on city streets The tr edom of pedestrian to with traffic III In the roadway by crossing between In Intersections or against the tho signals at Intersections Is a fertile cause both ot of accidents and tr traffic con congestion The Tho time has come the walker must be restrained In Inthe Inthe the use ue of the streets For his own Mety and ond for tor the public convenIence convenience ence ho must bo subjected eted to justas Just specific rules when I n walker as when a driver In the last It 18 months th city of los I os Angeles has proved pro conclusivelY conclusively tho practicability and util utility ity of pedestrian control In that city pedestrians are arc forbidden to cross l business In 11 lt and are arc required to follow V the Ilg- Ilg nals lf-nals nals at t Intersections This rule functions with the tho operation co-operation of the public and has materially de- de decreased d creased traffic accidents and con con- congestion con