Crosswalks

Gretchen Hoffman GLENDALE -- As police crack down on drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, Glendale has received funding aimed at making students' walk to schools a little bit safer. Gov. Gray Davis directed $24 million in federal funds to a variety of safety projects across the state, including traffic signals, bike lanes and sidewalks. Glendale's share of the funds, allocated Wednesday as part of the Safe Routes to School Program, is $365,400 and will go toward the installation of lighted crosswalks.

Joshua Pelzer The city is reminding pedestrians to signal, and has put out signs to remind them to use activation devices for new safety lights along crosswalks on North Brand Boulevard. "We've had pavement warning lights in place for three weeks now and we have noticed a lot of pedestrians on North Brand are not aware of them and they don't use them when they cross the street," senior traffic engineer Wayne Ko said. "These signs are temporary to bring [the lights]

LA CRESCENTA — Town Councilwoman Robbyn Battles is seeking county support for a plan to place safety flags at crosswalks. Battles introduced the plan to fellow Crescenta Valley Town Council members during a March 5 meeting, where they supported the idea and asked her to get feedback from community activists and residents about the flags. “I really want to do it right,” she said. So far, Battles said, her efforts have been positive. She got tips from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies on where to put the flags.

Darleene Barrientos The state Office of Traffic Safety awarded Glendale and Burbank more than $100,000 each in federal grants to install flashing crosswalks and continue with existing pedestrian-safety programs. Glendale was awarded $104,000 to install four new flashing crosswalks along Colorado Street at Cedar, Porter and Fischer and Lafayette streets. The city hopes to install the devices by this fall, Glendale Public Works Director Steve Zurn said.

CENTRAL GLENDALE — The large furry rabbit walking between Central and Garfield avenues Wednesday was no hallucination, especially for drivers who failed to yield. For an hour and a half, Glendale Police Officer Tom Broadway donned the eye-catching costume during an enforcement sting aimed at educating motorists to yield for pedestrians walking along unmarked crosswalks. Police cited 24 motorists on suspicion of failing to yield to Broadway as he walked across Central.

IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM WHAT HAPPENED The City Council appropriated $100,000 for the installation of in-roadway warning light systems for five uncontrolled crosswalks on Glendale Avenue and one on Verdugo Road at Sunview Drive. WHAT IT MEANS Lights will be installed along crosswalks to provide visual warning to approaching drivers. VOTE The council voted 4-0 in favor. Mayor Rafi Manoukian was absent. VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE WHAT HAPPENED The council approved an ordinance making unprovoked dog bites a misdemeanor offense for owners whose dogs bite a human or another animal.

Tim Willert CITY HALL -- A rash of traffic accidents involving pedestrians has prompted the City Council to take protective measures. The council on Tuesday is expected to adopt plans and specifications for upgrading pavement markings and warning signs at 48 crosswalks not protected by stop signs or traffic signals. "Anything we can do to make the crosswalks safer is a good thing," Glendale Police Lt. Don Meredith said Friday. The proposed safety features would include more durable paint to outline crosswalks, and clear reflective markers to increase crosswalk visibility at night and during poor weather.

I read a letter May 9 by Debbie Taylor about her concern of crosswalks and kids on bikes. I'm sorry that you were scared when you saw the young man dart out into the crosswalk, but at least he is OK. As you said, and I agree, it is dangerous in the streets of any community. Kids are in double trouble, not because the way most of them think is wrong, but just because of the way their brains work. Some didn't take a driver's test like us. In their own small world, they are prone to run about in a lot of danger as they play, ride bikes and cross streets.

Ben Godar Despite a recent pedestrian collision, traffic officials said the number of road deaths is actually down in Glendale. Actress Frances Bay remained in critical condition at County USC Hospital late Tuesday, after being struck by a car Thursday night while crossing Brand Boulevard. Bay has appeared in such films as "Happy Gilmore" and "The Wedding Planner." To decrease the number of pedestrian collisions, the city has installed several in-pavement lighting systems at crosswalks not controlled by a stop light or sign.

A 43-year-old mother and her 6-year-old son were injured Monday morning after a motorist struck them in a crosswalk, police said. The mother and her son were walking north on Victory Boulevard about 7:58 a.m. when they were struck by the 52-year-old motorist at Western Avenue, according to Glendale Police Sgt. Harley Wing. The motorist, who stopped at the scene, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Wing added. The mother briefly lost consciousness and suffered a cut to her head, he said.

An 83-year-old man was killed Monday afternoon after he was struck by a 40-year-old motorist at an unmarked crosswalk in central Glendale, police said. The man, who officials had not identified Tuesday pending the notification of his family, was taken to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. He was walking at about 4:10 p.m. in an unmarked, but legal, crosswalk at Broadway and Maynard Street when the motorist, who was driving west on Broadway, allegedly failed to yield and struck him. The motorist, Sana Hussein, of Glendale, was driving a minivan and remained at the scene, police said.

In response to Patricia Tyson's Sept. 29 letter, “Bad bicycle behavior?” riding on the sidewalk is less safe than riding on the street as cyclists on sidewalks are much less visible. However, on some occasions it may be necessary to cross a street using a sidewalk. If I'm cycling on the right side of the road and there are too many cars to safely get across two lanes of traffic into a left-turn lane, it might be safer to stay on the right side of the street and cross the street twice as a pedestrian, and then rejoin traffic in the desired direction after crossing.

DOWNTOWN — The Windsor Road crosswalk is a dangerous path for businessman Barry Wishengrad and his employees who stroll it to conduct dealings between two Brand Boulevard car dealerships. Some of the flashing lights don’t work for the crosswalk, where it’s not uncommon for motorists to speed and not yield for pedestrians. “I have walked this crosswalk and almost been hit two dozen times and so have my employees,” said Wishengrad, general manager of Glendale Nissan and Infiniti.

I want to express my appreciation to the Burbank Leader for its endorsement in the recent primary election and, perhaps more importantly, to your coverage of the candidates and issues. Every Burbank resident who voted in the Feb. 22 primary election was the beneficiary of your coverage. During the campaign, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with residents across the city who shared their ideas and suggestions for dealing with the many issues that confront our city. As the campaign moves ahead, I look forward to continuing that dialogue on my door-to-door walks.

Comes as no surprise that Glendale ranks lowest in senior pedestrian safety ("City gets another poor pedestrian safety score," Jan. 8). I know — in addition to being a driver, since moving to Glendale, I have increased walking to my appointments and errands. (It really is great not to have to hassle with parking spaces and complex meters!) So I have a couple of suggestions for both pedestrians and drivers, based on personal experiences. Pedestrians: Please cross at crosswalks.

GLENDALE— A 20-year-old Tujunga woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that she was texting when she struck and killed an 80-year-old Glendale man in a crosswalk. Friends and family packed the Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom in Glendale as Ani Voskanian was arraigned on one count of vehicular manslaughter. "We are going to set the preliminary hearing, and at that point we are going to put on a full defense," her attorney Donald Levinson said. Voskanian was arrested last month after a three-month investigation into the Sept.

A 20-year-old Tujunga woman was arrested today after police say a nearly three month investigation showed she was texting at the time she drove through a stop sign and killed an 80-year-old Glendale resident in a crosswalk. The woman, Ani Voskanian, into custody at her home this morning on one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter, Glendale police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. “This is not one of those things in which you intended to go kill someone…This is one those things that your actions carry serious consequences,” Lorenz said.

NORTH GLENDALE — A 55-year-old woman was taken to a hospital Monday morning for a cut to her forehead and other injuries sustained when a mini-van hit her, carrying her more than 25 feet on its hood, officials said. The woman, whose name wasn't immediately released Monday, was walking north on Brand Boulevard at 8:12 a.m. and entered the crosswalk where she was hit by a 60-year-old motorist headed east on Randolph Street, Glendale Police Sgt. Dennis Smith said. After being hit, the woman was carried 25 to 30 feet on the car's hood before the motorist stopped, Smith said.

SOUTH GLENDALE—An 80-year-old man was fatally struck by a motorist Wednesday evening in a crosswalk at Columbus and California avenues, police said. The man, who’s name was not immediately released, was taken to a Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Glendale Lt. Brian Cohen said. The motorist was headed west on California Avenue about 6:37 p.m. when she hit the man, who had been heading north on Columbus Avenue, Cohen said. The woman, whose identity police did not release Wednesday night, struck the man with the right side of her compact sedan, cracking its windshield.