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Although the car's driver has a green light and there was no indication of speeding, according to police reports, an unidentified elderly man was killed by a car after trying to cross Geary Blvd. and Webster yesterday afternoon near the Japan Center. The man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, darted out against a red light at a corner with no crosswalk. "At this point, it looks like he was hit where he shouldn’t have been crossing, but we’re not leaving anything to chance," says police Capt. Richard Correia.
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I saw the commotion when I got home on Sunday and wondered what it was all about.
Crossing Webster is legal; crossing Geary is not (you have to go to one of those overpass things). People cross against the lights all the time here. Very sad.
A yes, the 1960's were an amazing time for traffic engineering. Instead of putting in a crosswalk that even elderly people could safely use the traffic engineers decided that is would be much better to make pedestrians cross Webster, climb over a bridge to cross Geary, and then cross Webster once again. I'm sure this was done in the name of "pedestrian safety" but of course it is so inconvenient to peds that some will naturally take the shorter, but unfortunately far more deadly, route.
It is truly sad there are still many intersections designed solely with cars in mind. Until all users of our streets are taken into account too many people will be motivated to make the wrong decision and pay for it with their lives.
Crappy intersection, and last night was a bad time to be a pedestrian.
The walking bridge is too difficult for those that aren't entirely able-bodied. And walking down to fillmore means you have to walk not only way out of the way, but uphill on the way back up to webster. expecting he was going to safeway, carrying bags just adds to the problem.
skibu
I guess in the 1960's when you eviscerate a neighborhood to build and expressway you make sure the cars flow free
Sometimes the planning politics in this city drive me crazy but I think back to what could have been with freeways criss crossing and neighborhoods like Jackson Square totally flattened for super blocks and high rises
Hey, I think you all have convinced me: convenience is much more important than safety.
Geary at Webster is a fricking 8-lane meat-grinder split into four channels with no crosswalks and a zillion crazy drivers. I can't imagine dementia not being a part of this sad event.
Are two blocks (one over and one back) really "way out of the way?" Yes, if you're old, but in city planning terms?
Until all users of our streets are taken into account too many people will be motivated to make the wrong decision and pay for it with their lives.
Ugh, this is an absolute non-sequitur, but you raise a good point: who will speak up for Columbiformic-Americans in the future traffic plans of San Francisco? You?
The old man was using a walker (you can see it in front of one of the police cars in the Examiner photo) - one thing he didn't do was "dart" into traffic.
Regardless, it was pouring down rain at the time and that intersection is dangerous for anyone to attempt at any time much less for the infirm in bad weather. Given those circumstances, the outcome shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. That said, RIP old guy.
I agree, there was likely dementia or something at play. Even if there had been crosswalks there, the ped was crossing on a red light.
Likely dementia. Like last night, when a couple crazy young folks jumped in front of my car crossing Mission, in the middle of the dark and pouring rain, against a red. Oh, wait-- that was drugs.
(Also: whippersnappers!)
with the obvious logistical barrier of taking a walker over that bridge, I'm betting this sad event was more likely borne out of necessity, desperation or both.
r.i.p.
Glad I don't have to use a walking bridge to get around - seems like an invitation to get mugged, like in that Steve Martin movie years ago ... "Hello, I'll be your mugger today."
I heartily agree about the pedestrian crossing. It is out the stone ages. Also-- The Examiner had "Jaywalker killed" on their headline. It seemed unfair and instantly judgmental.