Hailey raises flags for pedestrians
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
Just in time for the Fourth of July
festivities, the Hailey Public Works department installed crosswalk flags for
pedestrians in the city’s ongoing effort to resolve pedestrian versus driver
conflicts.
Mayor Susan McBryant and the Hailey City
Council responded to citizen requests that the city find a solution to the
problem after several recent near misses and one fatality occurred on Main
Street during hours of heavy traffic congestion.
Bright orange crosswalk flags have been
installed at the intersections of Main and Croy streets and Main and Carbonate
streets.
"The flags are no assurance that crossing
the road is safe. Each person must take it upon themselves to assure their
safety," said Hailey Public Works Director Ray Hyde. "Look both ways before
crossing to make sure traffic has stopped, assume that vehicle drivers do not
see you."
Instruction signs for the use of the flags
are posted at each intersection and pedestrians are encouraged to help balance
the flags at the intersections. The city is looking for different service
organizations to "adopt" an intersection and to help keep the number of flags on
each side of the street balanced, Hyde said.
Hailey has modeled the flag program for
pedestrians after those used on Main Street in Ketchum, which is largely viewed
as a success, a tool for calming traffic through the center of town. Salt Lake
City also instituted a pedestrian flag program this spring after a city official
had seen the effectiveness of their use in Ketchum.
"We are continuing to research other
methods to keep our citizenry safe," Hyde said. "We are looking into a new
lighting system that will light up the walkway when activated by the push of a
crosswalk button."