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Peters: Pedestrians have little protection

Posted

Thank you for your article (“Street racers invade Sun City”) regarding street racers.

I have not seen or heard the racers but am struck by another part of the article. Specifically, “State law says pedestrians have the right of way.” I feel a follow up piece regarding this and pedestrians in Sun City may be warranted. There is an abundance of pedestrians here.

I moved to Sun City in 2018 and find drivers here to completely ignore pedestrians, there are very few marked crosswalks except at major intersections, such as Thunderbird Boulevard and 99th Avenue. I walk the area every day and have never had a driver stop to allow me to cross except in those few crosswalks.

Crossing at 99th Avenue and Cameo Drive is hazardous to say the least. Drivers will run you down if you are not alert.

I walk in the morning, usually during rush hours, and speeding is rampant in Sun City, especially on 99th Avenue and on Thunderbird Boulevard, but also just in general.

A pedestrian has to be very alert while walking on our streets.

It’s downright dangerous.

Those streets are most likely used by commuters traveling through Sun City from adjacent cities for work.

Police traffic patrols in Sun City are practically non-existent. I may have seen a traffic stop but can’t recall when.

I came from Oregon and pedestrians definitely have the right of way. But not here.

Just wanted to share my perspective. Thank you.

Tom Peters
Sun City