Since a huge majority of people who transport themselves in public do so by some sort of motorized vehicle, this is not something most people give any thought to whatsoever, but the next time you are in the general downtown Sanford area, take a look down at the crosswalks as you drive by. That is, if you can find them.
Actual crosswalk signs are few and far between, and the white vertical lines on the road are almost completely invisible. I’m told they are painted every spring, but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the case last year. At the very least, not all were painted. And if they were, it’s clearly substandard to meet our needs. This can be easily rectified if there’s a will to do so.
I’ve expressed my concern multiple times to public officials and have received very little response. I’m sure it all comes down to money, but I challenge anyone to show me a city/town of equal size and tax base that has more poorly maintained and enforced crosswalks.
This is a matter of public safety. I know of at least one person who was hit and knocked a good 20 feet while crossing in the crosswalk in front of City Hall, which to my knowledge oddly enough, didn’t make the papers.
Spring is around the corner, with its thousands of potential pedestrian/vehicle collisions as people get back outside. If the crosswalks aren’t visible, I can’t even do my Ratso Rizzo from “Midnight Cowboy” impression: “I’m walkin’ here!”
-Bill Thomas , Sanford
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