DRIVERS: Please yield to pedestrians

I am unlike most people in that I spend a lot more time as a pedestrian than I do driving. When it is not raining or snowing, I spend about eight hours a week running or cycling. Fortunately, most of it is on the Prairie Trail or Centennial Trail so I don’t have to be on the streets very much. 

But there are times each week when I am crossing a street, sometimes where there is a stoplight and other times at a street with a crosswalk but no stoplight. Unfortunately, it is a very common occurrence that cars turn right in front of me when I have the walk signal at a stoplight. I don’t know if they don’t see me or if they just decide to go anyway. 

Another problem is at crosswalks where there is no stoplight. Cars are supposed to stop and let pedestrians cross at a crosswalk, but this rarely happens. I have never had a close call being hit by a car because I am very careful. I teach my grandkids to look all directions and not cross at a green light just because they have the right of way.

I know I am more aware of the need to look for pedestrians than the average person because I am one so much. Please look for pedestrians and give them the right of way at stoplights and please stop for them at crosswalks. It is greatly appreciated!

CARL M. KINNOIN

Coeur d’Alene