We’ve all been hearing about tragedies on the south end of Bend’s parkway. We don’t want to have people needlessly killed and injured here, or have Bend be known for its highway death trap. Certainly, an over-the-road pedestrian bridge would save lives. Considering where our tax dollars get wasted, this would be a smart alternative. But, something needs to be done now. I’m not a politician or business executive, but I’ve been a landscaper here since the 1970s.
So here’s my two bits worth. A landscape problem on the parkway is a major factor in these recent deaths and accidents. The growth of native-style plants makes the parkway look all one style and doesn’t isolate the areas along it where crosswalks are located. Similar to a fireplace, the bricks of the hearth (context) cue people that a hot fireplace is sitting there, the landscaping (context) needs to reveal and identify these dangerous crosswalks to motorists. A native-looking landscape may be fine in many settings, but not where safety and discrimination are required. The shrub and grass areas surrounding the two crosswalks on the south parkway should be immediately cut to the ground! Later, possibly replaced by some kind of hardscape stones, railings, signs, etc.
What is happening now is that the native shrubs are actually hiding the very spots that should be standing out. To be fair to the road crews, they have cut these areas some, but now they should completely remove, to ground level, all shrubs and grasses so that the crosswalks are clearly visible from inside a distant speeding vehicle!
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2010.
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I don’t disagree that vegetation can obscure lines of sight. Having well-maintained infrastructure does influence safety. But I disagree with the headline writer who concluded the parkway safety “starts” with landscaping. And I disagree with Mr. Swisher’s statement, that somehow landscaping has to accommodate a speeding driver. I say this as someone who was almost run over, while walking on a sidewalk downtown today. I was walking to the post office (at the parking garage), when a vehicle coming from the new credit union sped out of the parking lot and almost into me. I managed to shout as I heard the driver gun the engine and saw the driver was not even looking directly in front of him or to the left…the first direction you look for cross-traffic (left-right-left, is what you’re supposed to do in this country where we drive on the right). He literally came to a skidding and screeching halt as his front bumper traveled across where I would have been, as I managed to check my forward momentum. I might have even jumped backward out of reflex. Line of sight or shrubbery had nothing to do with me almost being severely injured or killed. Yeah..he was going that fast, and with ABS brakes (I assume he had them since this was new or recent-model car) he still managed to skid past me.
The largest factor that can affect safety, is the willingness for road users (yes, cyclists and pedestrians, too) to put the safety of others and themselves above convenience or their need to get somewhere in a hurry. Yeah, I know, it sounds ridiculous. what a concept. What’s even more ridiculous? The driver who almost hit me, ended up parking in front of the post office, only a few feet from where I almost got smeared. The driver called out to me, “I didn’t see you”. I kept walking, since I don’t have very productive conversations with people who almost kill me. But, if you’re reading this sir, you didn’t see me BECAUSE YOU WEREN’T LOOKING, no shrubbery was involved, and you were traveling too fast across an area where pedestrians are likely to be present (it’s what we call a sidewalk).
So, back to the parkway…yes, the landscaping could be better, but it is ALWAYS the driver’s responsibility to drive at a speed appropriate to visibility and weather conditions. It is not the responsibility of the shrubbery to accommodate a speeding driver.
Bob hunt was a very good friend of mine. He will be missed greatly but all of us who knew and loved him. As for what to do I think there’s many things need to be done starting with cutting all the bushes down So that whether you’re driving the speed limit on the parkway or speeding you can see the crosswalk and the pedestrians from a safe safe safe safe distance. My personal opinion is that the state and the driver of the car who killed bob is responsible for bob hunt’s daughter’s future. She’s a wonderful young person highly intelligent creative and someone needs to take responsibility for caring for her And her future education.
Stop to manslaughter be the responsible for the parkway
manslaughter has changed bob’s daughters life forever
bob will miss you life all be the same without your smiling face or your cheery attitude
the parkway responsibility ultimately lies with all of us as citizens to make the changes needed maid now help help help
we can all do our part safety first
please drive safely on the parkway
thank you very much
in honor of bob hunt