nice pics KJP

 

mmmm mi pueblo

 

i rode it today......my bus was crowded. i thought it would be a lot bigger in the inside, the seats are pretty small and there isnt much room in the aisle. was kinda slow but i noticed theyd come back and forth right after one another. im guessin they are only runnin so many that fast for the opening. if only the rapid and busses came that frequently! overall it wasnt much different than the #6 except for bigger cooler lookin busses and an improved streetscape.

 

now all we need is those empty buildings occupied all along euclid

I like the PD article phrase today: "two eclairs joined by a napkin ring."  !

Yeah, yeah, I know about the editing option - just didn't do it that time.

Did it yesterday.  I had this image of big crowds of people, big crowds at each stop, many people all around the Avenue, etc.  From my very limited perspective - mostly around Univ. Cir. and the final two hours, it seemed rather low-key for a Sat. afternoon anyway.

Waited at stop by Euclid and MLK at least 25 minutes before BRT came.  That sort of shattered my image too; who knows how long the previous one had come before I even got there.  I believe two had passed going eastward meanwhile, and no 9s in sight, either.  When I finally got on I had no time (I had time constraints) to go far west before getting another one, so I just went to E. 89th to get an eastward BRT.  The first was totally filled with people (most I saw looked like college student age) so I had to stand near the driver - not a nice riding experience.  The eastward BRT a few minutes later came quickly and had few on it.

Anyway, I've been following everything along Euclid since 1973 and every detail about this construction so I hardly needed to catch a lot yesterday....

Question: I have a monthly pass I purchase through work; what to I do to ride the BRT?  Nothing on the red machines in the stations or shelters mentions this; looks like I just get on with it in my wallet - right?  Or am I supposed to something with it? 

I asked a driver yesterday if in the future I'm supposed to slip it in the thingy on the bus as I do now and he actually said "yes."  And there actually was a machine next to him that looked lilke what the regular busses have....  I kind had thought we weren't supposed to do anything with the driver regarding riding opportunity - that it was all to be done at a station or shelter....  ????

I believe two had passed going eastward meanwhile, and no 9s in sight, either.

 

The 9X doesn't run downtown on weekends. It goes only as far as the University Circle Red Line station...

 

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/9X.pdf

So,  as the EC is supposed to be about finished, I reiterate:

Does anyone know if more sidewalk tall streetlights are planned for the Cleveland Clinic area?  There are stretches with long gaps, so I now wonder if they're yet to be installed at all?  I see no clear reason as for the intended gaps, even if they have something to do with where there are central tall streetlights.

Second, what is the purpose of those unattractive and low light-colored and cylinders in groupings by central strips?  There could be a few together or a group of ten or so?  Many are tilted and getting discolored?  So are they permanent and what is their purpose?

What is yet to be done other than the 120-or-so new planters, and when might their installation begin?  More artwork?

Thanks!

^At least the off peak 9X does travel a bit on Euclid, before turning off to the University Cedar RTS, so one could board the BRT if one wanted to.  I am not sure what they will do when they open the Little Italy station though.  I hope they do not end the 9X there.  Maybe they could loop it around E120 to Euclid, down Euclid to Mayfield, and back up Mayfield.  That would retain the Health Line connectivity.  Or, they could continue to send it to the University Cedar RTS where other bus lines converge.

Thanks for the photos, KJP!

 

Waited at stop by Euclid and MLK at least 25 minutes before BRT came.  That sort of shattered my image too; who knows how long the previous one had come before I even got there. 

 

That's definitely a sign things aren't quite working like clockwork yet (Saturday headways are 10 mins, no?).  The PoP system and signal preemption should ensure more even stop times keeping vehicles on schedule, but maybe passengers are still confused and lining up to ask the driver about swiping a pass? 

 

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but monthly passes are for the calendar month, no?  So they don't even need to be activated, which should mean you don't ever have to swipe them or do anything with them on BRT unless an inspector (not the driver) asks you on board to show your proof of payment.  Which  makes me wonder why there is any type of fare box on board the BRTs (assuming that is what lafont saw).

Yes, I saw what you call a "fare box" quickly, I'm quite sure.  Definitely had the slot for swiping, as we've been doing for some years.

The 9 certainly used to go downtown on weekends, as my wife assures me as they often took the 9 downtown on Saturdays.  I guess until now, then, those taking the 9 downtown would typically transfer to a 6 on Sat. or Sunday?  That sounds the most likely, unless one took a 7 from the Cedar Rapid Station....

Someone please answer my three questions - please - in post of earlier today....

^ all the BRT's running the EC will have fareboxes, solely as a last resort, just in case the fare boxes at the station(s) are not operating.

I can't wait to get back home and take a look at all the new stuff going around Euclid Corridor! I will probably be heading back to Cleveland for Thanksgiving are they still doing the x-mas lighting during this time?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but monthly passes are for the calendar month, no? 

 

Correct. Monthly passes are for the calendar month.

To address a couple of questions that have been raised:

 

The schedules for the HealthLine can be found here:

Weekday: http://www.riderta.com/schedules/rt6wk.html

Saturday: http://www.riderta.com/schedules/rt6sa.html

Sunday: http://www.riderta.com/schedules/rt6su.html

 

Saturday schedule is typically a 15-minute headway for most of the day, extending to 30 minutes in the overnight period.

 

All HealthLine RTVs have fareboxes on them, but they typically will not be used. Unfortunately, due to delays in the testing of the ticket vending machines at the HeathLine stations, we will be conducting on-board fare collection for at least this week. For the time being, treat fare payment on the HealthLine as you would any other bus or rapid.

 

Once the off-board fare collection is up and running, monthly pass holders will not have to do anything to activate their pass. They'll just have to display it for the fare enforcement officers when requested.

 

lafont, do you have a picture of the cylinders you asked about, or a note of where they are located? I'm unclear on what you're referring to, and would like to answer your question.

Finally - my 32 bus OFFICIALLY went down Euclid this a.m.  Saw a number of lights out.  I see GCRTA can't quite get their spelling consistent; the electronic billboards read "Welcome to RTA's 'Health Line'"....

The stations/shelters all looked sleek, anyway, with all that silver-tone "infrastructure" and blue lights, etc.  Hope that's one thing that will make the public use that transit corridor than the 6 buses - all the high-tech-looking and well-lit-at-night shelters/shelters.  Should be safer and more pleasant than waiting outside in the dark.  Nicer in the daytime, too.  And one can still wait outside, of course.  It's just all more welcoming - and sophisticated and more like "other cities!" :wave: :clap:

Unfortunately, due to delays in the testing of the ticket vending machines at the HeathLine stations, we will be conducting on-board fare collection for at least this week. For the time being, treat fare payment on the HealthLine as you would any other bus or rapid.

 

People are going to be really confused when it does switch to pre-pay.

Rode it this morning, pleasant overall.  Two buses showed up together.  The signal preemption was not happening, so I guess they aren't turning it on until the fare machines are up.

While some of these issues are still forgivable (IMHO) at this early date, it still begs the question of why they were not worked out during the months of preparation/testing?  I rode on Friday and this morning and waited at most lights and even ped crossings that had no peds.  I also timed my trip from Public Square:

 

- Playhouse Square: 5 minutes

- E. 55th Street: 15 minutes

- Cleveland Clinic: 20 minutes

- Stokes Blvd: 25 minutes

- E. 115th Street: 30 minutes

 

So, in all, it was about 5 minutes behind where it should have been, but again, it's the first week, so I'm going to give them a pass.  Already, I could tell that the drivers have their "docking" down better.  On Friday, both RTVs I was on had a lot of trouble with this, stopping with doors half obstructed.  One even had to back up because a wheelchair was trying to get off and couldn't fit where the vehicle had stopped.

 

I agree with another poster on here that the vehicles seem smaller than expected.  I was hoping for more parallel seating and wider aisles.  In particular, it seems that the seats in front of the rear doors could have both faced each other, allowing for more than one bike/stroller to fit if need be and allowing more standing and exiting room.  Perhaps it's not too late to change it?  There are lots of bikes and strollers on this route...

 

Another part of the system - the fare machine - has me concerned.  I've only tried one (Cornell Road, westbound) and it was on Friday but it was all messed up.  The buttons didn't line up with the on-screen options and the interface was very cumbersome (I hope it was just this machine).  It's like it was designed for someone who's never purchased a bus pass before.  And "exact change only?"  Seriously?

 

I'll leave you with the following:

 

The scene on the #6 headed down to the big opening (this was not unusual for any time of day on the #6 during the week)... it took about 45 minutes to get from Cornell to Playhouse Square:

 

My first official trip on the HL:

 

And my second:

 

Trolleys & RTVs now rule the roads (not a bus in sight, although someone forgot to tell the pavement painters that!)

 

 

Playhouse Square Station:

 

 

For as big as the vehicles look on the outside, I'm surprised they're so small on the inside.  Looks pretty cramped.  Thx for the update.

If they really do come every 5 minutes as the signs advertise, they won't have to be that big inside.

Having recently moved back to Cleveland, I certainly look forward to riding in these green vehicles.  From what I've read on these message boards and seen walking around downtown, I think these buses are promising and, once the system's kinks are worked out, are definitely worth checking out, if only for the novelty.

 

I'd also like to thank the administrators for maintaining the message boards' archives.  I spent some time this weekend reading the 40-odd pages that go back 4 years, and it was pretty cool seeing how this project unfolded through everyone's comments.

Having recently moved back to Cleveland, I certainly look forward to riding in these green vehicles.  From what I've read on these message boards and seen walking around downtown, I think these buses are promising and, once the system's kinks are worked out, are definitely worth checking out, if only for the novelty.

 

I'd also like to thank the administrators for maintaining the message boards' archives.  I spent some time this weekend reading the 40-odd pages that go back 4 years, and it was pretty cool seeing how this project unfolded through everyone's comments.

 

The buses (BRT Vehicles) are silver.  The trolley's are green.

I actually did ride one of those trolleys just for the heck of it.  I didn't smile, but they were nice enough to let me on for free:)

 

 

Because of machine testing has not been completed, the proof-of-payment has been delayed at least a week. When you enter, pay the operator. Time us again in a few weeks to see how we are doing.

 

More than 20 staff met today with Joe Calabrese for about an hour, raising issues that need answers. We are aware of issues, and are working to resolve them.

 

A lot of us, the GM included, were on the HealthLine before 6am today...I am glad that is not my regular shift.

 

I see the 32 schedules aren't available yet - not even at the Tower City station.  For shame!  Should have been out several weeks ago.  I know - there's little if any change in the times and it's only changing from Carnegie to Euclid - but people should still have the schedules to plan in advance.  And when times change there's REALLY no excuse!  The last time the times really changed the rep. at Tower City told me they're usually not out until the very week of the change!

Having recently moved back to Cleveland, I certainly look forward to riding in these green vehicles. From what I've read on these message boards and seen walking around downtown, I think these buses are promising and, once the system's kinks are worked out, are definitely worth checking out, if only for the novelty.

 

I'd also like to thank the administrators for maintaining the message boards' archives. I spent some time this weekend reading the 40-odd pages that go back 4 years, and it was pretty cool seeing how this project unfolded through everyone's comments.

 

The buses (BRT Vehicles) are silver. The trolley's are green.

 

I think the poster meant environmentally friendly.

ho-hum video from Crain's:

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20081024/MULTI/810249967/1107

 

Yes, I will continue to time the route and otherwise scrutinize the system, as I have done over the years.  I will do this because I need it to work for me and because when I advocate for use of our great transit system, I take personally the responsibility for making sure it runs smoothly in whatever role (customer, urban planner, etc.) I can.  And as others have said before me, thanks again to everyone who does this as a career and especially to those of you who have been so responsive in this forum.

That was not exactly the most inspiring video, and whoever hired the narrator really dropped the ball on that one.

 

 

While some of these issues are still forgivable (IMHO) at this early date, it still begs the question of why they were not worked out during the months of preparation/testing? I rode on Friday and this morning and waited at most lights and even ped crossings that had no peds....

 

Thanks for the thorough account and photos!

 

As far as I know the BRTs were supposed to have run on Euclid every 15 minutes when I was there Saturday.

I saw on several occasions today buses running back to back. In one instance 3 buses were following each other down Euclid. I understand that it's the first week of service, but this is a total waste of fuel. The first bus would be filled up but the other one (or two) would be totally empty. It seems that RTA had plenty of time to work out timing issues so I don't understand why something so basic is a problem.

 

On a more positive note...some friends of mine were downtown this weekend and commented that the Healthline gives Cleveland more of a "big city feel." I'm not entirely sure what they mean but it sounded positive!

 

I saw on several occasions today buses running back to back. In one instance 3 buses were following each other down Euclid. I understand that it's the first week of service, but this is a total waste of fuel. The first bus would be filled up but the other one (or two) would be totally empty. It seems that RTA had plenty of time to work out timing issues so I don't understand why something so basic is a problem.

 

First let me say, I'm not being an apologist. 

 

I'm sure on the outside looking in, it's easier for us to "critique".  None of us here are engineers or line managers for the HealthLine. 

 

With the 6 running up until the HL went live, I don't understand how RTA could have planned/tested timing or worked out "kinks".  I get the sense, that is why the line was free. 

 

A waste of fuel?  Regardless of how many buses came in a row, RTA has planned for X number of buses on the line, so they would have to pay for fuel for those buses regardless.

 

A critique of the HL - at this point - is like me giving MayDay, McCleveland or KJP a performance review.

^  I understand that RTA plans for X number per day and will pay X amount for fuel each day so it probably is inaccurate to say there was a "waste of fuel." I was just frustrated to see empty buses travelling down Euclid; it just strikes me as a poor use of resources. Also, empty buses feed the perception that this project was a waste of tax dollars.

 

I see the 32 schedules aren't available yet - not even at the Tower City station.  For shame!  Should have been out several weeks ago.  I know - there's little if any change in the times and it's only changing from Carnegie to Euclid - but people should still have the schedules to plan in advance.  And when times change there's REALLY no excuse!  The last time the times really changed the rep. at Tower City told me they're usually not out until the very week of the change!

 

The reason the new schedules have not been published yet is because there are NO time changes related to the switch from Carnegie to Euclid. This situation was handled via a Riders' Alert (http://www.riderta.com/nu_ridersalerts_list.asp?listingid=1142) that was posted a few days before it became effective.

 

While we normally attempt to have the printed schedules out on the street well in advance of a schedule change, many of our limited resources have been devoted to getting the HealthLine up and running on the date that was promised. Now that this has come to pass, we can refocus our efforts on the next major event that is occurring, which is the schedule change.

 

Keep in mind, the schedules (HTML tables, minus the maps) have been posted on our web site's Maps & Schedules page (http://www.riderta.com/maps-schedules.asp) for over a week now. They will generally be posted there in advance of the hardcopy, as electronic bits tend to be easier to generate.

 

I will be in touch with our graphic artist today to find out when we might have the PDFs online, and what the print production schedule looks like.

I found this article full of holes, typical dumbass reporting from the PD. Give more of the dot.bomb crowd fuel to feed their perceptions. :roll:

 

How in the world could ANYONE in Greater Cleveland not know the HL was replacing the 6??   :wtf: :wtf:

---

RTA's HealthLine debuts -- minus fareboxes, plus jaywalkers

Posted by JKroll October 27, 2008 21:58PM

 

Jaywalkers and nonworking fare machines were among minor glitches on the RTA HeathLine's first day of operation Monday.

 

The bus/rapid transit system runs on Euclid Avenue from Public Square to the Stokes/Windermere station in East Cleveland.

 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority had touted the fare vending machines in each station as a major factor in speeding up the route since people would prepay and board quickly at the front or back doors.

 

.........

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/rtas_healthline_debuts_minus_f.html

JeTDoG - please keep in mind there is a good share of the population who doesn't do Internet, let alone have familiarity with specific websites.  And "bus people" - which I am on a regular basis on workdays - surely count many of this population.

Are you hinting there might be more 32 schedule changing in the near future, BTW?

Cuz apparently having designated crosswalks, signs saying do not cross here, use crosswalk, and pamphlets showing how to safely get to the station/platform(? is this the correct name) but apparently this is still not enough and the RTA should be at fault. Your gonna have jaywalkers everywhere you go, not sure why the PD has to blame the RTA and not the people who are actually doing the jaywalking

Again: Why is there a traffic light near E. 66th that's not by a sidestreet?

Transit police were busy Monday issuing warnings to people who exited the vehicle, hopped off the station's platform located in the center of Euclid Avenue, then crossed the street and traffic, Masek said. Riders existing the HealthLine need to walk to the end of the station and use the crosswalk at the traffic light.

 

Riders will be given a grace period before RTA starts issuing tickets, he said.

 

I put in a few volunteer hours at the E 19 eastbound platform last night, and when I instructed (in my decidedly loud, but cordial tone) passengers departing an arriving HealthLine to please leave via the crosswalk at the front of the platform, I was challenged by one gentleman who asked if I was a cop, and when I responded that I wasn't, he cursed me out while complaining that I was going to make him late for work (for walking all of an extra 50 feet!), and jumped off the edge of the platform and crossed Euclid Avenue.

 

While his safety is my concern, there's only just so much I can do. Had one of our transit police officers been there, I would have APPLAUDED the issuance of a jaywalking ticket, because this is the same brand of idiot who would gladly sue us had he gotten hit by a car. *sigh*

JetDog, I have a question.  Does the RTA have a forecast of how much monthly/annual revenue will be brought in from ticketing jaywalkers?  Also, has RTA compiled research as to the effectiveness of fining jaywalkers?

 

I only ask because I question whether or not RTA is "serious" about fines.  In a cold climate city like Cleveland, I just can't imagine that people are going to be always patient with lights, and I also can't foresee RTA and the Cleveland police really spending signficant man hours on monitoring the stops.

 

 

 

 

^ tbiden you are exactly right. unfortunately, jaywalking is going to be much more of a problem with brt than with other modes of transportation and there will all most certainly be more injuries as a result. however, as you pointed out in a cold climate city especially i am not sure going after jaywalkers aggressively is the right approach. slowing down the bus service would be better. i'm fairly sure rta will be very careful about this and not pressure the drivers to make on-time quotas on the healthline routes or anything like that, especially in bad weather.

This is probably a really dumb question, but why couldn't the stops be at the beginning of the street instead of the middle?  Is it because the vehicle would hang into the middle of the intersection?  I think it would have been better to make everyone get off at the rear door and have that be at the intersection than get off at the front and have it be in the middle and expect people to walk back to the intersection to cross.  I know i'd be jaywalking too.

I've brought this up many times and I still don't think I've gotten an answer... why are there not railings on the opposite side of each platform (from CSU to Stokes Blvd.)?  Do the non-RTV buses use this side of the platform?  If not, the jaywalking issue could be largely addressed by closing off that option to simply "hop off" the platform and cross the street.

If RTA wants people to respect the system then the system needs to respect people.  Right now it's overmanaged.  It shouldn't take 5 minutes or multiple traffic cycles to get a walk light.  If there's obviously nobody coming, there shouldn't be a penalty for crossing one lane of an empty street, regardless of lights.  Nor should there be a penalty for cars sensibly turning right on red.  RTA should not be imposing its judgment on everyone's every move just because Euclid is involved.  Attempting to do so is creating unnecessary PR challenges.

 

Sometimes, crossing at crosswalks at the same time parallel traffic goes green can be more dangerous than crossing when the cross traffic is green but nonexistent.  The unfortunate ubiquity of no-turn-on-red for Euclid means that cars are chomping at the bit to turn right when their light finally does change-- they've been waiting a long time for a short light.  They don't always see pedestrians, yet they were told by the light they could go.  When somebody is making a right-on-red decision, they're more likely to look around because they're taking the responsibility and the initiative.  Instead, we have a system that aggressively purports to control everyone's every move, and then sets them up for collisions.

 

Letting cars turn right on red would mean that when the walk sign goes on, the car next to you is more likely to go straight instead of turning into you.  If you (the pedestrian) hesitate and the car beats you to the punch, you're likely to miss the walk sign altogether and wait another several minutes.  If the cars turning right let a few pedestrians go first, the same thing happens to them-- they miss their opening and wait thru another looooong cycle.  As does everyone behind them, who may have just wanted to go straight. 

 

There will always be idiots jumping in front of buses.  But there always have been.  The average Clevelander, whether on foot or in a car, has good enough judgment to determine when it's safe to go.  Allowing them to do so is not only respectful, it improves traffic flow by letting each person make the most efficient move at the most effective time.

 

"There will always be idiots jumping in front of buses.  But there always have been.  The average Clevelander, whether on foot or in a car, has good enough judgment to determine when it's safe to go.  Allowing them to do so is not only respectful, it improves traffic flow by letting each person make the most efficient move at the most effective time."

 

Amen, there's only so much that can be done to protect people from their own stupidity. It's called "thinning the herd" and if someone is stupid enough to step out in front of moving traffic (regardless of whatever signaling), oh well. As someone blessed with good enough judgement and having learned at 4 years old that one needs to be careful crossing the street - the first RTA cop to issue me a warning about crossing Euclid at East 6th when there's NO traffic whatsoever is getting an earful.

"There will always be idiots jumping in front of buses. But there always have been. The average Clevelander, whether on foot or in a car, has good enough judgment to determine when it's safe to go. Allowing them to do so is not only respectful, it improves traffic flow by letting each person make the most efficient move at the most effective time."

 

Amen, there's only so much that can be done to protect people from their own stupidity. It's called "thinning the herd" and if someone is stupid enough to step out in front of moving traffic (regardless of whatever signaling), oh well. As someone blessed with good enough judgement and having learned at 4 years old that one needs to be careful crossing the street - the first RTA cop to issue me a warning about crossing Euclid at East 6th when there's NO traffic whatsoever is getting an earful.

 

"Thinning the Herd" aka "Natural Selection" :-D

To address some of the multiple questions that have been raised above:

• TBideon, no, there is no forecast I'm aware of as far as monthly/annual ticket revenue, and one would hope that this would be a diminishing return over the course of time. A better question to ask than whether we're serious about fines is whether we're serious about safety, and I'd hope the answer to that question would be an unqualified "yes".
  
• mrnyc, I disagree that jaywalking will be much more of a problem with BRT than it would be with light rail, as light rail operates in the same at-grade, high-accessibility right-of-way mode that BRT does. It's new, it's different, and it's now in what is ostensibly a more pedestrian-oriented environment than any of our other services, so there is adjustment that needs to be made, likely on everyone's part.
  
• rockandroller, you pretty well answered your own question. This is the same reason why traditional bus stops are placed before an intersection rather than after -- you can't risk having a vehicle hanging into the intersection when cross-traffic goes green. The size of the BRT vehicles, and the available right-of-way for the road, dictated station placement, and you'll notice that the crosswalk location in relation to the vehicle varies somewhat from station to station.
  
• Map Boy, I believe the lack of railings was strictly an aesthetic decision, and one which assumed that pedestrians would properly use the crosswalks provided to them. If this assumption turns out to be erroneous, design-based solutions may need to be explored. Unfortunately, with the behavior I've seen from some people, nothing short of an 8-foot electrified fence topped with razor wire will stop them.
  
• 327, I know that our transit police have always had, and will continue to have, discretion in enforcement. It's doubtful that they would take the time to ticket a jaywalker on an empty portion of the street, simply for the sake of writing a ticket, when there are so many occurrences where enforcement can have a positive safety impact. That being said, jaywalking in clear view of a police officer is a level of chutzpah that might just get a ticket written, and the officer would be within his rights to do so. You do raise a good argument in favor of allowing right-on-red, and it's something I'll investigate further to see what went into the decision-making process.
  
• MayDay & doctabroccoli: no comment  :roll:
  

Jetdog, thank you.  I've benefited from the officers' discretion in the past... 

Freethink posted the link to the NewsNet5 web cam overlooking Playhouse Square:

http://robocam.newsnet5.com/pri/icam?name=camera1&pan=0.0&tilt=0.0&oldzoom=1.0&oldscale=0.8&oldimage=2385839&scale=0.8&quality=45&brightness=%24BRIGHTNES%24&zoom=1.0&viewfinder.x=245&viewfinder.y=113

 

It has a great view of the Playhouse Square HealthLine station.  If you're patient enough to refresh frequently, you can get a good sense of the westbound vehicle bunching and the rampant jay-walking (and I mean rampant: the one drop-off I watched looked to have a 100% jay-walking rate).

It's like when people design sidewalks and then you see worn out dirt paths in other areas, shortcutting or circumventing the sidewalks because that's not where people want to walk.  I think people are going to walk where they want to, what seems the shortest distance to them usually, instead of where they are "supposed to" because of a sidewalk or crosswalk.

It's like when people design sidewalks and then you see worn out dirt paths in other areas, shortcutting or circumventing the sidewalks because that's not where people want to walk. I think people are going to walk where they want to, what seems the shortest distance to them usually, instead of where they are "supposed to" because of a sidewalk or crosswalk.

 

To quote MTS "Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!" 

 

And damned straight I say to you and 327!

And to those that say it's natural selection if/when someone gets hit and/or killed by jaywalking, just think of the negative comments clevelanders will have for the health line THEN. 

 

I personally think the Health Line is great and look forward to using it for my visits to the Clinic, but in the dead of winter or blowing sleet like we had this morning there's no way I'm picking my way back to a crosswalk and then standing there for 3 minutes waiting for the light to change.  When it's clear, I'm crossing wherever that might be.  I don't mean to be difficult or be a rule breaker, but it just doesn't seem like a good setup.  Forcing entry exit from a rear car might have been the only way to "control" the passengers to exit and cross at the crosswalk.