"Boy, the right of way ain't something you HAVE. It's something the other guy gives you. And if he don't give it to you, you ain't got it."

Those are words of wisdom thewaywardwind, thanks for sharing.

Mom, I don't want to run over anyone either -- it dents fenders and you're going to be late for work. I'm just saying that as a practical matter, people are more able to avoid being run over than drivers are able to stop or swerve to avoid someone walking. If one were to have to swerve into another lane to avoid a pedistrian and hit another car, the pedistrian is the one who caused the accident -- regardless of the wording of the law. Actually, I'd also blame the city for putting the trail crossings where they did. The pedistrians need to exercise defensive walking just as drivers need to use defensive driving. Years ago there was an ad on television about this very thing. The gist was that even if you have the right of way, don't be dead right. Of course, the survivors of the DOA can sue and hope to get rich, but that is a rough way to make money.

VISD Mom:
I understand logistics. I put this out because most drivers have forgotten that particular little law, especially if it has been a few years (for most of us, quite a number of years) since they've even cracked that book open or took a Defensive Driving course. The liability is there whether you adhere to it or not.
Personally, I don't care to flippin' run anyone over because it's too inconvenient to slow down KNOWING that there is a trail crossing on that stretch of road.
I know that if I am walking that I'm not going to step out into the road playing Russian roulette with vehicles. Common sense used by both driver & pedestrian is essential.

VISDmom..."To answer Gabe's question, the crossings ARE an accident waiting to happen, either from drivers stopping abruptly and causing an accident, or from pedestrians thinking they have the God-given right to cross and woe to anyone who doesn't yield the right of way to them."

The common sense rule should be sort of like that used in the rules of the road at sea. Generally speaking, the one with the most maneuverability must keep out of the way of the one with less maneuverability. Therefore, someone walking is more maneuverable than a car at 40 MPH and should keep out of the way. While both are required to keep a look-out, the person walking can stop immediately and the car will need several yards. Also, as has been pointed out, the car will ALWAYS WIN. I remember back in Drivers Training in high school, Coach Green told me something I've never forgotten. "Boy, the right of way ain't something you HAVE. It's something the other guy gives you. And if he don't give it to you, you ain't got it."

With all due respect to Ziggy, I do not think the TX Driver's Handbook means for everyone to come to a screeching stop for each and every pedestrian in sight. (Althought apparently all the students in VISD have read that particular page because they will walk right out onto Sam Houston, with or against the light, and look you in the eye daring you to hit them.)

Common sense should tell anyone that 150 lbs of human (or 200 lbs or 300 lbs; I don't care what you weigh) against 1500 lbs of car - the human is going to LOSE. I have taught my children to stop before crossing a roadway (or parking lot for that matter); wasn't that one of the first things we all learned growing up? My 16 and 13 year old sons take me seriously and I have not seen them do otherwise, at least in my presence. As Waywardwind says, these crossings are not at intersections, and the vehicles should have the right of way. The pedestrians need to wait until traffic is clear to cross. I tend to slow pretty far down when driving through one of the crossings if I see people walking close to the crossing until I see if they are going to stop or not.

To answer Gabe's question, the crossings ARE an accident waiting to happen, either from drivers stopping abruptly and causing an accident, or from pedestrians thinking they have the God-given right to cross and woe to anyone who doesn't yield the right of way to them.

I cross Airline to enter the walk/ bike trail and at ground level this is a wide intersection, signs are posted but that does not necessarily mean and that the speed limit is being adhered to.

I am perfectly happy with the trail “as is” and I will continue taking extra precautions but the intersection at John Stockbauer, has some definite blind spots that extend about 100 feet from the intersection, both ways. It is sort of curved intersection…IMO

We will adjust, (cars & pedestrians) ,I have seen bicycle riders in Austin navigate those streets, much faster than an automobile, and in New York they will zip in front of the taxi cabs leaving, caution to the wind, so one or two signs is more of a convenience,in laid back Victoria ,for now.

If there are going to be warning lights, why not put the blinking lights on the TRAIL?

"the crossings needs speed bumps out on the roads as a 'reminder' to drivers. cars are flying by on stockbauer and ben jordan."

Cars aren't "flying by" on Stockbauer and Ben Jordan. The speed limit in both places is 40 MPH. Since these crossings are not at street intersections, the cars should have the right-of-way. Pedestrians and bicycles should only cross streets when it is safe to do so. A gaggle of people can tie up traffic. There is no reason they cannot wait until traffic clears to cross the street.

Ziggy, I have no problem with people stopping for pedestrians using the trail, just not so abruptly so that it risks causing an accident, as the driver I mentioned did. Sorry for not clarifying that the stopping I was referring to was sudden stopping.

I, too, wonder why they didn't install the lights first. It'd make the crossings safer for pedestrians and drivers and I agree that they should have been some of the first things on the list of things to do.

Perhaps not..:-)

Speed bumps on a city street??? Come on folks.. Ive walked the trail too and I feel we as walkers should just use caution. The event of stopping and being re-ended as stated earlier should be proof enough.. IMO

I have been biking the trail twice a day now, without any problems,so far, but I can see where some speed bumps and signs waring of such might make it make it a little safer...Perhaps at a later date ,two or three security cameras...

the crossings needs speed bumps out on the roads as a 'reminder' to drivers. cars are flying by on stockbauer and ben jordan.

except for the four teens i saw smoking a joint, the whole trail seemed pretty safe to me, walked the dog after 10 pm

Yep, as I've stated on a blog here recently. It is dangerous. I'm still puzzled as to why the blinking lights are taking so long to be installed. They should have been on the "first things first" list to put in.

t3hMalk:
As for whether or not to stop to let people cross, I found this info on the TX Dept. of Public Safety re: crosswalks.

TX Driver's Handbook page 5-21 states:

"White crosswalk lines are painted on the road to indicate pedestrian crossing areas. Pedestrians should use these areas when crossing the road. At intersections where stop lines are missing, you must stop before the crosswalk when required to stop by traffic signs or signals or pedestrians."

I saw the trails the other day & was surprised at the crossing. I didn't understand what all the hubub was about until I came upon the crossing with no warning. I would say it's pretty treacherous crossing on those busy streets.

Around Austin, many of the trails use culverts as alternate street crossings. Naturally, they're impassible after the rain, but it's a great feature otherwise and an easy/cheap fix.

Just the other day, at the Stockbauer crossing, hubby and I were driving and coming up to it, and the person driving in front of us STOPPED to let some walkers across. A nice gesture to the walkers, for sure, but we almost rear-ended the car, and if that had happened, the walkers could have been hurt too, aside from vehicles and the passengers within. We just barely had enough distance to prevent an accident, thankfully.

Lights, or something flashy to catch a driver's attention, will be needed, but you should by no means just STOP in the middle of traffic to let walkers by. It clogs the flow of traffic, especially since the above mentioned crossing is so close to stop lights, and could cause an accident.