The Place Where Ludington Talks
Would You Park Like This in the Middle of an Intersection?
1: Lakeview School Sidewalk Parking
I've noticed in travelling around Ludington with children on foot and by bicycle, that many people choose not to put in sidewalks, even though many are required by local ordinance to do so when they get a building permit, or transfer property. This has led to many areas not having any sidewalks, or having intermittent sidewalks, such as was noted on Haight Street in a previous thread.
When we had a full-time Building Inspector, this was basically established as a low or no priority issue when permits were issued, and constructions began. Now that the BI job is contractual, look for the much-needed city sidewalks to have even less priority and less money budgeted to the task. Beyond a few areas, the city actually has major walkability problems as a result. This could be effectively mitigated over a period of years if some leadership was provided for it.
But for the half of Ludington city that has sidewalks along the streets, there still remains a great problem that could be corrected by local law enforcement with warnings and, if necessary, tickets. That problem is blocking the sidewalk, usually with a vehicle.
Consider, when your vehicle is parked on the sidewalk, the pedestrians that pass by, who have a legal right to use your right-of-way, have this right blocked. Often they are forced onto the street, where half the time they will then be violating the law themself by being on the wrong side. Otherwise, you force them into trespassing onto your property by going around the other side. Your negligence has created either a safety problem or a property encroachment by those who pass your house.
The State of Michigan lists parking violations that may get you a civil infraction, and right at the top of that list is parking across a sidewalk MCL 257.674. The local ordinance cites $30 as the fine for such parking. So what's the confusion? Yet, I routinely see this violation and have my travel interrupted by the louts who decide to flaunt the apathy of the local parking law enforcers-- yes, the same ones who will 'chalk your tires' to make sure you do not park for more than 3 hours in certain lots downtown.
On July 1st and 2nd, I chronicled 24 occurrences of where the sidewalk was blocked, which was by no means exhaustive. If your vehicle or your neighbor's is pictured here, please get the hint, and for the sake of everyone who walks our town, do the right thing. Keep the sidewalk clear.
2-%20One%20on%2C%20One%20off%20%2B%20Garbage.JPG
4-%20For%20thin%20pedestrians%20only.JPG
5-%20Beware%20the%20trike%20and%20the%20RV.JPG
6-%20Seeing%20red%20across%20the%20pavement.JPG
8-%20Salvation%20Army%20of%20violators.JPG
9-%20Totally%20trucked%20over.JPG
12-%20Can%27t%20Cross%20this%21.JPG
13-%20Illegal%20bike%20parking%20as%20well.JPG
14-%20Yes%2C%20that%27s%20the%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20in%20the%20b...
15-%20Blocking%20the%20driveway%2C%20and%20the%20sidewalk.JPG
17-%20Blocked%20sign%20and%20sidewalk.JPG
18-%20A%20block%20and%20a%20clutter%20cluster.JPG
19-%20You%20might%20be%20a%20redneck.JPG
20-%20An%20empty%20garage%20I%27d%20bet.JPG
21-%20Yield%20sign%20and%20sidewalk%20blocked.JPG
22-%20Plenty%20of%20room%20on%20that%20driveway%2C%20your%20honor.JPG
Views: 102
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Willy on
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Nice job on the photos. I noticed in some of the pictures that some street signs are still blocked by branches and folks are walking in the street due to a lack of sidewalks. I think sidewalks should be a priority around schools to keep kids off the streets when traveling to and from school. I'm suprised that none of the City Councilors or Mayor has made it a priority. I guess they are to busy passing fee increases for f.o.i.a. information so that citizens can't afford to see, in print, what they are up to or maybe they are planning to expand that money pit called the City Marina.
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Permalink Reply by XLFD on
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This becomes even more pronounced around Macker time, as people take to off-street parking, when the pedestrians need the sidewalk the most. Parking fines are a money maker for the City and increases safety-- who can say why they have neglected it for so long.
Don't forget they have other things to do, Willie, like approve no bid contracts (especially to friends and family), figure out new ways to tax and fee us, and devise ways to offend or lessen the safety of us and our visitors.
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Permalink Reply by AQUAMAN on
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Quite an enormous documentation of parking offenses, and habitual in too many instances. What sayeth the local Safety Director of Traffic here? Isn't that the Chief of LPD? If MCL 257.674 is routinely being ignored, as well as obstructions from foilage, why even have these on the books?
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It is very habitual in several places; the place right across from the Mason County Sheriff's Office and Jail often has multiple vehicles, a boat, and sometimes a dumpster blocking the sidewalk. Surprisingly, this building is used as a rental property by recent City Council retiree after 12 years, Greg Dykstra.
One might say that the LPD and CC Dykstra's neighbors at the MCSO (who aren't the City's meter maids anyway!)overlooked this fault for many years because of that fact, but that sounds a little conspiratorial if you ask me, LOL.
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Permalink Reply by Sweater Cows! on
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I have never undestood why a person is supposed to stop their vehicle before a crosswalk when you can't see around the corners without pulling up to the crossroad edge. I wonder if it has to do with road widening over the years or what?
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Good observation, Lando, and one that falls in line with the other problem I was documenting that day. An area should have addressed in their zoning laws, and perhaps ordinances, protocols that restrict what can be allowed on the wedge of property (usually the public right-of-way, anyhow) near an intersection so that 'safe sight-lines' can be maintained. Ludington has these in their zoning code, but like any law that is rarely enforced, it isn't always followed.
According to my source at MI DOT, material from the MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices), and that Vegetation Control for Safety Guide published by the US DOT, at the intersections you speak of you must first stop before the crosswalk, and then proceed up to the crossroad edge, stop to safely yield, and proceed.
This doesn't happen in the real world, of course. People do what you said at such places. This is why controlling vegetation near intersections becomes an even bigger safety concern for pedestrians, as drivers neglect their duty to stop at the crosswalk.
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Permalink Reply by Eve Alone on
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Just like with the sex offenders and most citizens complaints, it gets passed on by local LE. Look for this problem to continue unabated, and look for them to blame the pedestrian or young cyclist that gets seriously injured or killed by having to go into the street because of this easily correctable problem.
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