Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990                   TAG: 9005240520
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A16   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

'WALK/DON'T WWALK' LIGHTS NEED OVERHAUL

Workers, visitors or shoppers in downtown Roanoke are in danger everytime they step foot into the street, whether the "Walk" indicator is lit or not. Just when you think it's safe to walk, traffic from other lanes have a green arrow to turn across your walk zone. Or, in the instance of Williamson Road and Campbell Avenue, the walk area has been reduced to allow traffic to turn uphill.

What was wrong with the system used years ago, in which all traffic stopped at an intersection to allow pedestrians to cross simultaneously?

The "new, improved" system might work well in New York or Los Angeles, but not in downtown Roanoke. It discourages the feeble and elderly from even venturing into downtown. Every time the "walk" sign is lit, it is putting a life in danger.

Now you know why female workers downtown wear athletic shoes at lunch time - so they can run across the street!

\ MARY DODGE\ ROANOKE