Modesto Seniors Raise Concerns About Intersection
MODESTO (CBS13) - Some seniors citizens in Modesto say crossing the street in front of their home means making a potentially deadly decision.
They say they're only given 20 seconds to make it across the street at 17th and I streets - and that's just not enough time.
Irene Scott, 85, says a driver almost hit her while she was on her scooter in the crosswalk.
"It scared me to death," she said. "He may have missed me a foot. … The car tried to beat me and almost hit me."
Margie Bruschett describes a similar close call when her scooter stopped working in the middle of the crosswalk.
"They speed up and burn rubber going pass me like I'm a nuisance," she said.
About 200 live in the senior complex on 17th and I. Seniors say problems started when traffic congestion caused the city to get rid of the diagonal cross walk requiring all lanes to stop for pedestrians.
"We used to go diagonal and we weren't afraid of getting hit," she said.
A sign holder shares the same concern. He's watched six close calls in just one day and fears it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
"I feel sorry for them," Zach Ham. "They get upset too. The drivers don't even know what they are doing."
City leaders are working on a solution, and in a couple of weeks pedestrians will get a six-second head start.
Some of the seniors say they've also contacted police asking that they ticket drivers for speeding.
