Students illegally cross Lane Avenue where crosswalks are limited. Credit: Owen Milnes | Lantern Reporter
Students who play a real-life version of “Frogger” on Lane Avenue may soon be trading their jaywalking for crosswalking.
The city of Columbus and Ohio State are discussing the installation of a crosswalk on the stretch of Lane Avenue between Neil Avenue and High Street, Debbie Briner, spokesperson for the city of Columbus, said. The two intersections saw 181 accidents in total in the last five years, according to records from the city of Columbus.
Briner said the city is working with the university to determine the appropriate location and funding for the crosswalk.
“There is an awareness that there needs to be a crosswalk there,” Briner said. “We’re working on trying to figure out where to put it.”
According to records obtained from the city of Columbus, there were 69 car accidents at the intersection of Neil and Lane avenues from Nov. 30, 2014, to Jan. 14, 2020. Fifty-eight of the accidents resulted in property damage only and 11 resulted in injury.
During this same time period, there were 112 car accidents at the intersection of High Street and Lane Avenue. Ninety of the accidents resulted in property damage only, one accident resulted in suspicion of minor injury and 21 resulted in injury.
The Lantern was unable to obtain records specific to the stretch of Lane Avenue between High Street and Neil Avenue because the city keeps records based on intersections.
Briner said in an email that the funding and timeline for the crosswalk have yet to be determined.
Dan Hedman, university spokesperson, said in an email that Ohio State works closely with the city to improve safety, and Lane Avenue is one area that continues to be discussed.
“At this time, I am unaware of any solidified plans to add a crosswalk,” he said.
Crosswalks are typically installed after the Department of Traffic Management conducts a study on a requested area, but Briner said this is different.
“We‘ve already kind of determined that there does need to be a crosswalk somewhere in this area,” Briner said. “But it’s not as simple as going out and striping a crosswalk because it’s not at an intersection.”
In addition to a crosswalk, Briner said the city might look into adding enhancements, such as a flashing sign or pedestrian-activated beacon to increase motorist awareness.
Robert Barrett, a traffic bureau officer of 23 years, said most pedestrian accidents are caused by distractions.
“Most drivers are not paying attention to a pedestrian suddenly getting out in front of them,” Barrett said. “Good common sense when crossing the roadway plays a lot into it.”
Barrett said jaywalking and most accidents can be deterred with education, and at an enforcement level, police officers can try to create educational opportunities through issuing citations, warnings or conversations.
