Gulf of Mexico Drive crosswalks aren’t shortcuts to safety

Country Club Shores resident Joanne Assaly activated the flashing lights at a new crosswalk near her home by pressing a button. But before she could step into the roadway, 10 cars traveling southbound whizzed past her and her dog, Toby. 

Southbound traffic eventually stopped, allowing her to venture into the road back toward Country Club Shores. 

But Assaly and her dog only made it to the middle of Gulf of Mexico Drive, where they had to stop again until northbound traffic stopped a few seconds later.

Assaly’s experience illustrates why, for many pedestrians, even crosswalks don’t make traversing Gulf of Mexico Drive especially easy or safe.

“It takes a few minutes to get noticed even when the lights are flashing,” Assaly said. “And they only stop if I walk close enough out to the edge of the road so they know I’m serious about crossing.”

Town Manager Dave Bullock and Mayor Jack Duncan said the four crosswalks aren’t totally complete, noting they will be more visible to motorists driving 45 mph down the road more aware once striping is complete.

According to officials on Siesta Key, where crosswalks were built in 2013 on a beach road similar to Gulf of Mexico Drive, the crossings will improve safety in the long run. But in the short term, it will take time for both Key pedestrians and motorists to get used to the crosswalks this season.

Siesta Key lessons

Six crosswalks were constructed on a busy section of Midnight Pass Road between a Sarasota County Fire Station and Stickney Point Road in 2013.

Mark Smith, an architect and the chairman-elect of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, said crosswalks took time to get used to on Midnight Pass Road.

“It’s a matter of people being conditioned,” Smith said.

Smith said both pedestrians and motorists need to adapt.

For starters, pedestrians need to realize the light activation doesn’t mean they should start walking as soon as they activate the crosswalk lights, Smith said.

“Because people are used to moving down Gulf of Mexico Drive at a pretty decent clip,” Smith said, “they’re not all going to remember to stop right away. The lights and the crosswalks will take some getting used to.”

Smith estimates it could take an entire season for motorists and pedestrians to use the crosswalks correctly.

“It takes longer for seasonal residents that don’t drive the road year-round to get used to the crosswalks,” Smith said. “And residents that drive the road year-round have to adapt, too.”

Another important element to the new crosswalks, according to Siesta Key Association President Michael Shay, is the education of residents and pedestrians.

“The crosswalks themselves are great and visible,” Shay said. “But that doesn’t mean people are going to use them.”

Shay said he’s still baffled when he sees pedestrians crossing Midnight Pass Road when they are just 50 feet away from a crosswalk.

“You’re always going to have people crossing in front of their condos rather than walk an extra 50 feet,” Shay said.

Smith said motorists get agitated when they have to stop at the crosswalk — and then stop again 50 feet later for someone crossing outside of the crosswalk.

“You’ll actually see cars gunning at them to try and scare them so they will use the crosswalk next time,” Smith said.

Longboat Key education

Mayor Jack Duncan said the town needs to create “a full education process” that involves reaching out to Key association boards and area churches. He plans on adding a discussion about education to December’s regular workshop agenda.

“If the crosswalks are going to go through this transition period, I believe we need to be more proactive and talk with FDOT about how we can enhance the crosswalks temporarily and get people to stop,” Duncan said.

Duncan also said the town needs to craft a brochure for area inns and hotels to urge Key visitors to use the crosswalks.

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming said his officers will be in the vicinity of the crosswalks when they are fully functional as motorists and pedestrians adapt to crosswalks.

“When our officers are not patrolling, they will be in those areas addressing violations and educating motorists,” Cumming said.

Smith, though, warns that all the education in the world won’t make the crosswalks a completely safe alternative for pedestrians.

“Unfortunately, the crosswalks aren’t moron-proof,” Smith said. “But once they’re in place for awhile, they’re safer than not having them.”

Shay agreed that the crosswalks are an improvement.

“There’s no question that I’d rather have the crosswalks than not have them,” he said.