Yield To Pedestrians

Three cheers for the Spokane Police Department. Last week the department began a summer-long project to protect pedestrians from aggressive motorists.

At several locations around town, officers in civilian clothes are stepping onto the street while officers on motorcyles chase down drivers who don’t stop. The penalty is a $71 fine for failing to yield.

Those who often attempt to navigate our community on foot can tell stories about leaping for the curb when oncoming cars ignore them, honk at them, or even accelerate in their direction.

Aggressive driving kills and injures too many people. It makes neighborhoods dangerous, for everyone.

We can do better. Spokane has beautiful neighborhood parks and a recovering city center. We just celebrated Bloomsday, one of the pre-eminent pedestrian events in the world.

Thanks to this long-overdue effort by the police department, Spokane motorists now can change their habits and make our community known for its courtesy toward pedestrians. The lack of this basic courtesy has been a missing piece in the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Slow down, drivers. Relax. Smile. Obey the law. Let pedestrians cross. You’ll feel better. And, when you park that car and become a pedestrian yourself, you’ll be delighted to discover that you now live in a neighborhood where pedestrians are welcome.