Strip District Pedestrian Accident Raises Safety Concerns
STRIP DISTRICT (KDKA) - Most days the Strip District is a busy place, bustling with traffic and pedestrians.
However, after an accident Thursday night, some are questioning whether more needs to be done to make the Strip District safer for pedestrians.
From the people who work there to the occasional shoppers, the Strip District is still a main destination.
But some are worried incidents like the one on Thursday night may be a black eye on the neighborhood.
"They've done a great job cleaning up the area. We see it as a growing area, and stuff like this... we need to do what we can to correct the situation," Lidia's General Manager Mike Hamway said.
"You've been crossing the road since you were 4-years-old, so you know how to cross the street. And they're speeding up and almost flying. It's almost like PlayStation, you're like, 'Oh my God.' One guy almost hit me and he was pointing and laughing, so it's a very serious problem," Troy Thomas said.
Two people were seriously injured when they were struck by a car heading down Smallman Street near Lidia's at 15th Street. Hamway said safety has always been a concern there.
"There's responsibility on all parts, both the drivers and pedestrians have to be more aware, but this is a very busy and dangerous intersection at certain times of the day," Hamway said.
"Some people have their walkman tuned in or they're walking and not paying attention or they may have a hood up because it's cold, but these motorists are definitely seeing the pedestrians crossing," Thomas said.
"The reminders to drivers to slow down are certainly out there, but over time, they fade. Crosswalks and signs haven't stood the test of time.
As for the people who work in the Strip, they have their own suggestions to make it just a little safer.
"Ideally, a light would correct the situation, but at the very least, at certain times of the day, at rush hour, 8-9 o'clock, at 5-6 o'clock at night when there are a lot of people out there. It's just a recipe for disaster unless we can do something about it," Hamway said.
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