Update: Reflective belts are now available for a minimal fee at Frank’s Hebrew Bookstore and Jacob’s Judaic. This is a joint project of Chaverim of Cleveland and The Jewish Sacred Society of Cleveland/Chevra Kadisha.
This is one of those safety things that is easy to remedy. We don’t want to chas v’sholom have an accident and regret knowing it could have been prevented.
From a reader:
I went to an oneg shabbat on 12-23-16. On the way to the oneg I saw one or two people wearing any kind of reflective gear or any thing that would allow them to be seen, the rest of the people were not wearing any thing to let others know they were there. The men were all in dark coats and dark hats. Some were also walking on the incorrect side of the street. This is a safety issue.
I know that when I am driving at night I do not see the men and women too walking until I am almost on top of them. It is scary to think that I might hit some one because I cannot see them. It is even scarier when I see a family with young children and strollers that could possibly be hit by a car because they were not seen until it was too late.
I would like to see more people of influence in the community urging ALL those walking on erev shabbos, and during shabbos and motzei shabbos or at night in general to wear some sort of reflective belt or vest etc…so that they can be seen by cars on both the side streets and main roads.
I find it very annoying to see what to me is a lack of common sense. The streets are not all well-lit, there is traffic on all the streets and people don’t seem to think it is important to be seen by the people driving. How difficult would it be to put a reflective belt on over a dark coat?
When I go out at night and I am walking I make it a point to put on a reflective vest so that I can be seen by people driving. I am usually on the side walk, but it is nice to know people can see me when I cross a street or have to walk in the street because of ice etc.. on the side walk.
I hope that you can publish this so individuals can be reminded that they cannot be seen in the dark in their dark coats and dark hats. Maybe with enough publicity and reminders some one will start to use a belt or vest. I hope this happens before some one is injured or killed by a car.
rob altshuler says
I make a habit of telling people when they are walking on the wrong side of the street. they usually just scoff at me. Occasionally they become belligerent. Only one time have I been thanked and watched them move to walk facing traffic. It is a very real problem
wondering says
what do you consider the wrong side of the street? I feel in the dark if you have to walk in the street it’s SAFER to walk on the “wrong” side of the street where you SEE the cars coming, rather than WITH the cars where they could come up right behind you before you know it and get sideswiped… no?
David Seltzer says
In memory of Avi Levine z’l, my classmate at Mesivta, who was killed on Shabbos walking on Green Road 24 years ago…
You mention the wrong side of the street, but don’t say which side is the correct side of the street. Let me be very clear:
WALK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET SO YOU CAN SEE THE CARS COMING TOWARDS YOU!
Your back is usually all dark with soft fabric that does not reflect – CARS CAN NOT SEE YOUR BACK! They often can see your face, but even if they don’t – you’ll see them. I have had to grab someone and jump out of the street before getting hit. I would definitely have been hit that Shabbos if I wasn’t facing traffic.
tiedyed says
In terms of the Right and Wrong side of the street. Pedestrians are supposed to walk FACING the oncoming traffic, i.e., on the left side of the street. Bicyclists must ride WITH traffic, and drivers must leave them a full lane if they choose to pass.
Isabel Parks says
Sorry, I thought most people know the rules of walking in the street.
I am so glad people are reading this, I hope the message gets around the community for our safety.
Stay safe please says
Why are you walking on the street at all? Now that all of the snow and ice has melted, it’s actually against the law to walk on the street where sidewalks are provided.
Beachwood:
416.05 WALKING ON SIDEWALKS AND STREETS.
(a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, no pedestrian shall walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
http://whdrane.conwaygreene.com/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=whdrane:OHBeachwood
University Heights:
416.05 WALKING ON SIDEWALKS AND STREETS.
(a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Ohio/university_heights_oh/codifiedordinancesofthecityofuniversityh?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:universityhts_oh
Cleveland Heights:
371.05 WALKING AND JOGGING ON ROADWAYS.
(a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, no pedestrian shall walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
http://whdrane.conwaygreene.com/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=whdrane:OHClevelandhts
If your city was not mentioned, just type your city’s name and “Codified Ordinances” into a search and then search for “Jay Walking.”
Neil in Beachwood says
The operative phrase here is, “its use is practicable”. Last Shabbox the sidewalks were total sheets of ice. That is not “practicable”..
When I walk more than half a mile I need to use a rollator (4-wheeled walker). The uneven nature of the sidewalks makes them generally impracticable whatever the weather..