I am in the process of drafting a “letter to the editor” about my experiences with 29th and Liberty and dug up a few articles about the intersection.

In addition to my own documentation of the intersection we have from 2009, a news story that my coworkers are featured in.

“We’re waiting for PennDOT approval for a full-scale light system in there. I believe that will take about six more weeks,” O’Connor said at the time.
Team 4: Neighbors Say Strip District Corner Still Unsafe After Deaths

The rest are from 2006 when there were two people killed within a month or two of one another.

A car hit a woman at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 29th Street in the Strip District during Thursday’s rush hour, Channel 4 Action News reported.
Woman Hit By Two Vehicles In Strip

“I’m so afraid. Every day, when I cross, it’s so scary. I feel like you are going to get hit because you have to dodge the traffic,” student Laurie Garside said.
How Safe Is Liberty Avenue For Pedestrians?

Transportation officials have published a report on dangerous roads, and a major thoroughfare in Pittsburgh is at the top of the list.
Report Names Pittsburgh’s Most Dangerous Roads

According to investigators, Cassandra Gatewood, 43, of McKeesport, was charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and fleeing an accident scene.
Police: Suspect In Strip District Pedestrian Death Was DUI

Since all of this and despite repeated appeals from our office and the Pittsburgh Ballet the best response we have from the city is “None of the signal warrants are met at this location; therefore a traffic signal cannot be installed.”

The woman I was involved in the accident with Monday night claimed she couldn’t see me after she pulled out in front of me and we collided. She also told the insurance agent that she did not see me wearing any reflective clothing, nor any lights on my bike.

In addition to the reflective clothing lit up in these photos, the light on my handlebars blinks and is visible from a block away. My question is, how can you miss me?

For good measure, here is me from the side.

Update: I heard back from the insurance company and the bottom line is that when in an accident, insist on a police report and get some witnesses. I was compensated, but not fully.

Last night, Monday October 17 at around 6:30pm I was involved in a collision with a car. I was riding outbound on Liberty Ave where it meets Aiken. I just finished waiting at the red light at Liberty and Baum and was following two cars who had created a gap in front of me. I was in the middle of the right lane, had a bright blinking front light and reflective clothing on and couldn’t have been going faster than 15mph when I noticed a car with their left turn signal on, waiting to turn left on to Center Ave. This very same situation occurs every day on my way home, but tonight was different. As I was entering the intersection the driver decided to make her turn and there was little time for me to react and I skidded in to her passenger side front door. My rear wheel is ruined and my knee is a little sore, but outside of that I am ok.

I ride through this intersection every evening and the situation is always the same. I have one or two vehicles in front of me, a couple in back, a turning lane to my left, and an awkward intersection with more turning vehicles ahead of me. There is always a driver making a left on to Center just like there was last night. I saw her, I felt it was safe, but when it was too late she made her turn.

View Larger Map

She said she didn’t see me. I don’t think she was seeing much of anything last night given the dark and rainy conditions. This was her second accident this week, she totaled her other car.

There was a police officer on Center Ave and I was able to wave him down to help with the exchange of information. Of all days to forget my wallet. We exchanged information and I called Monica to come pick me up. To my knowledge the officer did not file a report and I should have known not to trust that the card he handed me at the very least had his name on it. The officer did let the woman know that I had the right of way and that she was at fault.

I filed a claim with her insurance and am waiting to hear back on the claim.

Apparently the city of Pittsburgh who claims to be “A Most Livable City” has never heard of traffic calming. If they had, the intersection at 29th and Liberty, where my office, a gym, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre among others, would have received some sort of treatment to help us navigate the highway known as Liberty Ave safely.

Since I have worked here I have witnessed four accidents during work hours and am forced to play chicken with speeding traffic. When I first contacted Pittsburgh’s non-emergency line, 311, about it this is the response I received.

None of the signal warrants are met at this location; therefore a traffic signal cannot be installed. However during evaluation, it was noticed that many of the crashes were at night. Because of this, lighting has been increased at the intersection by replacing a light pole and replacing the light with a higher wattage variety. The stop signs have been replaced to ensure reflectivity. The storage container was on the corner has be relocated to allow better visibility of oncoming traffic from southbound 29th street.

Apparently there are even more accidents happening outside of business hours in addition to the few I have witnessed and documented. Great that they addressed these issues, but none of them address the accidents that happen during the day, nor do they address pedestrian safety issues.

After my coworker was struck this morning I contacted them again and immediately received a response telling me there is nothing they can do and to contact my state representative. The Federal Highway Administration governs the installation of traffic signals and our intersection doesn’t qualify for one.

What about lowering the speed limit? What about a pedestrian signal? Nothing. They don’t care. I am afraid that just like on Braddock Ave outside of Frick Park, that it will take a death to address the issue.

This the city’s idea of traffic calming? It clearly isn’t working.

Updated with the bus route on 2010-05-26 because of a post on the Bike Pittsburgh forums regarding the same route.

route: 86b inbound

Below is the complaint I sent to PAT and to their CEO Stephen Bland.

I was traveling on my bicycle at around 15-20mph passing through the intersection at Penn and 31st. I was in the middle of the right lane preparing to clear the intersection and ride on the bike friendly section of Penn Ave. A bus approached from behind, honked their horn, started to change lanes and pass me. If it would have ended there I wouldn’t be sending this complaint.

Instead of completing the pass, the driver began to turn into the right lane while I was still in it. I could have reached out and touched the bus without extending my arm he was so close. For the next three blocks I kept my same speed and kept up with the bus. Not sure what the hurry was that he had to pass me like that and risk my life.

This isn’t the first complaint I have filed like this. A very similar incident occurred on Liberty Ave on May 21st of last year. I ride the bus regularly and I feel that incidents like this need reported and dealt with.

This is the second complaint I have submitted like this. In fact I searched my email and replied to Mr. Bland using the same email from last year and added my new complaint. He responded and said he would look into it.

This in response to J. HENTOSZ

From what I understand, anyone driving a car in the streets is to follow the rules of the road — stop at red lights, no turn on red, yield, etc.

I see these guys/ladies running red lights, not even stopping, breaking the law. It’s like they do whatever they want, and when they hit someone it’s automatically the other persons fault for being in their way!

I don’t understand how you’re supposed to share the road with a person in a car going 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. It’s idiotic, and you should not be able to drive a on the street if you can’t follow the law and drive safely.

It’s a danger to other drivers, pedestrians and themselves if they can’t just slow down for five seconds of their day.