Editor:
While I am disappointed in District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio’s performance and participation in the enactment of Proposition K, I’ll still be reserving judgement on the petition to recall a sitting supervisor.
I would much rather the supervisors were engaged in more pressing matters that wouldn’t necessarily divide the citizens like Prop. K did.
One such issue for me is the understanding and enforcement of the 20-foot mandated set-back at crosswalks. Better that the brains behind that move to eliminate an estimated 14,000 parking spots in this city alone might have considered street calming speed humps say 25 to 40 feet from a crosswalk or limiting the height of vehicles that could park there to about 5 feet in height – so a driver and pedestrian at the crosswalk could see over them. However, it is what it is!
What I’d appreciate hearing from my supervisor is a definition of what constitutes a ‘crosswalk’ as pertains to the parking restriction law, and will his office do anything to speed-up the process for marking those crosswalks that will have motorists ticketed? When is a crosswalk a crosswalk and not just a street corner?
I’m old enough to remember the saying “Stop, Look and Listen” before entering a crosswalk. Best if the supervisor(s) got behind an effort to encourage pedestrians and bicyclists on how they can be a big part of the solution to making our streets safer!
David Joy
Categories: letter to the editor
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 
My understanding is that ALL intersections, not just those with painted crosswalks are covered by this new law. Red curbs painted or not to help define the limits. You have to be outside 20 feet or one car length from the intersection.
Good luck trying to get your supervisor to act on this since it’s a state law.
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This is state law, and also the law in several other states and countries. It makes it safer for drivers too. I live near an intersection and frequently hear cars crashing into each other. As a driver, I often have to inch through intersections to make sure pedestrians or cars aren’t coming. As a pedestrian, I have experienced cars not seeing me and have had too many close calls. Drivers don’t want to crash and pedestrians want to be seen. Modernizing our streets to meet current safety standards is a good thing for all of us.
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