Regarding the recent front-page photo and article about Redmond’s enforcement of the crosswalk law: Is Redmond’s protection of pedestrians as half-hearted as the paint job of the crosswalk in the photo? There are a number of areas in the city that have crosswalks in need of re-striping and the last two months of dry weather would have seemed to be a perfect time. In addition, there is a crosswalk entering into downtown’s Anderson Park that was obliterated by utility work last summer. Over a year later, there is only half a crosswalk and then it stops.

Pedestrians are often an afterthought in city planning or given no thought at all. How else can you explain two blocks of closed sidewalks right across the street from City Hall? Why allow that public space to be a place where builders can park their construction trailers and equipment? As this nice town becomes more urbanized, we need to study other cities to see how they accommodate both pedestrians and builders (covered walkways?).

If you stand on the corner opposite The Matador restaurant and look either direction, you will see two different blocks where the sidewalks are closed with cyclone construction fences. At one corner, the sidewalks are closed on both sides of the street leaving the walker no choice but to walk in the street.

Redmond is a great place to work and play. A little more attention to foot traffic flow is probably in order.

David Wobker, Redmond