New Obstacle Course for Pedestrians in Friday Harbor
First of all, I would like to offer some major kudos and acknowledge the Town of Friday Harbor for upgrading Blair Avenue by putting sidewalks on both sides for its entire length from Spring Street to Guard Street. It was greatly needed and it is greatly appreciated.
However, there is a major problem with the placement of parking signs and light posts, and now is the time to correct this mistake before it’s too late. Click on the photos below (note – clicking on the left or right side of an enlarged photo will take you to the previous or next photo). And here’s a thought – when the snow comes, how is the snow-removal-bobcat-driver going to like these?
This sign is in front of the post office and is fully 24″ in from the street. (almost 30″ if you count the curb strip). This is 1/3 of the way in from the street and it creates an obstacle for pedestrians on this brand-new 6′ wide sidewalk. Worse, it is near a bump-out and could have been positioned at the bump-out allowing the full width of the sidewalk. Most of the parking signs on Blair are at similar positions on the sidewalk. For a number of them, the concrete has NOT YET BEEN POURED as of this writing on Nov. 16th.
A new light pole on Blair.
Detail of a new light pole on Blair. If you count the round circle, it’s more than 24″ into the sidewalk, but if you measure only to the edge of the base plate, it is roughly 20 – 21″.
This sign post is on Nash Street in front of the Mullis Center and it is only 8 – 9″ into the sidewalk. This is a 6-ft. wide sidewalk and does not get as much traffic as Blair Avenue.
Lightpost on Nash Street. If they could put a light post this close to the curb on a less-busy sidewalk 15 years ago, why can’t they do this on a busier sidewalk today?
A close up shot of the light post on Nash St. This shows that it is only 12″ into the sidewalk.