I can't find the PennDot complaint link, nor can I seem to find an old thread on it. This sign is in the middle of the sidewalk and some poor woman was pushing a baby stroller with twins no less and had to try and get by it. Why can't PennDot ever do things right? Just clamp a sign on the concrete. How do I file a complaint? If anyone can do it as well that would be great. I can sort of get by it on my bike, but not very well. This detour sign is due to the Hulton Bridge closing. It will be there a while. I guess PennDot just doesn't think anyone walks across that bridge. I can assure them that I rarely can ride across it anymore without passing at least one person if not two. Times have changed a lot over the past 5 or so years. Young people are in massive debt due to college and people like the president of Penn State making over 1.4 million dollars a year. It is what it is. Thanks for any help.
gg
2015-06-08 22:32:50
As a start, I'd 311 it and ask directly if there's a better place to register PennDOT complaints.
There is also SPC's page (
http://spcregion.org/trans_pedbike_high.shtml), which @swalfoort does or did have control over.
stuinmccandless
2015-06-09 07:10:05
jonawebb
2015-06-09 07:37:24
@gg, please try and take a few photos of the sidewalk and post it to this thread. I have been in correspondence with both the Director of Safety and the Manager of Work Zone Traffic Control Section for PennDot district 11 for the last several months specifically about work signs blocking sidewalks and I'd love to forward the photo to them.
According to PennDot Publication 213 "Temporary Traffic Control Guidelines", ...an accessible path of 48" minimum width shall be provided... whenever signs (or anything else) are placed on sidewalks.
marko82
2015-06-09 08:35:37
@marco, that's good news.
I wrote something for the Wiki on what to do about this kind of problem, including a link to the PennDOT page:
http://bikingpgh.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#How_to_Fix_Problems
jonawebb
2015-06-09 08:51:41
Thank you for all the responses. Yes, I can take a picture, but not sure how to post it. I don't know why they just can't get this right? That bridge is used way more than in years past. I rarely go across it without someone walking there these days. I wish PennDot would understand the change in society. This change will continue to grow and grow due to massive college debt and people wanting to do the right thing.
Thanks again.
gg
2015-06-09 12:25:42
@gg, look to a site like imgur.com for hosting, then post a link to the image here. If you use Google, Dropbox, or many other services, you probably already have a photo storage place you can use.
(there are also numerous threads on the board with explanations of how to post an image directly.)
The transportation reporter at the PG, Jon Schmitz, has also apparently been active in getting PennDOT to pay more attention to this, though signs like this are apparently largely the work of their contractors, who clearly need better oversight. Send the picture to him as well (I tweet them at @pgtraffic, but @marko82 might have more direct contact information).
epanastrophe
2015-06-09 13:45:34
Get a Twitter account. Tweet each picture, with a brief caption. You can see many examples of my doing this in the 311 and Tag-o-Rama threads.
stuinmccandless
2015-06-09 17:16:24
gg
2015-06-10 00:15:04
I will try and contact others with this issue, but if anyone can help that would be great. Thanks for the advice.
gg
2015-06-10 00:18:29
Thanks gg, I'll send this to my contacts. Let me know if it gets taken care of.
@buffalo. yep, Jon S. is in the loop.
marko82
2015-06-10 07:34:31
At 10am PennDot claims that the sign has been removed. Please verify this.
marko82
2015-06-10 09:10:28
Hey, from Jon Schmitz's Twitter feed:
PennDOT construction sign blocking sidewalk on Highland Pk Bridge. This has been ongoing problem this year. pic.twitter.com/EXjsy3hr5m— Jon Schmitz (@pgtraffic) June 10, 2015
jonawebb
2015-06-10 09:24:08
Wow, you guys are great! Thanks for spreading the word to the right people. I wish I would have gotten a picture of that woman with her baby stroller. She got it through there, but it was no doubt tough.
I will let you know tonight about the sign. Haven't been through there yet.
Thanks again for all the great help.
gg
2015-06-10 12:27:52
What I don't get: I've seen such signs supported by a contraption that clamps on to the top of [Jersey] barriers. Doesn't District 11 have any of these? The signs have a reason to be there.
On a more aspirational note, for those of us who invoke a hopefully attentive deity, (metaphorically) close our eyes, then get on the bridge, maybe a source of reassurance could be sharrows?
Thinking expansively, the Conservancy has a nice garden at the south end. Surely there would be room for a small shrine (nothing fancy) to the patron deity of the cyclists (St. Sharrow? Help me here). Something we could bow to as we pedal by and strengthen our resolution.
ahlir
2015-06-10 20:01:18
The sign was down and on the way back home they were moving it to a pole and off the sidewalk. I actually had to talk to them a bit to let them know I needed to get by. Good timing to show that sidewalk gets used at all hours. I am very happy they moved the sign. I filed a complaint, but never got a response. Seems you folks got it done. Thanks. Hope this will be the last one of those. Now if we could just get them to not plow all the snow on the sidewalk. Sometimes I want to get a huge industrial snow blower and blow it all over the road, but I digress.
Enjoy all.
gg
2015-06-10 23:00:22
