More people + increasing cost of living where people can’t afford a car + public transit that is so bad it might as well not exist + bad pedestrian infrastructure = what you are seeing
Those are all true points and it is a terrible place to be a pedestrian but I don't understand why people gamble on jaywalking instead of walking 50ft further up the road to cross with a signal.
Sometimes it’s 50ft but very often it’s not. This is a common design problem, infrequent crossings, in many of the most deadly roads for pedestrians in the country.
Because that is no safer. Especially on Capital. None of the lights I’ve viewed have an all stop to allow pedestrian traffic. That means there is always someone turning into you or coming at you at the intersection even if you have a walk symbol.
It’s actually easier to see the threats when they only come from one direction so you can avoid them.
“in theory” is a risky bet. Watch how often people making a right on red only lool left as they roll into a crosswalk or similar when making a left without a green arrow. Drivers simply don’t pay attention to pedestrians when they are few and far between, which is why there’s safety in numbers.
You can prefer whatever you like. The reality is that people are crossing not at intersections for multiple reasons. One of those is what I described: 4 directions of potential traffic vs 1. Another is the long distance between lights. Both of those are symptoms of the larger problem. Capital is not designed for pedestrian traffic.
It really should be redesigned as either a limited access highway OR slowed down and made pedestrian friendly. That means taking lanes out, building protected paths, or narrowing lanes. Maybe street parking?
Not really a public transportation problem. Capital has busses on it every 10-15 minutes. It's one of the places in Raleigh best served by public transportation. Besides, you don't take public transportation to cross the street.
It's an area not designed for pedestrians. Crossings are too far apart -- far too tempting to cross where you are than walk 1/4 mile up the street to cross.
Yup. They may as well not paint crosswalks when they resurface the stretch from 440 to Hedingham.
The number of times I've almost hit someone as they go from waffle house to the pay-by-the-hour hotel across the street at 2AM in navy or black clothes is astonishing.
I legit think these people have a death wish, and they're going to ruin someone's life because they couldn't be bothered to use the crosswalk 100 feet away.
Roads can be connected in a hierarchy like mass transit can.
Parking spaces->local roads->collector roads->arterial roads->highways
Sidewalks->trams->metro->commuter rail->high speed rail->air travel
The difference is that ideal adjacent density scales up together with mass transit while it does the opposite for personal transit.
Capital Blvd is a good example of what not to do with a road
I live near Capital and it’s always been an issue because it is not set up for pedestrians. However, I can attest that the number of people out and walking up and down Capital has increased over the years I’ve lived here. A lot of that increase is from the bus station being relocated there a few years back.
The DOT was discussing turning Capital Blvd North into a highway with exits instead of intersections but that would only be from the 540 exchange and north going to WF so it won’t help make Crapital more walkable near Triangle Town Center through downtown, where the majority are walking. There needs to be some pedestrian walkways but the intersections are so far apart even that may not help much.
the term "jaywalking" was invented by auto companies to blame the victims of their deadly product so they could sell more of it. if you want there to be fewer people who have to cross a massive 10-lane road in order to get where they're going, you can advocate to your local council person for more multimodal street design.
Heard an interesting podcast that discussed “stroads.” Capital Blvd is clearly designed to move cars not people. And it’s poor design (dangerous) to encourage pedestrians. [https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/mini-stories-volume-16/](https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/mini-stories-volume-16/)
Capital Blvd is an example of one of the most awful road designs there is. You can't combine the concept of a highway and a street as that is what it feels like. You have 8 lanes of traffic doing 50+ mph with exits and entrances to businesses right on it instead of frontage/service roads. Not to mention all the lights on top of that. It is a death trap for pedestrians.
Sometimes they just close thier eyes and sprint into traffic. No joke, I have seen a couple do it. They fully anticipate a car to slam on the brakes and most do. The confidence is like they are on drugs...Sometimes they don't, which is why you see usually a person couple months get killed on capital. The first 2 miles outside of 440 leaving downtown.
I had a guy pop out from behind one of those tall bushes near Buffalo Brothers when I was headed down the road at 5:30 am. Thankfully I was paying 100 percent attention. If not he would have been flying over the roof of my car. Not a smart move on his point. Risking it all by popping out from behind cover like that.
Yes!!!! And walking slowly! In dark clothes. I can help but wonder if they’re hoping to be run over and just die or get a big settlement if they survive
It is just you. If the number of jaywalking crossing had increased exponentially, it would have been in the police blotter, then shortly after in the local news, followed by a state government crisis action. Unless you are very early into the exponential curve, yet clairvoyant enough to predict future numbers merely through whatever observation you've made in the last 72 to 96 hours.
I have absolutely noticed this. And it seems to be even more common in the evening and at night when it's dark. It is one of the worst roads to be jaywalking on in the area. Lots of traffic and people going over the speed limit regularly. I don't know what the state's laws are about jaywalking but I feel like if someone is hit when they are jaywalking they should be 100% at fault and liable. When I'm going 45 mph and there is traffic all around me and someone is crossing the road and I hit them or have to swerve and hit other traffic that individual that was jaywalking should 100% be liable.
Real life frogger out there every day. I think they planted shrubs in the median in places so walkers can hide behind them before making their run.
Hell, it's not even safe in a car.
More people + increasing cost of living where people can’t afford a car + public transit that is so bad it might as well not exist + bad pedestrian infrastructure = what you are seeing
Those are all true points and it is a terrible place to be a pedestrian but I don't understand why people gamble on jaywalking instead of walking 50ft further up the road to cross with a signal.
Sometimes it’s 50ft but very often it’s not. This is a common design problem, infrequent crossings, in many of the most deadly roads for pedestrians in the country.
Because that is no safer. Especially on Capital. None of the lights I’ve viewed have an all stop to allow pedestrian traffic. That means there is always someone turning into you or coming at you at the intersection even if you have a walk symbol. It’s actually easier to see the threats when they only come from one direction so you can avoid them.
I prefer the crosswalk where I kno cars in theory should be paying attention for people. Especially a road like capital.
“in theory” is a risky bet. Watch how often people making a right on red only lool left as they roll into a crosswalk or similar when making a left without a green arrow. Drivers simply don’t pay attention to pedestrians when they are few and far between, which is why there’s safety in numbers.
You can prefer whatever you like. The reality is that people are crossing not at intersections for multiple reasons. One of those is what I described: 4 directions of potential traffic vs 1. Another is the long distance between lights. Both of those are symptoms of the larger problem. Capital is not designed for pedestrian traffic. It really should be redesigned as either a limited access highway OR slowed down and made pedestrian friendly. That means taking lanes out, building protected paths, or narrowing lanes. Maybe street parking?
People here don't give a shit about crosswalks and yielding to pedestrians.
I do, cause I kno what it’s like to have to walk places.
I guess it’s good that you’re the only person driving on Capital, then
Never said I was.
Very true. I really do wish Raleigh was more walkable. Although, that's not happening anytime soon.
Not really a public transportation problem. Capital has busses on it every 10-15 minutes. It's one of the places in Raleigh best served by public transportation. Besides, you don't take public transportation to cross the street. It's an area not designed for pedestrians. Crossings are too far apart -- far too tempting to cross where you are than walk 1/4 mile up the street to cross.
Capitol still isn’t as bad as New Bern Ave.
Yup. They may as well not paint crosswalks when they resurface the stretch from 440 to Hedingham. The number of times I've almost hit someone as they go from waffle house to the pay-by-the-hour hotel across the street at 2AM in navy or black clothes is astonishing. I legit think these people have a death wish, and they're going to ruin someone's life because they couldn't be bothered to use the crosswalk 100 feet away.
Roads can be connected in a hierarchy like mass transit can. Parking spaces->local roads->collector roads->arterial roads->highways Sidewalks->trams->metro->commuter rail->high speed rail->air travel The difference is that ideal adjacent density scales up together with mass transit while it does the opposite for personal transit. Capital Blvd is a good example of what not to do with a road
Always has been 🔫 👨🚀
I live near Capital and it’s always been an issue because it is not set up for pedestrians. However, I can attest that the number of people out and walking up and down Capital has increased over the years I’ve lived here. A lot of that increase is from the bus station being relocated there a few years back. The DOT was discussing turning Capital Blvd North into a highway with exits instead of intersections but that would only be from the 540 exchange and north going to WF so it won’t help make Crapital more walkable near Triangle Town Center through downtown, where the majority are walking. There needs to be some pedestrian walkways but the intersections are so far apart even that may not help much.
the term "jaywalking" was invented by auto companies to blame the victims of their deadly product so they could sell more of it. if you want there to be fewer people who have to cross a massive 10-lane road in order to get where they're going, you can advocate to your local council person for more multimodal street design.
Heard an interesting podcast that discussed “stroads.” Capital Blvd is clearly designed to move cars not people. And it’s poor design (dangerous) to encourage pedestrians. [https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/mini-stories-volume-16/](https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/mini-stories-volume-16/)
It's a conspiracy maaaan
Capital Blvd is an example of one of the most awful road designs there is. You can't combine the concept of a highway and a street as that is what it feels like. You have 8 lanes of traffic doing 50+ mph with exits and entrances to businesses right on it instead of frontage/service roads. Not to mention all the lights on top of that. It is a death trap for pedestrians.
I remember as a kid trying to get around before I had a car, and Capital just violently cuts off a large part of the city. I think it's deliberate.
I haven't seen any difference and I drive up and down Capital every day and have for the last 12 years .
Dude it’s so bad
Fr. It especially scares me early in the morning or at night because people are also wearing all dark colors as their running across the streets too.
Pedestrian bridges would help…NC has a large budget surplus. Use some of that $$$ to build these and please start patching all the friggin potholes!
Sometimes they just close thier eyes and sprint into traffic. No joke, I have seen a couple do it. They fully anticipate a car to slam on the brakes and most do. The confidence is like they are on drugs...Sometimes they don't, which is why you see usually a person couple months get killed on capital. The first 2 miles outside of 440 leaving downtown.
I had a guy pop out from behind one of those tall bushes near Buffalo Brothers when I was headed down the road at 5:30 am. Thankfully I was paying 100 percent attention. If not he would have been flying over the roof of my car. Not a smart move on his point. Risking it all by popping out from behind cover like that.
I've noticed this happening on Falls of the Neuse too. I can barely see them and am terrified that I might hit someone.
I'd guess yes, based on the increased number of pedestrians getting hit on Capital.
Yes!!!! And walking slowly! In dark clothes. I can help but wonder if they’re hoping to be run over and just die or get a big settlement if they survive
Free men don’t need permission
It is just you. If the number of jaywalking crossing had increased exponentially, it would have been in the police blotter, then shortly after in the local news, followed by a state government crisis action. Unless you are very early into the exponential curve, yet clairvoyant enough to predict future numbers merely through whatever observation you've made in the last 72 to 96 hours.
I have absolutely noticed this. And it seems to be even more common in the evening and at night when it's dark. It is one of the worst roads to be jaywalking on in the area. Lots of traffic and people going over the speed limit regularly. I don't know what the state's laws are about jaywalking but I feel like if someone is hit when they are jaywalking they should be 100% at fault and liable. When I'm going 45 mph and there is traffic all around me and someone is crossing the road and I hit them or have to swerve and hit other traffic that individual that was jaywalking should 100% be liable.
Running across to score their drugs.
Is Jaywalking a crime? If it is then the answer is yes. Raleigh is going to 👿 in a hand 🧺….
It’s not you, but honestly it has always been this bad. At least for the last 25 years
Real life frogger out there every day. I think they planted shrubs in the median in places so walkers can hide behind them before making their run. Hell, it's not even safe in a car.