To the Editor:

We feel the need to respond to Richard Gulardo’s letter in a recent Town Topics [“Long Held ‘Rule’ of Pedestrian Right of Way in Town Needs to Be Addressed,” Mailbox, February 23]. It is difficult to understand his objections to the continuation of the “rule” that pedestrians have the right of way “not only at intersections, but at many other points along Nassau Street or Witherspoon Street.”

We would like to point out that motor vehicle laws establishing pedestrian right-of-way are enacted at the state level, and Princeton does not have the authority to change these laws. Since 2010 New Jersey state law has required that drivers must stop and remained stopped for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and yield to them in unmarked crosswalks, which exist by definition at every intersection (N.J.S.A. 39:4-36). Beginning March 1 the new NJ Safe Passing Law requires drivers to leave a safe zone — minimum 4 feet — when passing roadway users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users. When not possible to pass safely, motorists should slow to 25 mph and be prepared to stop until it is safe to pass with sufficient clearance.

Is Mr. Gulardo suggesting that pedestrians currently have, or think they have the right of way when crossing mid-block, or against a traffic light? If so, that is simply wrong, and we strongly condemn such behavior by pedestrians.

However, traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Princeton involving pedestrians in the last five years have occurred when pedestrians were crossing in marked crosswalks, either at intersections without signals or in compliance with the walk signal when there was one. There can be little doubt that the problem is with the drivers, not with the pedestrians.

We would also point out that Princeton and many other municipalities in Mercer County and the state have all embraced Complete Streets policies. For those who are not familiar with Complete Streets, its principles maintain that streets and roads are a public good to be shared by all users: drivers, bicyclists, transit users, those with disabilities, and pedestrians. 

We are no longer in the era of the 1950s when the car was king and other roadway users had to dodge steel vehicles to avoid being hit, or frankly just stayed home, especially those with mobility challenges.

This culture shift is necessary partly to ameliorate the congestion Mr. Gulardo bemoans in his letter. As traffic volume increases, every pedestrian potentially represents a driver who chose to leave their car at home for the day, reducing carbon emissions and traffic. In order to encourage walkers to make that choice, we need to uphold policies that make them safe. When drivers decide that saving a few minutes passing through town is more important than the health and safety of pedestrians, that is when crashes occur, and this is the behavior that needs to change.

David Cohen
Princeton Councilmember and Vision Zero Steering Committee Chair

Lisa Serieyssol
Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee

Laurie Harmon
Princeton Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee Chair