— from Madie Murray —
There’s a lovely gentleman who walks to and from town along Olga Road and Crescent Beach probably daily. He’s dressed to the nines, sometimes in a kilt, sporting a cane and a wonderful hat. I don’t know who he is, but I’m sure many of you do. He’s a delight to see and I’m always amazed at his endurance and swagger.
But I’m afraid for him. Though his manner of dressing is a delight to behold, he blends in with the landscape wearing browns, greens and golds – or other muted colors that sometimes make him almost invisible. If it weren’t for the exuberant use of his cane to walk, he is sometimes almost invisible – especially when it is twilight, rainy or foggy.
If any of you know him, PLEASE ask him to wear something that will reflect or catch a driver’s eye from a distance. Some bright apparel, tape or reflector of some sort. Anyone who walks our roads needs to be as noticeable as bike riders. I desperately fear for this lovely man’s safety on our roads that don’t accommodate much room for walkers.
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My Dear Maddie,
Tis I to whom you refer I am sure and yes I am afraid my winter attire tends to be rather muted in color, such is the nature of waterproof materials. I do however try to ensure I am on every occasion ready to leap as athletically to the left as my rather old legs will take me, but your concern is received with gratitude. I am happy to report that apart from three or four incidents in the last three years of walking on the Island I have never felt truly in danger. I purposefully always walk facing oncoming traffic as suggested and do keep outside of the boundary solid white lines of the metaled surface when at all possible. Thank you if you are one of the many people who give a friendly wave as they pass, or do me the wonderful curtesy of indicating their awareness of my presence by simply slowing down a tad.
I did attempt to buy a reflective belt a few weeks age and was amazed that no one on Orcas stocks one suitable for a walker. A wonderful commercial opportunity for some entrepreneur I would have thought.
Again thank you for your thought and concern and would be more than happy to say hello formally should the opportunity arise.
Trevor A Welford
What a wonderful, storybook, Orcas Island vignette to remind me why we live here. MM, TAW, thank you, and Happy New Year, neighbors all!
I will look for you, slow down, and wave. I so admire you!
This illustrates the almost completely inadequate road infrastructure we have on Orcas! Pedestrians and cyclists have ZERO room on Crescent beach Road. And also quite a few other key routes. It’s a shame!
I to have seen Mr Welford on his walks and say more power to you. But, do please be careful. While we address the absence of color in Mr Welford’s attire it only touches the tip of the iceberg regarding the number of people that walk on the island roads in very dark non-reflective clothing, during the hours of darkness and without lights either, in many cases. Granted our roads provide little in the way of pedestrian accommodation and it would be nice if that were to change. But, in the mean time if the folks choosing to walk in dark attire would take some individual responsibility to make themselves more visible, it would do much to increase their own safety and that of drivers that might have to swerve to avoid them. According to the figures from the NHTSA, Low Beams on vehicles have an average effective range of 150-175 feet. A vehicle going 35-40 mph (general open road posted speeds on the island) a vehicle at these speeds is covering 52-59 feet per second (fps). At these speeds and distances a car can cover this ground in approximately 2.5 – 3.3 seconds which would seem like enough time to avoid a person walking. Now let’s add in other factors, reaction time which NHTSA estimates at an average of 2.5 seconds, then lets consider curves which lessen the effective range of the headlights, dirty headlights and or windshield, rain and/or possibly snow reducing vision. So for everyone’s safety: Pedestrians, please make yourself more visible and walk facing traffic whenever possible. Drivers, drive like there are always going to be pedestrians on the road and around every corner. This has to be a joint effort on everyone’s part to make transportation on the island, whether on foot or in a vehicle, safer.