HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-05-26 Public Comment - A. Kociolek - Flashing beacon on Oak - incomplete solutionFrom:Angela Kociolek
To:Nicholas Ross
Cc:Bozeman Public Comment; Douglas Fischer; Emma Bode; Jennifer Madgic; Joey Morrison; Alison Sweeney
Subject:Re: [EXTERNAL]Flashing beacon on Oak - incomplete solution
Date:Friday, June 5, 2026 5:00:08 PM
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Thanks, Nick, your explanation makes good sense and I’m sure it’s back by research. I think in this case then a
robust public education safety campaign needs to happen to help make up for the limitations of this safety feature.
Best,Angie
> On Jun 5, 2026, at 4:54 PM, Nicholas Ross <Nicholas.Ross@bozemanmt.gov> wrote:>> Hi Angie,>> It speaks so well to your personal safety ethics that you find this ridiculous, but unfortunately many other driversdo not share the same.>> Pedestrian beacons at wide medians are intentionally designed as "two-stage" crossings because experience hasshown yielding compliance from drivers may actually decrease when both sets of flashers are activated at the sametime. That's the exact opposite of what we're trying to induce.>> When the flashers are activated without someone in the crosswalk a driver is not required to stop or yield, so manysee this situation and continue right through with drivers behind them "following the leader". The risk in thisscenario is that once the pedestrian does make it to the crosswalk on the other side of the median drivers in thatdirection have already continued crossing at speed and the pedestrian is given a false sense of security since theyalready pushed the button at the side of the street where they began.>> Our two main concerns at pedestrian beacons are driver compliance decreasing as they become more ubiquitousand pedestrians gaining a false sense of security by crossing immediately after activating the beacon assuming thecars will stop. We do not want to risk inducing more of this at a place like Oak by encouraging pedestrians to crossstraight through the median into oncoming traffic without intentionally activating the beacons for that side of travel.>> We'd be much safer if all drivers held as strong of a culture of safety as you!>> -Nick> Nicholas Ross, P.E.> Director | Transportation and Engineering> City of Bozeman>> -----Original Message-----> From: Dangie Krza-Kociolek <dangie@me.com>> Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 4:29 PM> To: Nicholas Ross <Nicholas.Ross@bozemanmt.gov>; Bozeman Public Comment<comments@bozemanmt.gov>; Douglas Fischer <Douglas.Fischer@bozemanmt.gov>; Emma Bode<Emma.Bode@bozemanmt.gov>; Jennifer Madgic <Jennifer.Madgic@bozemanmt.gov>; Joey Morrison<Joey.Morrison@bozemanmt.gov>; Alison Sweeney <Alison.Sweeney@bozemanmt.gov>
> Subject: [EXTERNAL]Flashing beacon on Oak - incomplete solution
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unlessyou recognize the sender and know the content is safe.>>> Hi Nick, with a cc to Commissioners –>> I know you’re doing your best to prevent another tragedy on our streets. I’m writing to let you know that theflashing pedestrian beacon installation at the site of the recent pedestrian death on Oak near the regional park is onlyhalf working.>> Yesterday, two boys, approximately age 8 or 9 wearing helmets and doing their part by pressing the button so thebeacon would flash were still at risk because lanes had no flashing beacon. While our vehicle slowed down becausewe saw the flashing beacons on the eastbound side and the young cyclists, another car just kept zooming on through.It was stress inducing.>> Please take a look and make sure that both sides of the flashing beacon system operate when the button is pushedon either side sidewalk. No one‘s just gonna hang out in the island in the middle of Oak for a very long, so it wouldbe ridiculous to think that all of the beacons shouldn’t be flashing and stopping all traffic whenever that button ispushed.>> Thanks and thankful I didn’t witness another accident.>> Angie Kociolek> Bozeman resident> Sent from my iPhone> City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9)and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. As such, this email,its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for public disclosure and will be retained pursuant to theCity’s record retention policies. Emails that contain confidential information such as information related toindividual privacy may be protected from disclosure under law.