NO.safety.081524

The French Quarter Management District has completed work on N. Rampart St. enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The $200,000.00 project, in cooperation with The City of New Orleans, comes as part of the FQMD’s North Rampart Pedestrian Safety Improvements program designed to help all who travel North Rampart Street or traverse the street on their daily commutes. The improvements include: Bike lanes along North Rampart Street painted green from Toulouse to St. Philip. 60 more durable high-visibility flex posts have been installed along the bike lane to create a visual buffer protecting bicyclists. Five intersection corner zones were painted brick red to enhance visibility, seen here. 2 pedestrian-activated flashing beacon lights were installed at the St. Philip Street and St. Ann Street intersections, assisting in the safe crossing of pedestrians in the high-trafficked area near Armstrong Park, in compliance with ADA guidelines.Wednesday, August 14, 2024 in New Orleans. (Staff photo by John McCusker, The Times-Picayune | )

 STAFF PHOTO BY JOHN MCCUSKER

Responding to the , “Make NO streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists,” cyclists should have a license in order to ride their bikes. They should also be required to have insurance. The cyclists that I see every day ride in the middle of the street. Magazine Street is probably one of the worst places to bike. Why would you ride in the congested street where there’s really no room for bike lanes? Ride in designated bike lanes. They just keep riding. The cars have to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass in order to avoid the bikes

Most don’t pay attention to traffic. They have been drilled that they have the right of way. The pedestrians just walk out in front of traffic while engaged in a phone conversation, not paying attention to anything and not in the crosswalk. They have no common sense. There needs to be some common sense in the idea that the pedestrian always has the right of way. So to cyclists, stop riding on streets like Magazine Street.

KENNETH LORIA

New Orleans