28-03-2025
Lakewood leaders address pedestrian safety issues
LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) — Leaders from the city of Lakewood and concerned citizens are uniting to increase pedestrian safety throughout the city limits.
Multiple pedestrians have been hit in crosswalks in the past year, one of whom was killed.
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Lakewood is well-known for being Ohio's most walkable city. But over the past several months, pedestrians are being run over in crosswalks, including a former TV reporter who was killed.
Four Lakewood City Council members gathered to share some steps they plan to input, starting at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Hillard Road — a five-point intersection they said is very confusing for drivers.
In the short term, the bicycle lanes will be painted bright green once the weather breaks. They also plan to repaint crosswalks with highly reflective paint, also planters, for added protection.
In the long term, there is a complete streets ordinance in the works that takes pedestrians, bicyclists, the differently abled and the environment into account, according to a Friday news release.
Council is also considering creating an adult driver education course teaching proper passing distance and lane use — like 'Safety Town for adults,' said councilwoman Cindy Strebig, Ward 3.
'We need to do better as a community at looking out for each other, and that starts with all of us, especially people driving, understanding and obeying the rules of the road,' councilman Bryan Evans, Ward 2, said Friday. 'These streets belong to all of us and we all have a right to safely use them. They are simply not the domain of cars alone.'
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Bike Lakewood, Friends of Madison Park and other concerned residents were in attendance at Friday's event.
They want the city to act now. They said too many accidents are happening. Just last week, a parent biking his two young children were hit in the intersection.
They said this cannot wait.
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