This webpage has been put together by Shelley Kennedy and Edna Griggs to express concern and hopefully enlist support in addressing the ongoing problem in the Heights to be able to safely cross the streets.

This is particularly dangerous for the seniors and mobility challenged residents who live in Heights Tower and Heights House. A tour of the area with residents revealed several challenges they face every day just trying to get to the grocery store, drug store or bus stop. Most of the crosswalks provide less than 15 seconds to cross. Councilmember Kamin did have one intersection crossing extended to 15 seconds, but they all need to be at least 20 to safely be able to make it across. The sidewalks are uneven and broken. The ramps at the curbs are not smooth transitions – chairs and scooters bottom out or get stuck in the cervices – and the curbs are filled with leaves and debris.

Several residents who have been hit by cars in their wheelchairs or scooters while crossing with the light in the crosswalk. Others have gotten stuck or knocked over on their scooters by holes or cracked and uneven sidewalks. There was a recent pedestrian death in the area.

Unbelievalbly, some of these residents have been hit by cars more than once.  And, they believe the police do not support them or enforce the laws – even when they have been hit. Since 2021, the Lisa Torry Smith Act makes it a crime to kill or injure a pedestrian, cyclist or crosswalk user, however, the residents believe that HPD does not enforce or investigate these criminal incidents.

Heights House and Heights Tower residents say they feel invisible. It is imperative that they be able to navigate safely through the streets of the Heights for a trip to the grocery store or pharmacy or occasional restaurant meal. For most of us, a trip to the store is relatively easy with the biggest challenge being carrying our bags from our cars to our kitchen. However, for the Heights House and Heights Tower residents who are seniors and/or mobility challenged, they have to try to navigate these sidewalks and streets while using a cane or walker, pulling a cart, or in a wheelchair or mobility scooter while lugging a couple of grocery bags knowing their lives are at risk each time.

There are many things that can be done to improve this situation and tools that the City could deploy. Some things could be done more immediately, because they are low cost, like public awareness and enforcement campaigns, speed zones, and “your speed” signs. Other solutions range from road and sidewalk maintenance and repair to automated crosswalk warning systems.

Join in raising awareness and bringing together community leaders and stakeholders to help address this problem.