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Signs posted near the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam St. remind pedestrians to use crosswalks rather than jaywalk. Omaha Police say pedestrians caught jaywalking across Saddle Creek are subject to citations. |
Omaha police have received complaints about jaywalkers crossing Saddle Creek Road illegally to and from the UNMC campus and The Nebraska Medical Center.
“Since jaywalking is both dangerous and illegal,” Spencer said, “all pedestrians should use the crosswalk.”
Although no jaywalking tickets have been issued in the area recently, police told Spencer that future jaywalkers could be cited.
UNMC officials have received complaints from employees and others that crosswalk signals at intersections crossing Saddle Creek near campus don’t give pedestrians enough time to cross the street.
The walk lights at the intersections are on briefly, but the blinking orange hand — which shines before the “don’t walk” signal appears — is displayed long enough to cross the street in reasonable amount of time.
Signs have been placed near the intersections of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam St. and Saddle Creek Road and Emile St. reminding people to use the crosswalk instead of jaywalking, said Rick Boldt, UNMC’s project manager of business continuity.
The key, he said, is to be at the crosswalk as the “walk” signal is displayed. Getting there much later could lead to being stranded on a median until the walk signal is displayed again, Boldt said.
UNMC officials have contacted city officials about possibly leaving the “walk” signals on longer at intersections crossing Saddle Creek.
But for now people should use the crosswalk to legally traverse the busy intersection.