The intersection at 273 and Brownleaf Road in Newark, Delaware is a dangerous intersection for pedestrians and bicyclists. A bicycle is not able to trip the traffic sensor, nor is there a pedestrian crosswalk and signal to allow safe passage on this major Newark arterial road. This is particularly troubling to many cyclists since Brownleaf Road is part of the official Delaware bike route.
Less than a month ago, a pedestrian, sixteen year old Michael Gropp, was killed at this intersection by a speeding car that ran a red light.
Today, on a Sunday afternoon, a little girl waits in frustration and the 85 degree heat for a car to come along to trip the traffic signal. She waits in vain for quite some time.
She is joined by a friend who waits with her.
Traffic is particularly heavy on this Sunday afternoon as they waited and shouted greetings at a third friend who they were trying to join on the other side of the road.
The third friend finally made it across 273 safely.
I do not know what plans they had made for a bike ride today but it appears that the intersection problem and the sad reminder of Michael’s roadside memorial dampened their spirits considerably.
It’s hard for residents of Birchwood Park to pass this marker day in and day out. Some residents avoid it entirely and take the Harmony Road and 273 intersection exit instead which has its own pedestrian and cyclist safety problems.
Bike advocacy groups and local politicians are working to resolve this problem; but it in the meantime, it’s impossible to know what to say to a family who has lost their child in such a senseless way.
Perhaps one of Michael’s legacies that goes beyond the love he engendered in others will be that his passing is the impetus needed for Delaware to quickly provide safe passage for all citizens on all Delaware roads.
https://www.delawarebikerides.com/2010/05/safe-passage-needed-for-pedestrians.htmloldId.20100504110554149