If you go to the Oak Leaf Trail crossing just east of Lydell Ave. on Hampton, you'll notice some confusion.
"Residents have been calling expressing concern," explained Jenny Heyden, the communications specialist for the Village of Whitefish Bay.
Even though Whitefish Bay isn't responsible for the trail, they're doing what they can to educate people about the right-of-way at the crossing.
Here are the rules:
Pedestrians get right-of-way always. Bicycles have to follow traffic controls, which in this case is a stop sign. Cars have to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists, even if there isn't a sign saying so.
Marti Marino said she's notice plenty of times when that isn't happening.
"We waited quite a bit. We actually walked down to another stop," she said.
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, who shares responsibility for the crossing with the Milwaukee County Parks Department, issued the following statement today:
City of Milwaukee DPW staff did conduct “gap studies” during the morning and late afternoon to assess the current gaps crossing Hampton Avenue at the new Oak Leaf Trail crossing this past winter after the trail construction was completed. Gap studies help us assess what the current conditions are– or number of full gaps there are – to cross a street. DPW staff has been identifying possible options – both short and long term – that could be made to effectively address trail crossing concerns here. We are coordinating with Milwaukee County Parks staff since the Oak Leaf Trail is a county-owned and operated trail.
Besides confusion over how to cross the street safely, another concern is if cars do stop, other cars behind them might try to go around and cause an accident.
