By Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff

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With high gasoline prices, more people are walking and biking to and from work. In addition, it’s summertime and the beautiful weather of northern Wisconsin is attracting more visitors and increased use of Rhinelander’s city parks, local restaurants and businesses.

The Rhinelander Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive safely and watch for pedestrians as they enjoy summer in the city. A near miss in the crosswalks in front of the paper mill over the weekend has prompted a new look at pedestrian safety, both on Davenport Street and elsewhere. In the incident, caught on tape from a surveillance camera, a car swerves into the opposite lane, narrowly missing a pedestrian.

City Administrator Bill Bell said the Department of Public Works is considering rumble strips warning of the crosswalk as well as yellow flashing lights on the crosswalk pole.

“There’s a huge demand for bicycles,” said Bell. “And I guess we’ll see a lot more pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the future. As to the mill site, we’re looking at anywhere there’s a high volume of pedestrian traffic at shift changes. Davenport Street is one place, Printpack is another.

“Golf carts are another thing we’re going to look at. Eagle River just made them legal in the city. But no license is required and there’s nothing to protect them in an accident. Safety has to come first.”

The city of Rhinelander is waiting to hear about grants to facilitate the building of pedestrian and bicycling pathways on Lincoln Street.

“It’s our last chance to do that project at a minimal cost to landowners,” said Bell.

In a related issue, Bell is hoping for money for a 2009 rebuilding of Barnes Street. Grant money would help with a bicycle and hiking path along Barnes. The money might be available because Barnes is prone to flooding and the money is earmarked for local flood relief projects.

Rhinelander Police Chief Mike Steffes said speed bumps were considered for the Davenport Street crosswalk but the bumps pose plowing problems in the winter. “Rumble strips alert the driver to the crosswalk,” said Steffes. “But the sound also alerts the pedestrians to the oncoming vehicle. People need to be patient, slow down a little. Be aware of your surroundings. An accident is just not worth it.”

As part of the pedestrian awareness-heightening initiative, the city has placed yellow “yield to the pedestrian in the crosswalk” signs in heavily traveled areas as well as the downtown business district.

Here are the statuary requirements regarding pedestrian traffic: At an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is or is not controlled by traffic control signals, the operator of a vehicle shall yield right-of-way to a pedestrian, or to a person riding a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians that are crossing the highway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. The forfeiture amount for violating this law is $217.50 and it is a four point violation.

As a pedestrian, it is important to remember that state statutes indicate that you shall not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety to walk, run or ride into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is difficult for the operator of the vehicle to yield.

Here are some rules of the road from the Rhinelander Police Department: Speed limits in the downtown area are 25 mph. Always drive with due care for your surroundings. Drivers must yield to pedestrians if they have stepped off the curb. Every intersection is considered a crosswalk, even if it isn’t marked. Drivers must never pass a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk. Pedestrians must obey traffic crossing signals. Bicycles must obey the same rules of the road as motorists.

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FRED wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:50 AM: " AS A WEST SIDE LANDOWNER I CAN SAY THAT IF IT WERE LOOKED AT YOU WOULD NOTICE THAT THE MAJORITY OF MILL WORKERS DO NOT CROSS AT THE MARKED AREAS BY THE MILL. ALSO THE LIGHTING IN THAT AREA IS HORRIBLE IF YOUR DRIVING DAVENPORT AT NIGHT BY THE MILL IT IS DARK LETS TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM ALSO. A FINAL QUESTION WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JAY WALKING LAWS IN WI. " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

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