Columbia residents split on proposal to ban pedestrians from medians - safety or restricting panhandling the real issue? City asks for citizen feedback | Missourian

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

In the works for more than a year, the ordinance would restrict people from occupying medians in locations across the city. . . .

Some see this as a way to discourage unsafe behavior around busy roads. Carrie Gartner, executive director of the Loop Community Improvement District, said she has seen dangerous interactions between pedestrians and drivers on Business Loop 70.

“I saw and I’ve seen people stop in the middle of a left turn and hand something to someone, and it’s the craziest driving maneuver I’ve ever seen,” she said. “And I’m surprised I haven’t seen a rear end crash yet.” . . .

Local Motion is a Columbia-based transportation advocacy group. CEO Mike Burden said instead of banning people from medians, the city should be focused on calming traffic, building sidewalks and improving infrastructure to promote pedestrian safety.

“We just run into this subjectivity where we’re regulating the way people walk or requiring them to walk a particular way,” he said. “And given that we are trying to improve mobility and accessibility in our community, that makes us nervous.”

Link: 

Columbia residents split on proposal to ban pedestrians from medians - safety or restricting panhandling the real issue? City asks for citizen feedback | Missourian

Because of constitutional issues, the ordinence canhot address those nhings directly.

instead, it is pitched as a 'pedestrian safety' issue instead - as a smokescreen.

Meanwhile, real pedestrian rafety issues are neglected.

The Columbia City Council has tabled this issue until February 2026. Neanwhile, citizens can give their feedback on this issue here:

https://beheard.como.gov/pedestrian-safety-ordinance