Columbia Muleskinners to host discussion on proposed pedestrian safety ordinance
Jazsmin Halliburton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Muleskinners and city leaders will hold a discussion panel Friday afternoon on Columbia’s proposed pedestrian safety ordinance.
The panel hosted by the Muleskinners will be on Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. The panel will be attended by Ward Two Councilwoman Vera Elwood, Civil Rights Attorney Dan Viets and Director of COMO Mobile Aid Collective, Cathrine Armburst.
An ordinance proposed by the City of Columbia would restrict activity on busy medians and intersections, which could be up for a vote at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 17.
The ordinance would regulate the use of medians, road crossings and islands by both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speeds of 35 mph or greater, average daily traffic volumes of 15,000 vehicles or greater, or where the median width is fewer than 6 feet wide.
A study of street and intersection safety identified 47 pedestrian crash areas that met the criteria.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample is seeking a delay on the vote until council members can hear more information from other organizations and groups.
The University of Missouri’s Young Democratic Socialists of America held a town hall meeting Wednesday with city leaders, where students pushed back on the ordinance. The students emphasized that it would criminalize homelessness.