Scottsdale, Arizona, is enforcing new rules on the use of road medians by pedestrians in an attempt to curb what officials are calling unsafe behaviors. According to the city's recent announcement, a city ordinance passed late last month will ban individuals from standing on medians in roadways where the speed limit is 30 mph or higher. This move is said to protect lives by keeping medians reserved purely for their intended use - safe crossing.
"This ordinance is about protecting lives," Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella explained. "It addresses a growing safety concern by ensuring that medians are used only for their intended purpose — safe crossing — not as gathering points or platforms for other activities." The ban will take effect starting September 25. According to the City of Scottsdale, despite the intention behind the ordinance, concerns about how the measure might impact those, such as panhandlers, who commonly use medians as platforms, have not been publicly addressed.
The terms of Ordinance No. 4684 state that people are no longer allowed to linger on traffic medians except for brief pauses at signalized intersections when crossing. Moreover, anyone found remaining through two consecutive crossing signals will be considered in violation of the new law. Traffic medians have been defined broadly, covering any space that separates lanes of vehicular travel, regardless of whether it is paved or not.
Exclusions to these rules are in place for emergency, government personnel, and authorized workers in the performance of their duties. Violating the median ordinance will be classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor. "Public safety is our top priority," Scottsdale Police Chief Joe LeDuc stressed. According to the City of Scottsdale, as far as enforcement goes, the police now have a "clear framework to address unsafe behavior in medians and helps ensure that our roadways remain safe for everyone." The details surrounding the specifics of the ordinance and its enforcement can be found in the council's action report.
