Sisters Bookies take on traffic safety

A book club might seem an unlikely place to foment a grass-roots public safety effort. But the Sisters Book Club (better known as the Sisters Bookies) saw a need for improved crosswalk safety - and they took action.

With approval from the City of Sisters, the Sisters Bookies have sponsored and funded a three-month pilot project placing brightly-colored pedestrian crossing flags at several key intersections in Sisters.

There have been several incidents of car vs. pedestrian collisions in Sisters crosswalks, especially in the early evening.

A small container will be attached to lamp posts on each corner at a height accessible for wheelchairs and children, with a small sign above telling people to use a flag to cross. Then they will replace the flag in a similar container on the other side. The brightly colored flags will let drivers know clearly that someone is in the crosswalk - and also remind pedestrians to make sure they are alerting drivers.

"One of our members, Nola Belding, and her husband Pat first brought up the idea after seeing how well it worked in Jackson Hole, Wyoming," said Sisters Bookie member Wendie Vermillion, "and we have since found it working in many states where traffic signals are absent and tourism is high. Examples include West Seattle waterfront, Lake Chelan, Bellingham, Washington; Berkeley, California; Westerville and Worthington, Ohio..."

The flags, all sewn by Bookies, will be placed at Cascade Avenue intersections at Oak, Elm and Fir streets. Hoyt's Hardware and Building Supply provided materials for containers and handles at cost.

"Paul Bertagna, Director of Public Works, has worked closely with us on details and placement and has been very helpful," Vermillion noted.

Vermillion acknowledged that there is a concern about flags "walking off."

"We encourage folks to hold the flags high and even wave them, and plead with folks to not consider them souvenirs!" she said. "If local residents see them walking off with anyone, please feel free to remind people where they belong."

The Sisters Bookies expect to have the flags in place for Rodeo weekend.