ST LOUIS- Robby and Elsa Hart call the Tower Grove neighborhood home these days. But the young couple previously lived in the Pacific Northwest and, at various times, in other parts of the country.
So Five on Your Side asked them how St. Louis compares as far as pedestrian safety or being a so-called "walkable city".
"St. Louis is the worst," Elsa Hart says without hesitation.
"Once or twice a year I feel unsafe in a crosswalk," Robby Hart adds.
If you feel the same way, take heart:
St. Louis City Hall hears you.
Last fall, Mayor Francis Slay hired the city's first Bicycle and Safety Coordinator.
Jamie Wilson left a position as the president of a local traffic engineering firm to accept the post.
"It was a matter of heart that I took the position," Wilson told Five on Your Side.
Wilson is a father of five young children and he often bicycles into work.
Wilson insists safe streets for city walkers and people on bicycles is a top priority.
Wilson says the city is considering a public awareness campaign on the issue.
But he also points out that it's not just drivers who are the scofflaws in this equation. Very often, pedestrians in St. Louis make a habit of crossing busy streets nowhere near a striped crosswalk.
"It's two ways," Wilson explains. "It's the motorist being aware of the pedestrian and the pedestrian being aware of the motorist."
"Until both see each other and have that mutual respect and understand each other, there's going to be some bad circumstances there."
Last month, Five on Your Side put a spotlight on the large, striped crosswalk across Tucker Avenue that sits at the doorstep of St. Louis City Hall.
Missouri law clearly states that a driver must yield to a pedestrian, within reason, when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk.
"We have to raise the awareness of what everyone technically, legally is supposed to do," Wilson said.
Currently, the City Streets department is only budgeted to maintain the crosswalks as they are. There are no additional funds for more lighting or signs.
However, Wilson points out at least two ways city residents can round up money for crosswalk improvements.
"We can either apply for federal grants or bundle a few of the crosswalks in a specific ward and have the alderperson for that ward pass a motion to finance the improvements," Wilson explained.
But corralling the dollars to make the changes truly is a situation where the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
That's where you come in.
Let us know about a problem crosswalk or intersection, or any traffic headache you encounter by emailing Five on Your Side at this link.
Five on Your Side will continue to follow this issue.
You can also email Jamie Wilson, the city's new Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator or call the Streets Department directly at (314) 647-3111.
