New crossing flag system promotes pedestrian safety

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FLAG RAISING-Calabasas resident Mitra Chatto puts her crossing flag back in the bucket after crossing the street.

The city of Calabasas installed the first of several new crossing flag systems last week. City officials hope the flags will create greater safety for pedestrians.

The new flags were installed near the roundabout on Parkway Calabasas at Camino Portal in Calabasas.

Those who want to cross the street can pick up a flag from a container mounted on a pole nearby and walk with the flag through the crosswalk.

Pedestrians should leave the flags in another container located on the other side of the street.

Round Meadow Elementary School students should benefit from the system, officials said, because the intersection is located near the school.

The flag, which Calabasas Transportation/Intergovernmental Relations Director Robert Yalda calls a "crossing aid," will give motorists better views of pedestrians. Each flag is a wooden stick about 24 inches long with a bright-colored piece of fabric stapled on top.

The city’s traffic and transportation commission recently approved a two-month trial crossing flag program.

The system, if successful, could expand to other locations such as Paul Revere Drive at Liberty Bell Road, Yalda said. No dates have been set to install any other units.

—Michael Picarella