Unsteady with a three-pronged cane, the elderly woman struggled along Glen Caladh Street to the crosswalk at Second Avenue in Hazelwood.

She stood like a statue as cars and large trucks whizzed by, refusing to let her cross despite a standing marker in the middle of the road, clearly warning that state law requires them to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.

	Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette AARP volunteer John Umphrey, 80, of East Liberty, (in white cap) helps a woman cross Second Avenue at the intersection of Glen Caladh Street in Hazelwood. He was part of a group with the Institute of Transportation Engineers studying the intersection. Click photo for larger image.

It was as if she were invisible. But the woman and her plight were being observed by a group that had, coincidentally, gone there to audit how the mobility, safety and quality of life of older adults are affected by certain Pittsburgh intersections.

Her problem inspired the auditors as they conducted the intersection survey there and at Murray Avenue and Bartlett Street in Squirrel Hill and South Mathilda Street and Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield.

A pilot project by the national AARP and the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Transportation Engineers Inc., the audit coupled the expertise of traffic engineers attending the ITE convention here and the common-sense observations of four older Pittsburgh residents who navigate the city's intersections.

The data they gathered will be quantified for a report that, it is hoped, will be a template and springboard for AARP chapters nationally to conduct their own audits with the goal of presenting their findings to local officials.

The engineers and the volunteers -- Floyd Coles and John Umphrey, both 80 and of East Liberty; Ruth Flamberg, 81, of Squirrel Hill; and Lois Watson, 79, of Schenley Heights -- were given survey forms, clipboards, counters and cameras and asked to record what they saw -- be they speeding cars, crumbling curbs, litter or an elderly woman with a cane unable to cross the street.

"The idea is that by galvanizing these experts with our members, the consumers, it's a powerful message that gets sent to the local level," said Elinor Ginzler, AARP's national director for livable communities. "We want to be agents of positive change."

"In the short term, we're looking for high-impact improvements at low cost that will make a difference for all users of an intersection," added Edward R. Stollof, ITE safety program senior director.

He said his quick impression in Hazelwood included "cracks in the sidewalk" and then a speeding car that screeched to a stop within inches of another vehicle.

"And road rage, excessive speed," he continued, not missing a beat.

"And this is not a pleasing walking environment," Ms. Ginzler added, pointing to gutters filled with empty plastic bottles and other litter.

She was impressed with the Port Authority's bus shelter on Second Avenue because it had seating and a roof, adding that an admittedly high-end improvement would be a countdown clock indicating when the next bus was due.

Ms. Ginzler and Mr. Stollof then left to conduct a traffic audit at the parking lot for a Rite Aid pharmacy and National City bank branch, whose location across Second Avenue from the Hazelwood Towers made it a frequent destination for older citizens.

Even before getting across the street they secured some frightening data -- a speeding car nearly struck them in the middle of the crosswalk.

They made it back safely and then the elderly woman with the cane appeared.

Mr. Umphrey put down his survey and went to help, taking her arm. Still, no one would stop, including a City of Pittsburgh vehicle. The group was appalled by both the lack of civility and the disobedience of state law.

Bicyclist Michael Johnson, 53, of Hazelwood, rode up Second Avenue and stopped at Glen Caladh. He looked at the woman and the traffic and was dismayed.

"They never stop. I've helped her a thousand times across that street and they never stop. They thumb their noses at you. They'll run you over," he said.

Mr. Johnson continued across the street and offered his anecdotal information to the group.

"Everyone gather around. Who's going to take notes?" asked Mr. Stollof as, finally, the elderly woman and Mr. Umphrey were able to cross Second Avenue.

"This is terrible," Mr. Johnson said. "After 2 o'clock, when traffic begins coming out of town, forget it. They don't care anything about people who live here. Somebody's going to get killed.

"The bottom line is all you have to do is observe the law."

Mr. Stollof nodded his head over and over. "Enforcement. Enforcement is a potential solution." He also suggested a beacon for the crosswalk sign to make it even more noticeable.

Ms. Watson suggested that traffic lights at nearby intersections be synchronized.

"Yes, to provide a break," Mr. Stollof said.

"And I would have a policeman sitting here," Ms. Watson offered.

"And not just once," Mr. Stollof said, "but sustained enforcement."

Before he knew it, Mr. Johnson was happily signing up for a grass-roots coalition to try to improve the intersection. He heartily thanked the group.

"At least somebody cares. Thank you, thank you," he said.

Mr. Stollof looked as if he were trying to digest all that the visit of less than an hour had included.

"I'm amazed," he said before hurrying off with the others to record more amazing things that occur at Pittsburgh intersections.