For the last 25 years, I have come to Vashon Island to visit my family, and I have marveled at the love the Vashon community has for its downtown four-way stop, even surpassing the devotion for the Washington Monument. Spectacularly, drivers politely alternate, sometimes out of turn, while pedestrians show a wide range of bravado and cynicism as they cross while carrying on non-stop conversations. Paralysis and panic alternate.

While, as I gather, amazingly there have been very few (if any) accidents at the intersection, I have noticed more activity in the area.

There seem to be more sidewalk concessions and development down to the movie theater since the pandemic subsided. And I wonder if Vashon Island is on an upward path in terms of the number of visitors from the mainland.

Given islanders’ resistance to a stop light, it seems to me that if King County could put in a pedestrian stop light (also indicating the time remaining to walk), not only would the pedestrians be safer, but also drivers could have a better sense of priorities.

On the other hand, perhaps drivers would fall asleep while waiting for pedestrian lights to change and forget their place in line.

So, Vashon could go to a solution that is taking off around the country: a roundabout.

But my city of Sarasota, Florida has built too many roundabouts and found that although auto accidents have decreased, pedestrian injuries may have increased.

The concentration of traffic on Vashon Highway between two ferry terminals creates a unique situation and problem. So far, there has been no great cause for alarm. But I hope creative minds will find a solution before it is too late.

— Robert “Ty” Reed