Jen Hubinger doesn’t own a car.

The child development junior said she prefers to walk, but isn’t always happy with drivers.

“Some drivers, when the signal to walk flashes, turn right even though I have the right of way,” she said.

The city is examining a proposal to place several crosswalks between Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road on Grand River Avenue.

Approximately 30,000 vehicles travel on Grand River Avenue daily, said John Matuszak, the city’s engineering administrator.

“We are aware of the problem pedestrians have had and not only that, the roadway is fairly poor,” he said.

The area is under review by city officials who are considering painting crosswalks, adding pedestrian lights and replacing sidewalks with 6- and 8-foot pathways.

If the project gets a green light, it is estimated to cost $550,000 and may not see completion until 2004.

Part of the funding will likely come from grants from the Michigan Department of Transportation, but the city will still have to match 20 percent of the cost.

But crossing Grand River Avenue may not be the only spot where drivers or pedestrians need to use caution.

East Lansing Councilmember Bill Sharp said he uses extra caution when crossing Abbott Road to get to city council meetings at City Hall, 410 Abbott Road.

“I think it is a problem because people don’t stop,” he said.

Sharp said he knows there is enforcement at the corner, but feels the crosswalk could be better served by a flashing light.

The city had installed a yellow marker in the crosswalk in front of city hall but removed it during the winter months so trucks plowing the road would not hit it.

The markers will return to the city in the spring, but may not be there forever.

“Those signs are meant to be a learning tool for motorists, they are intended to get motorists to think about how fast they are going,” Matuszak said.

But sometimes the crosswalks or signs in the city don’t help, Sharp said. Many times Sharp said he has seen students and others cross the street without using the crosswalks or even looking for traffic.

“Either you as a driver have to be alert or you as a pedestrian have to be alert,” he said.

While portions of the city streets are safe, pedestrians need to be aware, East Lansing police Lt. Kevin Daley said.

“I have seen students and others take their lives in their hands,” he said. “Unlike campus, we don’t have as many thoroughfares.”

Some areas of the city flow better than others but crosswalks, like the one in front of city hall, do get plenty of complaints, Daley said.

“If there is a car coming, and you step out in front of it, you may be in the right, but you are wrong,” he said.