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Surviving Seattle’s sidewalks: Pedestrian rage rises as the population grows

IF RYAN PACKER could use one superpower, it would be the ability to effortlessly swivel his neck 360 degrees to see in all directions.

During his 25-minute pedestrian commute from his Capitol Hill apartment to his job in Belltown, Packer would have ample opportunity to use it. Like now, as he’s approaching a three-way intersection that feels a lot like an open-water crossing.

“I call this Public Enemy Number One,’’ the 28-year-old says, stepping into a confluence of roadways where Minor Avenue and Virginia Street join Denny Way. The roads have no crosswalks, and the huge turning field invites cars to cut in front of and behind pedestrians as they make their way along Denny.