Pedestrian bridges at major intersections, designed and built to provide safe options for crossing the busiest streets and avenues, are being ignored by increasing numbers of people, according to a report in El Caribe. The newspaper writes that more and more people are refusing to go up and down the steps and are simply crossing the roads. One case in point is the pedestrian bridge at Maximo Gomez and 27 de Febrero avenues in Santo Domingo, where the iron fence that surrounds the Juan Bosch Metro entrance has been broken so that pedestrians can cross these major thoroughfares. A sidewalk salesman, whose stand is under the pedestrian walkway, told reporters that laziness has led to many minor accidents when people try to cross under the fence. He said that at night, since there is no lighting, many people trip over the fence and some are even mugged as they try to cross. He said: “They should fix it since it is a danger.”