For years, I've wanted to put hidden cameras on select intersections Downtown. Their purpose would be simple: Catch automobiles that don't yield to pedestrians and get on film the high number of Milwaukee County Transit System buses that run deep yellow and/or red lights.

Of course, I've never implemented this surveillance camera strategy (one of the local TV stations did something similar, though, a few years ago). But as a 15-year Downtown resident, sadly I've seen far too many busses run red lights.

For example, during today's morning commute (a short five blocks) from our Downtown home to the Milwaukee Public Market where I stopped for coffee, I saw two buses glide through red lights. One on Wisconsin Avenue (going east at 2nd Street) and a second along Michigan Avenue (this one traveling west).

Now, I fully realize that it's morning drive time and that bus drivers have schedules and routes to keep. But, really, if I saw two buses in less than four minutes run red lights how many are doing it daily and weekly?

I write about this today not to bash MCTS, but to warn and hopefully cause change. More than 15,000 people now live in the Downtown Milwaukee neighborhoods and thousands of others work and visit there. Without a modern rail system, buses are needed to get people from here to there. So are cars, trolleys, bikes, Segways, etc. All (pedestrians included) are expected obey basic traffic signals and walk ways -- especially as the area gets more and more densely populated.

Before you start ripping on my little safety rant here, allow me to provide another side to this story. So, I get to the tasty Cedarburg Coffee Roastery inside the Milwaukee Public Market, order my coffee (Market Blend, medium, if you care) and tell the server about my bus experience. She laughs, and says, "I love when they do that." She takes the bus to work and school, and loves the fact that bus drivers "drive fast" and "get her to work quicker." Indeed, two sides to every story.

But, come on people and friendly bus drivers; let's be safe out there. Mind the traffic lights, watch for pedestrians and help continue to make our Downtown even more safe to get around in.