Comment 93925

By kevlahan (registered) | Posted October 29, 2013 at 16:47:18 in reply to Comment 93917

If there were a cheaper option for providing pedestrian crossings, that would be preferable. However, the only option for "marked" pedestrian crossings currently permitted in Hamilton at unsignalized intersection (i.e. those that don't already have signals for cars) is the PXO traffic light. Maybe sometime we'll allow the zebra crossing + signs option available in most other places.

The dedicated ped crossing has been requested by residents, through the Durand Neighbourhood Association and supported by our councillor. It has taken many years to build the support for this crossing. Another crossing (on Hunter at MacNab between the pedestrian underpass and YWCA) was approved in the participatory budget process.

You might "feel safe" dealing with high-speed clusters of cars, because you are good at judging speed and distance and can walk quickly to get across. However, children and elderly, as well as those who are disabled in some way don't feel the same. And at rush hour, the wait for a gap can be unreasonably long.

I felt the same way about the one-way streets when I first arrived, but the more I observed how they work in practice, the more I realized that they are really bad for neighbourhoods and pedestrians (and even drivers trying to find destinations in the core rather than just blasting through).

Since I've had children, it has become completely obvious that high speed clusters of one-way traffic zooming within centimetres of the sidewalk is an uncomfortable, often dangerous and unfair arrangement. Try walking with two young children along Main St or Queen if you don't know what I mean!

This crossing serves those wanting to go to the pharmacy, convenience store as well as the daycare and church. It is also a natural north-south route.

As far as I've seen, it is also very popular and well-used. It will be interesting to get the usage data from the city once it has been in operation for a while.

Comment edited by kevlahan on 2013-10-29 16:50:52

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