Raise the Hammer

Usually, when people say “it happens every time,” it’s an exaggeration. In this case, when you say “EVERY. SINGLE. LIGHT CYCLE,” it’s the fact. I cross at this intersection most days, and I can say unhesitatingly that, every single light cycle, cars turn left after their advanced green has ended. The only exception to this is when there are no cars waiting to turn left, at early and late hours. Throughout the day, if crossing on the east side, your crossing time will be reduced because someone is turning illegally. I have had cases where I have (stupidly, in this case) asserted my right-of-way, and cars will be turning behind me long after the walk cycle has begun.

Crossing on the east side of this intersection is de facto not permitted (like at King and Dundurn, or King and Locke), as an already short (fifteen seconds) walk signal is reduced by motorists’ illegal turns.

Here is what a traffic signal engineer at the City of Hamilton has to say about it:

“As an alternative to crossing Main Street on the east side crosswalk, [people] may want to consider crossing Main Street on the west side crosswalk. Crossing on the west side would avoid conflicts with southbound left turning and northbound right turning traffic.”

That was in response to a question about either lengthening the walk signal slightly, or requesting enforcement. Instead of enforcing the law, they would like people to triple the time they spend in a busy intersection with many conflict points.

By the way, this was brought to the municipal government’s attention rather formally at least as early as 2005, when residents raised it in the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Traffic Management Study. I personally know people who have opted not to settle in the area when they realized their walk to the Go bus would involve this kind of stress; I know people who don’t use Victoria Park because they’re south of Main and the walk with their kids is the way it is. I know there are bigger fish to fry, but this is such a dangerous situation and all that is needed is a bit of enforcement of the existing law, that the mind boggles why it continues this way.

Comment edited by StephenBarath on 2015-06-25 08:33:40