Comment 94699

By seancb (registered) - website | Posted November 13, 2013 at 09:57:40 in reply to Comment 94685

The thing is (math and guidelines aside), pedestrians are legally allowed to cross at ANY crosswalk, whether marked or simply implied by perpendicular sidewalk intersections.

What we need to do is foster a culture where everyone understands their responsibilities. We can't put controls at every intersection, it would be a ludicrous waste.

Pedestrians are responsible for "looking both ways" so to speak - to make sure they cross only when there is a reasonable gap.

Most pedestrians do this as part of basic self preservation instinct.

The breakdown is with motorists who are generally unaware that they actually do have to stop for pedestrians who have started crossing - even if it's at an unmarked, unpainted intersection where they have "right of way" over other vehicles. This is not only a legal requirement but a basic social and safety obligation that goes along with living in a city with other people.

Putting signs up telling pedestrians to wait for a gap is an absolute waste of money.

Putting reminder signs for drivers has probably become necessary now - due to the blatant disregard for these laws shown by most of us when we drive. It's not that we are jerks, it's just that the city has encouraged this mentality through street design. It simply never occurs to us when we drive that when a pedestrian steps off the curb we must stop.

Just because most large population centres in ontario are guilty of the same historic bad design that we are doesn't mean we shouldn't do our best to change it.

Comment edited by seancb on 2013-11-13 10:03:41

I vote down for offensiveness and up for humour. I cast no votes based on my level of agreement.

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