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| Courtesy crosswalk sign |
Small town traffic
As we drove home at 6:30 p.m. in the dusk, we were hard-pressed to see people crossing at the new crosswalks. It is very dark. It's a problem with this time of year.There is some controversy around the crosswalks, as they are 'courtesy' crosswalks. They have changes planned, thankfully. They've repainted the crosswalks, but just on one side. They are reducing the crosswalks, but making them mandatory.
Devoy, who writes for our local small paper, writes that they have recommended two solar-powered automated pedestrian crossing systems along Gore St. They cost $29,000 each. They are considering it as part of the 2018 budget. This is a good thing. It's a brilliant idea! ('Scuse the pun!) Sadly, people are hard to spot, with cars parked on corners outside legal parking. This is something they need to monitor, as well.
The camera automatically lightens the photo, but you see where they aren't in our headlights.
They are pretty dark, all things considered. You cannot see people at the left side.
Perth Crosswalks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Then there is this intersection.
Gore St & North where we nearly witnessed an accident. It is a two-way stop. The car on the right doesn't have a stop sign, they have the right of way. We beat the truck to the stop sign but we let a pedestrian cross, then the truck began to move. The dark-coloured car had to put on its brakes.
I'm thinking this should be a 4-way stop to prevent many incidents.
It's pretty scary out there. We could use a ring road, but that's big bucks for a small town.
Education would be a good idea, but people are so distracted. There were two drivers in the truck, but pretty scary.
7 comments:
Walkers, bicyclist -- technically they often have the right of way -- but but who has more to lose in traffic? I know from experience that a car will fare better than a bike and the driver better than the rider, at least physically. I learned the hard way to always be careful.
We have those courtesy walks too. People are usually courteous. I think maybe they (maybe there is only one) are also going to be modified.
Scary at that time day when it is almost dark. I think all what we call "pedestrian Crossings" or your crosswalks should have extra lighting. And be further away from all intersections.
In town there's a spot where the pedestrian crosswalk includes something that's different from a conventional stoplight, but which flashes and obliges cars to stop.
We don't like to travel the lake after dark even in the summer, but at least then dark comes a lot later. Right now we must leave town no later than 6:30 to make it all the way home with at least some light in the sky. After the time changes, going to town will be a mid-day affair and no more dinners out if we want to make it home. - Margy
Solar power is the future , a bright future, in those countries with a lot of sunny days (like in my country). I wonder how it works in Canada or in the other nordic places, if at all.
The older I get the less I like travelling at night-time.
I'd much rather be at home enjoying a cuppa!
All the best Jan
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