Pedestrian Traffic
Small towns can be tricky. We've had 'courtesy crosswalks' for ever. In one of the main intersections in town, there was a small sign that people in town mostly respected (see below). Pedestrians were not very good at it, though. You have to stake a claim, make eye contact with the driver and wait for them to stop. These are screen grabs from June, 2016.
The biggest difference is that there were two crosswalks right beside each other ( as pictured above). Pedestrians were hard to spot, beside illegally parked cars,
They have eliminated one, and I hope people will use just the one crosswalk. Drivers could be stopped on both sides of the intersection. There is another crosswalk a few blocks down. It's scary when a pedestrian pops out into traffic, however. The new, solar-powered signs (2 x $29,000) I hope will make it easier to grab a driver's attention.
Truck Traffic
There are only two streets that connect highway #7 with parts beyond. There are many trucks that navigate from Ottawa (north east) to Kingston or Toronto (south west). Trucks use Highway #10, and get themselves on Gore St. It's a tough turn. They've talked for years about a ring road between Craig St. and Highway #7, but that's not where the trucks are going. They use Rideau Ferry Rd. to get to highway #15. I remember doing a traffic study in Toronto, when I was in Gr. 11 geography. This would be interesting.
Our old city of Perth (1816), has adapted to cars and trucks. Not well, though.
This is a problem across Ontario, we used to be stops on the way to the city, when traffic consisted of horses and buggies!
9 comments:
Pedestrian crossing is a hazard everywhere I have ever been, even when there are signs and signals. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry and hard to predict. As a frequent pedestrian, I think it is encumbent on the ones with the most to lose to be the most vigilant.
Saturday at a stop light, I watched a couple hit the crossing signal button and immediately continue across the road right into left turning traffic. The cars had the turn signal and the crossing signal still had the red hand to warn pedestrians to not cross. Close call.
I don't think big trucks should be "downtown" unless they have actual business there. It's a nuisance in Pembroke, the closest city to where I live. The two malls are in the east and west end of town. Rather than go back out and take the highway between the two, too many delivery trucks go through downtown. It's a big problem.
It is sure too crowded in Toronto, I think that is the cause of all the recent violence.
We have some solar sighs They are very bright. You're not going to miss them.
Too much traffic. too close, and trucks, sometimes they think they own the roads. I can remember a small , very small country town when I was a child, there was a blacksmith shop there, working, I can still remember seeing the smithy wearing a huge, well worn and marked, leather apron , working on the anvil now. AND there was a hitching rail close by. Stay safe Jenn and JB on those busy intersections.
Try Alberta for trucks!
We too have a courtesy crosswalk. Some drivers are courteous and some aren't.
Traffic thru town on #7 is becoming a problem here at times. The backup can get long.
As a pedestrian I operate under the principle that pretty much any driver on the road is a lunatic until proven otherwise and exercise due caution.
I think pedestrian crossing can be very hazardous.
Always keep your wits about you!
All the best Jan
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