Michael To Benjamin

(Michael is a local Oxton-Oriole resident who tried to bring the issue of Pedestrian safe to The City starting back in 2003 - Mark)

From: Michael...
To: Stephen Benjamin

Subject: Pedestrians [Safety] at Oxton & Oriole Pkwy

Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 12:59 PM

Dear Steve Benjamin,

Thank you very much for your reply to my voice-mail and email. I appreciate the consideration you have given to my request.

However, I disagree strongly with your conclusions and will continue to carry the issue along the path to a better resolution.

If you can suggest someone I should speak to about this, I would welcome that information.

Before I conclude, I will restate my views and address your comments. Forgive me if these remarks are a bit tedious to read through.

Most of the cars going southbound on Oxton still pause at the corner of Oriole Parkway. But, because I don't have the right of way, I don't feel confident walking out in front of them.

All you need to do to solve this problem is to take down the signs that way "Pedestrians Wait For the Gap" and replace them with signs that read "Pedestrians Have Right of Way".

That will make a big difference to the pedestrians but almost none to the cars. Why?

1. Because they are pausing there anyway
   
   
2. Because there aren't too many pedestrians so the occasional brief extension of the pause a car is already making will not cause any impediment to the flow of traffic.

You are absoutely correct when you say that the corner was the scene of innumerable rear-end collisions in the past.

I know because I live right over the corner and though the matter did not concern me,
personally, I called the city many times to tell some of the relevant people that there was a problem here that needed attention.

Here's what caused that problem.

Cars going southbound on Oxton would stop at the Stop sign at Oriole Parkway.

Then they would pull forward a few feet and stop again to get a better view to the north so they could see the traffic coming southbound on Oriole Parkway.

When the car at the Stop sign started moving forward the driver behind it would move his car forward too without suspecting that the first car would stop abruptly after moving just a few feet.

The driver of the second car would also be directing his attention northward to see the traffic coming south on Oriole Parkway so she would not see that the car ahead of her had stopped. And, before you knew it, the daily rear-ender had just taken place.

I haven't heard many collisions lately so I believe that they have almost disappeared though I can't say for sure because, it being winter, my windows are always closed.

All the same, I suspect that you might have solved the problem of the rear-enders.

And, what I'm suggesting will not interfere with that solution.

I've been told by people who know you that you are very pedestrian-friendly. And, I believe that you are a nice guy.

And, like Chris Sellors, you have offered to put in a cross-walk at Highbourne and Oxton.

This is, however, essentially the same solution offered by your colleague, Danny B who told me quite bluntly, that pedestrians will just have to walk down to the light at Kilbarrie.

That might work on paper but it goes against human nature. When it seems so logical to take the most direct route, no one wants to make a detour.

Your reference to the Highway Traffic Act does seem impressive but I do not believe that it was constructed to make crossing an intersection difficult for pedestrians
and it is on these grounds that I will continue to pursue this issue.

Again, thanks for letter. It went into the matter at length and in a friendly manner. I just think that your argument is wrong - and obviously so - but for reasons that, perhaps, only someone using the intersection can clearly understand.

Regards,

Michael...

(Stephen Benjamin is Manager of Traffic Operations, District 1 - Central, Transportation Services)