Dear Editor:
Re: Is crosswalk dangerous?, The Record, Nov. 13.
As a cyclist who rides the Crosstown Greenway, I am familiar with the potential danger of crossing McBride Boulevard at Columbia Street. I ride east to west. I always push the walk signal and wait for the green right arrow to go away.
Even so, I never assume that a driver will not barrel around the corner, because it happens.The crossing ought to be reasonably safe.
Enforcement works only for the duration of the enforcement. Traffic engineers know that to change driver behaviour, roads must be constructed so that the required behaviour is obvious; for example, building a road in such a way as to create a “natural” speed limit.
In the case of the intersection in question, perhaps a red arrow in addition to more obvious (lighted?) signage would help?
A red light in a special place and absence of a green arrow on the more visible main signal does not seem to be sufficient.
Véronique Boulanger,
New Westminster
