Editor:
Regarding the new City of New Westminster policy on pedestrian safety, I have some problems.
I say this, for the most part, as my wife and I are retired seniors and walk everywhere to shop uptown etc., except when we have to use the car to travel some distance. I am aware that, during rush hours, the traffic jam through town is a real problem and is getting worse with each year.
However, I find the new policy, which seems to emphasize more consideration for pedestrians, bicycles and other non-automobile modes of movement, a little out of proportion. As seniors, we do not find a problem with the current traffic light and push button signals uptown, or elsewhere. They react very quickly in spite of the fact that cars and buses may be lined up for blocks, polluting the environment and wasting gas, not to mention money.
In any case, we would therefore suggest that the city's Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee give some further thought to the problem of those who, through no fault of their own, must travel by bus or vehicle other than a bicycle to go to and from work or other destinations through our city.
I would suggest that as we see it from our pedestrian's point of view, the committee may be creating a bigger problem for the pedestrians, the environment through air pollution by trying to solve one problem and exacerbating it with another: hopeless traffic jams.
Bill Zander, New Westminster
