Getting a speed limit changed/pedestrian lights installed

[Eddie Bronze]

I'm sure many of you are aware of the accident that happened on 32nd Ave NW last week where a Mom and her daughter were mowed down in a crosswalk. The little girl, 6, was in the Children's hospital and unfortunately, passed away on Saturday. Her mom is still in the hospital, but not in life-threatening condition.

I drive right through this crosswalk every day and so, I know how dangerous it is. I've seen myself, many times, people just blow right through it when someone is waiting to cross. I understand that I'm more aware of it because I travel through this area every day, but it is as poorly a marked crosswalk as there is in this city. There is no way you can tell you are approaching a crosswalk until you get up to it, unless you know it's there to begin with. It needs to be better marked, either with flashing lights or bigger signs, something.

32nd goes through a residential area and along the Northside of the U of C. It's a high volume pedestrian area, but the speed limit is set at 60km/h. So as you can imagine, most people are going 70 down this stretch, and quite frankly, it's not safe. I personally never exceed 60 in this area, and even at that speed, feel I'm going too fast at dawn/dusk. I know it's the responsibility of the driver to drive according to the conditions, but from the amount of deadly accidents we've seen here just withing the past 10 days, it's clear people in this city do not know how to do that. The speed limit needs to be adjusted to 50km/h from Shaganappi to Crowchild, on 32nd. On either side of those major routes, it is 50, so why not in between?

I noticed, yesterday, that a CTV cruiser was set up on 37th St., where it happened, with a camera out, at that intersection. Maybe just taping some b-roll footage of the area, I'm not sure. Maybe, hopefully, they are going to use it in an attempt to have the crosswalk marked better, who knows. Nonetheless, it was a terrible sight to see the scene there on my way home last Thursday. I don't want to see it again, and if there is something small I can do to help set-off a chain reaction to either get the crosswalk marked better, have the speed limit reduced, or both, I'd like to give it a shot. Honestly though, I wouldn't know where to start. The city? The police? I'm sure someone on here knows.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Honestly though, I wouldn't know where to start. The city? The police? I'm sure someone on here knows.

I'm not sure how much it would help, but definitely phone 311 and write your alderman.

[ken0042]

Well, now that there has been a fatality, I can guarantee that you will see pedestrian lights installed there soon.

The sad fact remains that there will now be a serious accident somewhere else, then somewhere else, etc.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, now that there has been a fatality, I can guarantee that you will see pedestrian lights installed there soon.

That's pretty much the only reason there's that one further east on 32nd: those two UofC students that were killed there a few years ago. That road has a lot of foot traffic and a lot of vehicle traffic. Bad combination. Plus, with the UofC family residences nearby along 32nd as well it's probably just a matter of time until another kid gets hit unless something is done...

[Bill Bumface]

I remember way back in the day the parents in my neighbourhood were trying really hard to get lights put up at a low visibility crosswalk where one kid was hit and there were many other close calls. They basically said phone back when a second kid has been hit and we'll think about it.

[Cube Inmate]

Eddie:

I can't fault you for wanting to do something, but I think your efforts would be better spent in other directions.

From my recent observations, it seems that there's a significant fraction of the driving population that doesn't care about either the speed limit signs or the cops who are (very) occasionally found enforcing them. They'll drive at whatever speed they think is within their capabilities. Combine that with the feeling of "invincibility" that comes from being surrounded by a steel safety cage, and I'll get to my point: there are enough bad and careless drivers around that no amount of regulation will prevent all deaths...especially pedestrian ones.

If you reduce a speed limit without changing the road, that will have no effect on the above drivers, nor on those like the girl who hit the two pedestrians last week, who was apparently "distracted" by something (likely electronic??) I don't think it's wise to make a change that will make pedestrians be *less* cautious than they already are by making the road seem safer (as in, expecting slower traffic).

So, in short: you can make stricter rules for cars, but without strict enforcement, the rules tend to have the opposite effect. Regulation without enforcement breeds disrespect for the rules.

So?

I'll agree that pedestrian lights would be good. Do what you can to get them installed at this intersection. Reducing speed limits, though? I don't think it makes a lick of positive difference unless the CPS will be posting a radar gun there a lot more often than they can afford to.

Or even better.... Find a picture of a mangled pedestrian's body and post it at the entrance to the crosswalk. Maybe people would start to pay attention to where they're walking if they had a visual reminder of what will happen to them, whether they're technically in the "right" or not.

[Dion]

Like jar_e said, send a letter to your alderman. I know the crosswalk in question and I agree it definately needs some flashing lights.

[Rifleman]

If speeding is a problem, they need to install speed bumps.

Hopefully like those found in the Westhills shopping area. Those are pretty steep, and brutal.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Knowing the road where the little girl was killed I would be in complete favour of putting up one of those pedestrian overpasses there. I know that they cost a heck of a lot of money but the number of close calls and the number of drivers that speed through the area is insane, especially when you consider that a large number of the drivers to the University (which is just south of 37th) are newer drivers and it really only makes sense to put something up to protect the saftey of everyone who needs to cross that road... especialyl when the U of C family residences are nearby.

[Kybosh]

I agree that something needs to be done. The road is very wide, there is lots of traffic. It is often very difficult to see oncoming pedestrians (especially since the side with the family residences pretty much dumps right onto the road with not very good visibility). I think the best first step would be pedestrian lights.

[Bobblehead]

In thic case the news mentioned the driver was "distracted" and drove by another car that was stopped. I don't think in this case it would have mattered if there were lights or not.

I'm all for Cross-Walk lights, but one thing I really noticed when I moved to Calgary is pedestrians seem to have a sense of entitlement and will cross without even acknowledging the oncoming traffic. I agree the driver is the one at fault, but that won't make the pedestrian any less hurt.

I also fully agree with Cube Inmate. Rules that aren't enforced are worse than no rules. We need to help fund the "Boys in Blue" so they can do a bit more enforcement.

[ZDogg]

Contact the City Transportation Department and your local alderman. Pedestrian crossing lights are only inststalled at locations which meet certain warrants based on traffic and pedestrian volumes, proximity to schools, shopping, number of collisions, fatalities, etc. Since there has now been a fatality this location might meet the warrant for flashing lights. I believe any location that has a pedestrain fatality would be reviewed automatically but political influences also play a role.

[Bertuzzied]

Just two blocks north of there, a few years back a u of c couple was killed by a driver. I think they installed the flashing pedestrians lights after. I drive through that intersection 4 times a day and it's definately not safe for pedestrians.

Plus the lighting is really bad there at nite.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

If speeding is a problem, they need to install speed bumps.

Hopefully like those found in the Westhills shopping area. Those are pretty steep, and brutal.

Have you ever seen the ones in Mexico? You will be driving down the highway and out of know where there are huge steal speed bumbs....right in the middle of the highway. If you ever hit thoses things going 100 kph....there would be nothing left of your car.

[Jake]

U of C sent all of its students an email saying they have contacted the city and are trying to get the cross walk made safer.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

In thic case the news mentioned the driver was "distracted" and drove by another car that was stopped. I don't think in this case it would have mattered if there were lights or not.

I'm all for Cross-Walk lights, but one thing I really noticed when I moved to Calgary is pedestrians seem to have a sense of entitlement and will cross without even acknowledging the oncoming traffic. I agree the driver is the one at fault, but that won't make the pedestrian any less hurt.

I also fully agree with Cube Inmate. Rules that aren't enforced are worse than no rules. We need to help fund the "Boys in Blue" so they can do a bit more enforcement.

Another unrelated thing about driving and enforcement: Say, you were speeding at 120 down deerfoot. Another car is speeding at 160. Which would the policeman catch?

My guess is he'll catch you because you'll be less trouble, and people that drive 115-120 usually will pay the fine, whereas the punks that drive 160 will bitch, whine, complain, take them to court, refuse to pay, etc. etc.

This is kinda a true story with me and my friend, but I digress...

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Another unrelated thing about driving and enforcement: Say, you were speeding at 120 down deerfoot. Another car is speeding at 160. Which would the policeman catch?

My guess is he'll catch you because you'll be less trouble, and people that drive 115-120 usually will pay the fine, whereas the punks that drive 160 will bitch, whine, complain, take them to court, refuse to pay, etc. etc.

This is kinda a true story with me and my friend, but I digress...

I disagree. Most police are not lazy and want to apply the law to everyone fairly. Most police personalities would prefer to get the 160 dude rather than the 120 guy. Not saying that some officers would rather not go throught the hastle....but I would estimate that number would be under 1%

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I'm all for Cross-Walk lights, but one thing I really noticed when I moved to Calgary is pedestrians seem to have a sense of entitlement and will cross without even acknowledging the oncoming traffic. I agree the driver is the one at fault, but that won't make the pedestrian any less hurt.

I agree with you big time here. While the driver is at fault (as it should be), is your life worth so little that you won't pay attention to oncoming traffic? Most 5 year olds know to look both ways before crossing the street, you would think adults would know better.

[STeeLy]

I think that too many people (adults/teens mostly) have that pedestrian first mentality in their heads a little too deep and thus cross wherever they want whenever they want. I think something needs to be done about that, because that could very well be the basis of that problem.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I think that too many people (adults/teens mostly) have that pedestrian first mentality in their heads a little too deep and thus cross wherever they want whenever they want. I think something needs to be done about that, because that could very well be the basis of that problem.

I agree completely.

I work downtown and am amazed that someone isn't killed daily the way people just step off the curb. In the morning is probably the worst because you have all those people coming to work combined with the flood of cars and then add to the mix a thousand City buses and the recipe is prime for disaster.

Here is the worst case. 90% of the time in the morning there will be a bus in the far right lane when you are crossing the street. I would guess that over 95% of people who cross don't look around that bus after they pass it. I make an absolute point when crossing in the morning to slow my ass down and look past the bus to make sure there isn't some idiot not stopping for the light or even an emergency vehicle flying down the road.

Even in parking lots people think they are invinceable. People just step out without looking and simply expect drivers to stop.

The at-fault laws need some tweaking so that pedestrians take some level of responsibility out there and don't let the, "Well, they have to stop for me" mentality take over.