Discussions

Drivers are supposed to stop for pedestrians that are crossing the street at a crosswalk (marked or unmarked). Drivers should know this. When you see vehicles in the other lane stopped, presume that there is a pedestrian crossing and slow down and be ready to stop.  
 
18th & Lorne northbound is a potentially fatal pedestrian accident waiting to happen. It is very common to see the left lane stopped because traffic is backed up waiting to cross the Daly overpass. The right lane is often fairly clear of vehicles so traffic goes along at 40 – 50 kph, maybe faster. Anyone driving in the right lane will see that traffic in the left lane is backed up. Most of those drivers in the right lane won’t slow down at 18th & Lorne northbound because they will just see traffic stopped because traffic is backed up, and not because there is a potential pedestrian there.  
 
Pedestrians, please be careful and check for oncoming traffic before stepping out.  
 
MIT, you can do a lot to help alleviate this potentially fatal problem. This should have been done years ago, but you need to install crossing lights, just like at 18th & Louise. I realize that pedestrians also have to use the lights to help ensure their safety.  
 
MIT, you can also help a lot by timing the lights at 18th & Rosser and 18th & Princess better. The east and west bound lights can easily be shortened by 5 or 10 seconds. Then, lengthen the timing of the lights for the south and northbound traffic by 20, maybe 30 seconds. The longer lights will allow more traffic to get through. Also, have the lights at 18th & Rosser turn green before the lights at 18th & Princess by about 5 or 10 seconds and turn red at the same time as 18th & Princess. The cost of timing those lights is minimal. These lights do not need to be synchronized with other lights, just these two intersections.  
 
These changes will allow a lot more traffic through, thus having less traffic backed up, less driver frustration (or potential road rage) and also making the pedestrian crossing at 18th & Lorne safer.  

I agree, pedestrians are really having to take their life into their own hands, more than usual, around town lately.  
 
Coupled with the risks that you mention, there is the general impatience of drivers to worry about.

Really If pedestrians are paying attention, there is no problem, if motorists would pay attention, there would be no problem, but since both seem to say its the others responsibility to watch out for them, we have problems. I say pedestrians crossing would be smart enough to "look both ways" but that's too much to hope for in today's society.

Im an endurance runner, and spend a lot of time as a pedestrian in the city. For the most part the most of my runs go smooth with very little vehicle confrontations.  
 
But the one area if concern for me is if I'm heading west on Victoria between 26th and 34th, its a path in that area and is nice for running because its smooth and consistent and wide and also is a main route for me to get back to the west end, however the issue is that if I'm heading west all the drivers are looking west to gauge in coming traffic as they prepare to merge into the roadway while rolling thru the path as they exit the retail parking lots. Many times i have stopped and thought i had made eye contact with the driver and proceeded only to have them continue on through the path.forcing me to react and stop or on occasion bang on their hood to get their attention, more often than not this scares the hell out of the driver, to which they yell at me! ( I actually had a meathead in a diesel truck get so mad at me for tapping in his fender that he followed me on my run and tried to smoke me out at another intersection(dbag))  
 
For me its not a huge deal as i am aware of the issue and have learned to be on guard in that area, however i am concerned for the many family's, kids and elderly i see walking this path, with the drivers all looking west, and rolling thru the walkway, there is potential for a accident.  
 
They should put stop signs in all these retail lots where their access road crosses the path, ....... although there is a stop sign at the road near tim Hortons, and I've seen plenty if people roll thru there too (including a police officer that i yelled at, that later found me later in in my run and apologized profusely!)  
 
I guess the moral of the story is to be aware at all times, which is great for adults and such, however i worry about the kids and elderly, who don't always have the awareness or reaction time to avoid an incident.  
 
Be safe people,  
 
 
 

Pedestrians also have to make sure the traffic see's them. I'm sorry but if I'm traveling at 50km do not expect me to stop on time because you walked out in front of me. I'm sorry, technically I'm wrong, but your the one who is hurt. Stop half way through the road and peek around to make sure the other vehicles see you. You can't put all the blame on drivers when there's pedestrians who think right of way means they can just waltz out in front of traffic (don't even get me started on bikes using crosswalks).

as well when it comes to vehicles not wanting to stop for pedestrians even though they have the right of way crossing from White Swan over on to the walking path that runs along Braecrest. Many times I have started crossing when vehicles are far enough back and been honked at because they had to slow down. This is another area that needs lighted crosswalk as vehicles tend to travel well over the speed limit and not stop. Just another accident waiting to happen unfortunately.

In the rare times that I walk on Lorne Ave and walk across 18th St. to go to BU, I will say that's a bad crossing. They should almost close that crossing until they we get The Daily Bridge fixed. The status quo isn't working. Walking an extra block to Louise Ave and cross 18th there or to Princess Ave is well worth it.  
 
When I drive on Princess Ave, I see many pedestrians who just right across the street, not giving squat about they are purposely walking in front of a vehicle. There's people who are jaywalking but the police won't do anything about as I witness.  
 
On 6th st by New Era School especially, hardly anybody uses that nice button to activate the cross walk light. Thankfully I always drive slower in that area knowing that there's too many people who don't know how to cross the street properly. Speaking of which, I wish they had no parking on 6th St. by New Era during the school hours while they are at it.  
 

HowieSport said "Really If pedestrians are paying attention, there is no problem, if motorists would pay attention, there would be no problem, but since both seem to say its the others responsibility to watch out for them, we have problems. I say pedestrians crossing would be smart enough to "look both ways" but that's too much to hope for in today's society. "

I agree. First I hear someone say what I think. All gets on the driver's fault a pedestrian that is not taking time to look before crossing is just as fault than the driver and irresponsible. I see so many people crossing streets without looking, push the button and crossing right away and not looking. Business stores, grocery stores they leave the building, step in the streets no looking at all. I saw an old man (grandfather maybe) with 2 young age kids as the traffic green light came one kid cross right away and the man followed behind did the same. If it were me I would tell and teach my kids to look first before you cross even if you have the right of way first...just safety is all. When it comes for safety it isn't only to drivers ...in my opinion anyway. In few years speed limit will become 30km all over the city. It would help if pedestrian and cyclist would take a second to look. All be responsible for your own action, not just drivers.

......many people forget that passing within 30 meters of a designated pedestrian crosswalk is illegal and ignore the common sense in being cautious when passing at other intersections.  
 
If you stop for pedestrians, remember to keep an eye on the traffic behind you and be prepared to intervene if you see a potential disaster developing. I have honked at pedestrians to warn them many times. Many are thankful, some are aggravated, all remain uninjured.  
 
 
 

I was on Victoria between McDonalds and Giant Tiger when I saw a group of teenage boys fooling around on the boulevard. Slowed down not knowing what they were going to do. They proceeded to step out in front with one bending down to tie up his shoes. I stopped and I honked horn because there were vehicles coming up behind me in both lanes and they wouldn't be able to see the boy bent down in front of me. When I honked again they ALL bent down to tie shoes and then they gave me the finger.  
 
I find 18th street in front of University the worst for pedestrians walking out in between crosswalks and stoplights .  
 
 
 
Edited by oldcowgirl, 2015-09-21 08:05:50

anybody that fails to press the provided button on a crosswalk gets a toot from me(BU@18th st). Never do I get an expresion of "sorry", only "finger" and nothing.  
I've no sympathy for a pedestrian who doesn't want to be alive.

I've found that the crosswalks with the lights...no one is hitting the button..they just start walking in front of you. It always makes me feel bad for not noticing, but then why not just hit that darn button and save us all some high blood pressure??

One thing my wife and I find really stupid is people stopping for jaywalkers to let them cross. If there isn't a crosswalk, don't stop. The driver in the lane next to you won't see the person crossing or won't realize why you stopped and hit the person crossing the road illegally or rear end you into the person crossing. I'm not sure who would be at fault in that case but I wouldn't want to risk finding out. Pedestrians can walk to a crosswalk or can wait until there is no traffic coming. Its not worth someone getting killed to stop and save someone 20 seconds waiting to cross the street. I have seen people do this on 18th street and other busy streets. Crazy!!!

BWK14 said "One thing my wife and I find really stupid is people stopping for jaywalkers to let them cross. If there isn't a crosswalk, don't stop. The driver in the lane next to you won't see the person crossing or won't realize why you stopped and hit the person crossing the road illegally or rear end you into the person crossing. I'm not sure who would be at fault in that case but I wouldn't want to risk finding out. Pedestrians can walk to a crosswalk or can wait until there is no traffic coming. Its not worth someone getting killed to stop and save someone 20 seconds waiting to cross the street. I have seen people do this on 18th street and other busy streets. Crazy!!! "

People stopping for jaywalkers is endangering them. I've seen people stop and traffic in the other lane continue to fly by. There is no crosswalk so other traffic does not know they are stopped for a pedestrian. It is very dangerous. People think they are being courteous and some even think pedestrians have the right of way and they're supposed to stop. If it's not a crosswalk, DON'T STOP for pedestrians. They can use the crosswalk, that's what they're for.

This issue is about a three way share of responsibility between pedestrians, drivers and the city.  
 
As a pedestrian I know I need to be careful. I do look both ways and if I see a semi barreling down the street I don't expect them to stop as quickly as a car... I wait until they've passed before I signal to cross. I wait to see the cars slowing before I step out and then, if I can, I move across the street as quickly as possible so cars don't have to wait too long.  
 
As a driver I watch for pedestrians, especially at marked crosswalks and intersections. However I'm not a mind reader so if you're standing at a corner looking at your phone I don't know if you're wanting to cross, or waiting to get picked up or whatever. If you want to cross the street at an uncontrolled intersection make sure I know that's your plan. Look me in the eye. Give me some sign... it doesn't have to be the Hitler salute all the way across the street but at least stick you hand out or point or something so I can stop for you. And a little wave or smile wouldn't hurt either as you quickly cross the road.  
 
As for the city, think about the dance that cars and pedestrians are doing and help us out. Make the crosswalk buttons work properly. Promote crossing at controlled intersections and crosswalks etc.

Pennies_Galore said "I've found that the crosswalks with the lights...no one is hitting the button..they just start walking in front of you. It always makes me feel bad for not noticing, but then why not just hit that darn button and save us all some high blood pressure?? "

I cross here all the time and the problem is the button only lights up that one side of the street. You need to push the button in the middle to get the lights going on the other side. As a pedestrian you probably don't realize this as the beeping sound goes on long enough to cross the whole street. As a driver you probably see this as someone crossing in front of you without using the lights because you can only see one side.  
 
I don't understand why its set up this way. I can't imagine anyone's final destination is the median... surely everyone wants to cross the whole street. Plus the middle post is often inaccessible due to snow in the winter. A good example of how drivers, pedestrians and the city all need to share the responsibility.