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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Send right signals to pedestrians

By: Editorial

Posted: 04/24/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

(DALE CUMMINGS/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

The complaint that you need a jet pack to cross Portage Avenue on foot has been around for years. The city's traffic department, however, responds the perception likely is a lack of understanding of how the signals at intersections work. Pedestrians are given five seconds to start a crossing, and the appearance of the flashing red hand is merely a warning, not a sign to stop walking midstream.

Pedestrians are given more than 10 seconds to cross -- the timing is calculated at a pace of 1.2 metres or less per second for a safe crossing. But if misperception has lingered longer than a quarter-century, if some walkers are getting caught on the median, then better communication is needed. To that end, the city is investigating the "countdown" signals used in other cities to show pedestrians how many seconds are left to get across safely.

The city should also remove the buttons that must be pushed at some intersections to activate the "walk-man" signal allowing people to enter a crossing safely. The buttons were removed downtown and should be yanked in other areas, as well, to assert a pedestrian's right to cross on a green light.

There are other ideas around that Winnipeg should investigate. Calgary, for example, introduced in 2008 the diagonal crosswalk at 3rd Street Southwest, in the Eau Claire area. It stops all vehicles to allow foot traffic to cross in all directions, including diagonally.

Such unconventional signalling requires a learning curve, but there are intersections in Winnipeg -- River and Osborne -- where heavy foot traffic impedes vehicles turning left and right. Perhaps there, unimpeded pedestrian crossings can make sense.

Motorists in Winnipeg celebrated when Mayor Sam Katz promised years ago to synchronize lights on busy streets such as Portage and Broadway. That recognized the need to inject efficiency to signalled intersections. The population is getting older and heavier. Intersection signals should help, not discourage, those who choose to walk, and walk safely, around town.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 24, 2012 A6

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