Another ongoing project relates to pedestrian safety. Fast-moving vehicles often encroach while I’m crossing at intersections and I’d like it to stop before I end up hospitalized or dead.
I watch a city hall meeting and share my notes
I watched a city hall meeting in February that talked about pedestrian safety and did up notes about it that I shared with some city staff and other orgs.
Idea: crowd-sourcing data from pedestrians
Most interest in response was about the idea of putting up posters at intersections that invite pedestrians to report close calls, so I did up a one-pager about that idea. This is data it would be expensive for the city to collect itself, but without which the city seems unwilling to act.
I have since learned that close calls can be reported as “incidents” at Walk Roll Map.
Idea: questions for mayoral candidates
My latest idea, since it is election year at Ottawa city hall, is to send a letter to candidates for mayor, asking each for their opinion.
Idea: arguing about the law
(I do enjoy arguing about the law.)
In this instance, pedestrians were being told certain safety measures couldn’t be implemented because the law prohibited it. I pushed officials for specific references that backed up these statements, and am now arguing that they don’t make sense in law.
One safety measure asked about was the “exclusive pedestrian phase” or scramble, where cars stop at red lights while pedestrians are crossing. One demographic goes or the other does, giant speeding metal boxes or frail fleshy human beings, not the two competing for time and space at an intersection. The reference given for why this potential safety measure was impossible is s. 6.2.3.6 of Book 15 of the Ontario Traffic Manuals.
Another safety measure asked about was reducing speed limits to 30 km per hour. The reason given for why this potential safety measure was impossible is because of Ottawa’s 30 km/h Speed Limit Policy, which it seems City Council approved on April 12, 2017.
A third safety measure asked about was staggered turn lanes, which could make it easier for drivers to see pedestrians at intersections. No precise reference has yet been identified for why this is legally impossible.
Here are my thoughts on the first two. My language is blunt, I know, but so is dying on impact of a speeding vehicle.
