Dear Editor:
There is a brand new crosswalk at Smith Street/Conestoga Street this summer near the post office in Arthur. It has flashing lights for all vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians have the right of way (with caution).
At any stop sign or light in town, a pedestrian can cross and any vehicle should give the walker the right of way, so they can cross (using caution). The roundabout at Eliza/Domville/Frederick St. offers the same courtesy (exercised with caution by the crosser).
Sadly, the new crosswalk downtown is not a crosswalk in any logical safe sense. I see it very seldom used. The cow trail is not where the crosswalk is. The bank, post office, parking and Foodland conjunction is the busiest crossing entirely downtown, approximately 20 feet wide. Sort of like the shadings on the highways where snowmobilers always cross. They don’t cross anywhere else, and shoppers downtown congregate in that narrow area as well – not where the new crosswalk is, even though it is close by.
With moms’ arms full of groceries and leading kids, elderly with packages and canes the provided crosswalk is an insult to the resident pedestrian.
It is very expensive and surrounded with lovely planters and decorative posts – it is beautiful. But how many other walker crossings in town coax the nervous walker out to the very edge of quickly passing cars/trucks while also with four gigantic yellow signs state that the “pedestrian must yield to traffic,” not the traffic to the pedestrian?
It is a “pretty” disgrace and in my opinion a tremendous waste of funds and planning for the resident. I grew up downtown. I was always told by prior councils from childhood to adulthood, that given a highway runs downtown there can never be a crosswalk mid-street. Obviously that was not true.
The same 20 feet where people are trained to cross has not changed in 50-plus years. With more car traffic, more residents, more kids, more large trucks and farm vehicles rushing about all over town, this supposed crossing is ridiculous.
We are likely stuck with it, but at least respect the residents – remove the yellow signs entirely, place flashers at the present location and lower the speed limit to 20 or 30km/h.
And next time you think you have a “great” idea for us, speak with us and forego the photo op and smiles. And if you are driving rushing up the street to get to the next red light, watch for people and even stop to let them cross
It’s not all about you, it’s about all of us.
Dave Hawkins,
Arthur