Watch Where You're Walking

Eleven pedestrian deaths in eleven days in the GTA.

That's just awful.

But I'm not certain it is statistically off the charts - walking has always been dangerous.

In fact, research shows that ‘walking drunk’ is, on a 'per person-kilometre traveled’ basis, even more dangerous than driving drunk.

Not that driving home drunk from a party is ever a smart thing to do.

Walking sober is also fraught.

It points out the obvious-when-you-think-about-it fact that, even more so than with motorcycles, if you collide with a car, you can’t like your odds.

150 pounds versus 4000 pounds?

Not good.

Some of the recent reports on this sad situation indicate that suburban roads are even more dangerous than city streets, partly it would seem because there’s a different mindset for both walkers and drivers in the city core - they seem to be more aware that each other is there than they do in the boonies; and partly because major arterial roads are simply much wider, and take longer to cross, especially for seniors or others with compromised mobility.

The case of the Mom pushing her baby carriage across the street - the baby survived; the Mom did not - was particularly tragic.

The count-down timers for the amber lights which are becoming increasingly popular should be helping here, but maybe it's too early to have sufficient data.

But there is another vastly better solution to the challenges of suburban intersections, and this situation is a new feather in an old cap as far as I am concerned.

Because this recent concern about pedestrian safety is another benefit, heretofore unrecognized even by me, in favour of roundabouts.

A roundabout does not need a right-turn lane and a left-turn lane, so there is less traveled road pedestrians need to cross, so the trek is shorter, and hence less dangerous.

“Wait,” you might say, “with roundabouts there are no traffic lights at all - isn’t that the whole point of a roundabout? How do pedestrians get across at all?”

Good point.

A pedestrian-controlled traffic light would be a good compromise for many cases.

In situations without a traffic light, pedestrians should have an under- or overpass to cross the street. Because the span would be shorter with a roundabout, they should cost a lot less to build.

I have little expectation that most urban planners are bright enough to understand the value of roundabouts. Or maybe it's their political masters who are to blame here.

Maybe these tragic deaths might at least get this topic on the table.

Comments

[Kelly A. Schnurr]

Pedestrian fatalities are tragic! No question. But autos and pedestrians both use the road, both need to be responsible.
I remember, as a young child, saying to my Mother "come on let's cross - the light is green". Her comment was "Honey - there is a car coming - let's make sure he is going to stop - there is no sense in being 'dead right'.
Both drivers and pedestrians need to looking all the time!!!

[Colin Morton]

We've got a new roundabout on the UBC campus, the first of several to be installed as they reconfigure the major thoroughfares onto campus. All they've done is put zebra crossings on every branch, visually reinforcing that pedestrians have the right-of-way, and it's worked like a charm (and I say that as a driver, pedestrian, and cyclist). The key is that they're a car length from the circle proper, so there's room for a vehicle to clear the crosswalk while waiting for a gap in traffic (or to exit the circle but still wait for pedestrians).

[Dave]

Jim, I can't say enough great things about the roundabouts that have appeared in our neighbourhood at 2 very busy suburban intersections. Where there were 4-way stop signs and long line-ups at peak hours, now things move swiftly and efficiently (and safely). Why do we need to re-invent the wheel. Yes there was some initial learning (they had stop signs at the entrances for a few weeks to ease the confusion for the newly initiated), it just works. Go to Europe people! A driving vacation in the UK some years ago was a joy. Small towns and large. roundabouts and lights used where it made sense. No useless idling when not required. Have a look at the shorter distance pedestrians have to cross, minimizing their exposure. Look at the center garden helping beautify the city! http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=900+Greenbank+Rd,+Ottawa,+Ottawa+Division,+Ontario&ll=45.270548,-75.754292&spn=0,359.996518&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=45.270483,-75.754137&panoid=7ZvuFY9YKvatFnblIvMWrQ&cbp=12,294.37,,0,5

[John Frewen-Lord]

Hi Jim:

Many roundabouts here in the UK have a pedestrian croswalk controlled by traffic lights just before you enter the roundabout. Generally they work very well - except that sometimes the crosswalk lights can be confused with the traffic lights that control entry to the roundabout itself (which many - but far from all of course - roundabouts have). That can catch you out - you see a green light just before the roundabout, and think you can enter without having to yield (which you would normally do where there aren't any lights controlling entry). So, as long as that problem can be addressed - yes, strike another one up for how roundabouts are in general so superior to traffic lights.

[Jim Kenzie]

Hi Dave:

Preaching to the converted, my man!

But maybe the non-believers out there are tired of hearing ME preach; it's great to get The Message from someone else.