Pedestrians

The August 14, 2021 edition of Global News Back on the Beat examines how the recent changes to ICBC coverage has resulted in significant difficulties for vulnerable road users, cyclists and pedestrians, if they are involved in a crash. John Daly speaks with David Hay QC, a personal injury lawyer and three cyclists who were hurt in a crash with a vehicle.

I found an interesting post on Twitter this morning by @renomate talking about the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and the Island Highway in Colwood. He said "Standing at the intersection, waiting for the little "walk" symbol to appear so we can cross... my (8 year old) daughter says to me, "Dad, what do you do if you want to cross there"? (pointing perpendicular to where we are crossing) "you have to cross 3 times, and there's not even a scramble"

This is the case of Lemma v Wong. Messele Lemma attempted to cross Commercial Drive at East 11 Avenue in Vancouver. He stepped off the curb slightly outside the unmarked crosswalk into the path of a pickup truck driven by Gary Rolfe. Mr. Rolfe stopped suddenly to avoid colliding with Mr. Lemma. Mr. Lemma continued to cross Commercial Drive, now in the crosswalk, where he was struck by a car driven by Lindsey Kwan who had changed lanes to the left and passed the Rolfe vehicle.

Question: The Galloping Goose Trail is shared by pedestrians and high speed cyclists. Should one walk facing the traffic or keep right? I see both happening and there are arguments in support of both. I often have difficulty hearing cyclists and there is frequently not any warning.

Here's a simple, almost no cost change in pedestrian walk signal timing that can reduce vehicle / pedestrian collisions by as much as 60%. Instead of illuminating the white pedestrian light at the same time as the green light for traffic, the pedestrian gets a few seconds head start. This puts them out into the intersection before drivers start to move, making them more visible.

I read the Victoria Times Colonist on line each morning and a story about jaywalking caught my attention. After reading the story all I am left with is the feeling that the situation was poorly explained and readers might decide that the police should have been doing more important things than enforcing pedestrian bylaws.

Kristen Kringhaug was standing in the driveway of her townhouse complex supervising four children ranging in age from two to four years old while they rode their bicycles. Li Men drove into the complex at low speed, prompting Ms. Kringhaug to begin to shepherd the children off of the driveway onto the grass shoulder. The two year old stopped and did not move off of the driveway, so Ms.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs seek to increase the number of students who use active transportation (walking & cycling) methods to travel to and from school. Increasing physical activity has the potential to improve health. SRTS programs aim to accomplish this goal through engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, equity, and evaluation.

"Don't pedestrians have to use the sidewalks?" asks a reader. The concern expressed here is that when a safe place is provided for pedestrians away from traffic flow, some people choose not to use it. The reader observes that these people make life difficult for drivers by adding one more hazard on the roadway.

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has released an idea book for law enforcement personnel to assist them in supporting pedestrian and bicycle safety. It is a collection of case studies from around the US that shares programs and practices implemented in communities and explains their impact.