Burnaby mayor jokes about stalling traffic on Kingsway
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Last night at Burnaby council, Mayor Derek Corrigan delivered a sly comment that may amuse transit advocates while enraging some drivers.
It came after a vote to install a pedestrian signal at the corner of Olive Avenue and Kingsway.
"It never hurts to slow the traffic down Kingsway," the mayor quipped. "People have to learn to take the SkyTrain through Burnaby."
Comments
3 Comments
DavidH
Feb 19, 2013 at 2:06pm
It's hard to disagree with the Honourable Mayor. Going through Burnaby as quickly as possible is a smart thing to do.
RandyC
Feb 21, 2013 at 9:21am
Enforce the speed limit of 50 kph everywhere and design the roads and signalling to support this speed or less and you will immediately have more pedestrian- and cycling-safe and friendly streetscapes.
If we can speed our "rapid" transit up to meet or exceed that of driving--which is the norm in most large cities around the world--then far more people will take transit and thus spare Burnaby (and everywhere) with the smog, dust, particulates, noise, road casualties and deaths associated with so much car use.
It is important to note that the installation of pedestrian-activated signals are known to accelerate traffic flows and divert driver attention from the road and other road users. They also increase smog due to additional unnecessary idling.
The law in BC in fact gives pedestrians absolute priority--in the absence of a signal--at all intersections and in any crosswalk. A car approaching any unsignalled intersection or crosswalk MUST stop and give way if a pedestrian is standing on the corner or at the entrance to a crosswalk. Of course almost no one does, but that does not make such behaviour legal. The addition of a signal in fact takes legal rights of priority away from a pedestrian, albeit in this lawless and car-centric culture it certainly makes the roads more safe for anyone needing to cross a street.
Maybe we ought better to enforce ALL road laws, both relating to speed AND pedestrian priority.
LaughingSoHard
May 9, 2013 at 9:30am
LOL Randy