More walk time needed
For an elderly person with a walker, crossing a major street in 15 seconds would be akin to running a four-minute mile for those in their prime.
That’s one reason a Qualicum Beach resident is pushing for a change in the timing of traffic lights at the Memorial Ave. and Fern Road intersection.
Speaking as a delegation at a recent regular council meeting, Carol Dowe continued to push the issue that formed a major plank in her unsuccessful bid for a council seat in November.
“I timed the light and it gives 15 seconds to walk across,” she said. “That’s not enough time if you have a walker, a scooter, a cane or are disabled.”
Dowe said her concern about the intersection was heightened by a pedestrian being hit in the intersection on Dec. 8.
“The vehicle was on Fern Road and was making a left turn,” she said. “The impact happened two strides coming off the corner. We want to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
She urged council to consider utilizing students from Kwalikum Secondary School to act as flagpeople and to lengthen the time allowed for crossing. As well, she suggested having all the cross signals go at once, meaning everyone would cross the street — in all directions — at the same time.
She stressed she wasn’t alone with this concern, presenting council with a petition containing the names of dozens of similarly concerned citizens.
“I talked to 85 people from Hawthorn Place, the Gardens and at the St. Stevens seniors luncheon,” she said. “There were many comments about concerns with left and right turns. There’s a lot of fear and apprehension.”
Councillors thanked Dowe for her presentation and said they would look into the issue.
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