City
New Crosswalk Lights the Way for Annex Jaywalkers
Looks like Christmas is coming a little early for Annex denizens, especially when it's time to run a desperate grocery re-supply mission. For as long as I can remember, it's been a matter of life, death, and patience to jaywalk between Shoppers and Dominion at Bloor/Walmer. As the equidistant spot on Bloor between two traffic lights (Spadina, Brunswick), this was the place where cars actually picked up enough speed to make me think twice about running across with a multitude of heavy groceries.
Over the last few weeks, city workers have slowly erected a shiny set of traffic lights with crossing signals. This is great news for pedestrians and drivers alike. Though I've never witnessed a jaywalker/car collision, it may cut down on all the close calls. For the drivers, those pesky left-turns should be a lot easier at a controlled intersection.
As of this afternoon, the lights were still wrapped up. Still, it's only a matter of time before we get to use the shiny new crossing buttons like the rest of the more 'privileged' intersections.
Unfortunately, these new signals won't solve anything for those jaywalkers who get a little adrenaline rush from breaking the law, tisk tisk.
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We go to concerts at TSP more or less constantly, this is way overdue.
As a driver however, it is quite a pain making some of those left hand turns. Damn pedestrians stepping out infront of my car!! (ha ha)
Hooray for the traffic lights!
The problem I see with this one location is that all of the jaywalking is concentrated in a single spot (between Shoppers/TTC and Dominion), so the density of jaywalkers is dangerous when you consider that most cars are reaching their max. speed (accelerating from lights in both directions)... this has the negative effect of reducing everyone's reaction time for running/braking.
It's a delicate balance. I think a light addresses the needs of pedestrians and drivers in this situation because there is a definite need for controlled crossing, but at the same time that control can't impede traffic indefinitely (like a crosswalk w/ no traffic lights would).