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Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster. PO Box 19 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON, Canada, L8S 1C0 905-525-9140 ext. 26026 |
Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC)
A working group of OPIRG McMaster
Box 1013, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
MUSC room 229
905.525.9140 ext. 26026
Fax 905.523.0107March 18, 2005
Hamilton City Council
71 Main Street West,
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5Re: Maintenance of crosswalks in Hamilton.
I am writing on behalf of “Transportation for Liveable Community” (TLC), a working group of McMaster’s chapter of OPIRG (Ontario Public Research Interest Group).
TLC members were surprised to read in the Dundas Star News of February 11, 2005 a report indicating that it is official city policy to neglect repainting fading crosswalk lines. The report explicitly quotes Mr. Ed Switenky, acting manager of traffic engineering and operations, saying that “we’re letting the crosswalk lines fade”, and that “From a legal perspective, we’re taking a chance having unprotected crosswalks”.
TLC finds this city policy grossly misguided and urge city council to instruct staff to repaint all fading crosswalk lines in summer 2005.
First, section 140 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act clearly states drivers’ duties of yielding the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks. By neglecting to repaint crosswalk lines, city staff create a situation in which pedestrians can see, but drivers may not notice, the fading lines. This will likely make the city partially liable for fatalities and injuries at crosswalks.
Coincidentally, last month, the Ontario government introduced legislation to hike fines from $60 to $150 and apply three demerit points for drivers who do not yield the right of way at pedestrian crosswalks. The provincial government justified this new Transit and Road Safety Bill by presenting statistics indicating that 15,000 people have been killed or injured while crossing a road in Ontario in the past five years. Clearly, the provincial government recognizes the importance of crosswalks. The City of Hamilton should not undermine the attempt to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries.
Second, walking is the most universal form of traffic, the healthiest to the walker and our environment. Walkers, however, require safe, well marked crosswalks. The attached “Toronto Pedestrian Charter” illustrates how well our neighboring city treats pedestrians, an approach that should be formally adopted by the Hamilton City Council as well.
Third, for many children, students and seniors, walking is the main form of traffic. The city must maintain its commitment to protecting these vulnerable members of our community.
Finally, repainting fading crosswalk lines is probably among the cheapest means that city staff can use to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries in Hamilton.
We look forward to hearing your reply.
Sincerely,
Reuven Dukas, for TLC.
TLC root URL is www.hwcn.org/link/tlc/index.html