It’s that time of year again; the time of year when pedestrians encroach by necessity into spaces motorists deem to be theirs alone. Uncleared sidewalks, inaccessible curb cuts, out of reach walk buttons all contribute to pedestrians getting in your way even more than usual. So I would like to ask the drivers of Halifax for advice on one particular issue.
Imagine, if you will, a busy street with a sidewalk on only one side. Now imagine a pedestrian whose destination is on the side of the street without a sidewalk, in the middle of the block and some distance from a legal crosswalk. While the young and nimble may be able to prance like Legolas atop the ice and snow, the rest of us have two options: cross at the nearest crosswalk and walk in the roadway until our destination becomes accessible, or remain on the sidewalk until we are directly across from our destination and then jaywalk. In low traffic areas, jaywalking is clearly the safer option. Main Avenue, however, is one of the main traffic arteries in Fairview and has a sidewalk on only one side for its entire length. On the Bedford Highway, where the flow of traffic is literally continuous, there are only a few short segments with sidewalks on both sides of the street, and there is not a single crosswalk between Kearny Lake Rd and Larry Uteck. These are just two examples of areas in the city where there is simply no safe way for a person to walk from A to B. So I look to our mighty vehicular overlords for guidance; what must we unhappy pedestrians do to avoid incurring your wrath? Besides just stay the hell home, I mean. —Roadkill
This article appears in Jan 7-13, 2016.
They would prefer you lay in the street and not soil their bumpers with your blood…
You see, they pay approximately $300/mo. in car payments alone to which you add $75/mo. for insurance. Gas, albeit at a low, costs them too. Then the upkeep and repair bills are exorbitant. When you add up the costs, there comes a sense of gross entitlement.
YOU, the pedestrian, are getting from point A to B for free. They are not. Similar to cyclists, you are now the enemy who blocks their commute, adding precious seconds to that next red light.
OB, how dare you ask our motorized overlords for any form of understanding or compassion.
The answer to your question is a simple one: buy a car.
Yeah, pedestrians and cyclists can suck on it as far as those who run Halifax are concerned. Shut up and eat one of our world class donairs. Socialable!
Agreed, I think….
The top of Main does have two sidewalks though. Old Fairview only gets one, new Fairview gets both.
This is why I hate winter the most. Most times you are forced to walk on the street for a day or 2 sometimes longer depending on the area.
.. and by the way drivers (of which I am one), many of us seem to be unaware of the fact that the orange light (the one between the red and green) is NOT a signal to speed up to “make the light”. It means stop if you can do so safely…i.e. don’t jam on your breaks but stop if you can. If you are far enough away from the light that you have to speed up to make it then you had enough time to stop in the first place – a far safer option.
http://novascotia.ca/sns/rmv/handbook/dh-c…
“• A yellow or amber signal light means that you must stop before entering the intersection, if you can stop safely. “
Legolas! Ah what a sight for sore eyes. And he’s very quick with his bow and arrow. Yum.