Walking in Waterloo Region

[Pheidippides]

With a remote button at Peppler. Lights at the trail would also stop almost all traffic coming to Peppler — the only exception would be people coming out of driveways since there are no intersections. Another creative idea that, if past experience is any guide, will totally blow the mind of planners such that they can’t even understand it, much less rationally evaluate its feasibility.

I should also comment that on one-way streets there is no reason based on traffic flow to restrict the number of pedestrian (or other) crossings — just synchronize them so if they’re all activated traffic on the street still gets a green wave. In fact traffic lights could also be used to enforce any speed desired.

This was such a fantastically simple and imaginative idea that I submitted to the Region via their general inbox (Transportation (at) regionofwaterloo.ca). They wrote back to say:

"The Region of Waterloo is currently reviewing this crossing in conjunction with the City of Waterloo. Transportation is reviewing the relocation of the pedestrian signals at Peppler Street to the Laurel trail crossing. A public consultation will be taking place (with letters mailed to surrounding residents) regarding this issue. This is a joint venture with the City of Waterloo and will be proposed based on available funds in the 2017 budget."