Walking in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

University/King is the most problematic pedestrian intersection I regularly traverse.  It is the only case where I routinely have drivers intentionally force their way past pedestrians who have the right of way.  Not every driver, not every light, but probably once a week, I experience an occurrence where the light turns green, and the right turning driver turns through the crowd of people waiting to walk, even though that crowd is plenty apparent waiting for the light.  WRPS could make a killing here if they cared to ticket for it (piddly little ticket though it is).

Based on my observations (as a driver mostly), I'm SHOCKED it's only once a week.  I feel like I see it almost every time I'm there.

I'm being pretty generous and only counting the times that I personal experience being nearly run down.

Regardless, I think this would make the intersection well suited to both an IPS and a scramble.  Regional staff seem willing to consider an IPS, but outright refuse to consider a scramble. For the life of me, I don't know why, that intersection apparently has some performance issues, largely because cars can't easily turn right due to pedestrian volumes, and as a result, block the intersection because there is no right turn lane, a scramble would fix this, and yet, no willingness to consider.

Forgive my ignorance, what's an IPS?

I didn't know scrambles had been suggested before, sad they don't consider them.

Wow, I totally said the wrong thing here. LPI is what I meant, which is a 'leading pedestrian interval' basically, the walk sign comes on before the light turns green, meaning drivers in theory shouldn't be able to force peds to wait. Of course, since we have right on red, I'll be curious to see how well this actually works.

IPS is something like, intersection pedestrian signal, which is when you have a light at an intersection exclusively for a pedestrian crossing. The intersection of Seagram and Albert has one:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4719796,-...312!8i6656

As for scrambles, they came up at an ATAC meeting, and staff said that they've been asked about them several times but don't feel they're something they want to try.

Frankly, I cannot understand some Regional staff, they seem extremely set in their ways, and willing to justify any decision, no matter how bizarre.

I know staffers dont change with an election, but this is the kind of transformational change that needs to happen.  We need leaders willing to take a shot and do something new.

Indeed, but a strong regional council will set the direction staff takes, and at a base level *can* replace staff if they aren't doing their jobs. At least that's my understanding.