07-20-2021, 08:15 AM
(07-19-2021, 07:33 PM)ac3r Wrote: I have a masters degree in architecture/planning and this is seriously one of the weirdest things I've ever seen and it's obviously problematic.We have architects, planners, and engineers to thank for the horrendously pedestrian-unfriendly cities we currently find ourselves in, and this exact intersection. Within that context, this is an incredibly unpersuasive appeal to authority.
---
I think with this particular intersection, it's useful to compare it to Caroline & Erb as both have unprotected slip lanes.
King -> Victoria:
- light use with LRT
- slow
- pedestrian island very small and unclear due to unfortunate similarities between crosswalk marks and the textured indicators at the edge of the island, it's not readily apparent whether pedestrians should wait on the "island"
- risk is relatively low: professional operators of LRT vehicles, and slow speed in a position where pedestrians are expected; pedestrians on the other hand might be less attentive to the presence of the LRT
Caroline -> Erb:
- cars only
- heavy use by cars
- fast, commonly disregard the pedestrian crossing
- pedestrian island large and clear
- risk is high: inattentive drivers, little requirement to stop due to nature of intersection, except pedestrians; pedestrians on the other hand are more likely to be highly attentive due to risk
It would seem to me, that both intersections would warrant improvements and that Caroline to Erb is a much higher priority due to the risk involved. At the same time, it's hard to understand why they couldn't just move the beg buttons to other side of the tracks and delay the walk signal until the LRT has passed. As low as the risk is, if you roll the dice enough times, eventually you roll snake eyes.