Waterloo Region Connected

(11-08-2015, 04:41 PM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]at least now there's a very obvious visual cue that you need to stop behind the pedestrian crosswalk when the light is red.

And yet if you look at zebra crossings that have been around a while you can tell by the eroded paint just where traffic actually stops, despite the visual cue 

What we really need is something like this that pops up when the light turns red:

Haha, yes - I'd be all for that!

As a motorist, nothing irks me more than when the moron beside me keeps inching forward. What does that accomplish? Or when they stop waaaaay beyond the Stop Bar. It's there for a reason. Why so hard concept?

When I'm a pedestrian, and I encounter a car pulled way too far forward, I always make sure to make it very obvious that I'm walking out and around the front of their car so they get the hint.

(11-08-2015, 06:14 PM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]As a motorist, nothing irks me more than when the moron beside me keeps inching forward.  What does that accomplish?  Or when they stop waaaaay beyond the Stop Bar.  It's there for a reason.  Why so hard concept?

I've never understood why people do that when they're in a lane intended for left turns.
1. They can't go anywhere until the light changes and by creeping forward they just slow down car coming from their right who want to make a left.
2. They block the vision of cars in their direction who want to make a right turn on red.
3. They block the path of pedestrians who are legally crossing on a green.

Quote:When I'm a pedestrian, and I encounter a car pulled way too far forward, I always make sure to make it very obvious that I'm walking out and around the front of their car so they get the hint.

Sadly they don't get the hint. And you potentially end up in the roadway where traffic is flowing on a green. That's dangerous.

P.S. Those traffic spikes would also solve another pressing problem: Replace red-light cameras <evil grin>

There should also then be mini-versions at right angles to these that would catch cyclists blowing through red lights as well.

Does anyone know what all the work they've been doing on the Wellington bridge over 85 the past few months has involved?Driving past it on my way home every day, nothing's really changed at all. They've just started repaving this week, so I'm not sure what the months of lead-up involved.

(11-12-2015, 10:19 AM)GtwoK Wrote: [ -> ]Does anyone know what all the work they've been doing on the Wellington bridge over 85 the past few months has involved?Driving past it on my way home every day, nothing's really changed at all. They've just started repaving this week, so I'm not sure what the months of lead-up involved.

It seemed to have been a rehab project, I know that the expansion joints were replaced for one, and some of the retaining wall/abutments below. Not sure what else. They did the north span first, then the south span. This alternation could have caused it to seem like a long project as well... not sure.

I would think it's preparatory work for the upcoming new highway 7.

JCnb Wrote:

GtwoK Wrote:Does anyone know what all the work they've been doing on the Wellington bridge over 85 the past few months has involved?Driving past it on my way home every day, nothing's really changed at all. They've just started repaving this week, so I'm not sure what the months of lead-up involved.

It seemed to have been a rehab project, I know that the expansion joints were replaced for one, and some of the retaining wall/abutments below. Not sure what else. They did the north span first, then the south span. This alternation could have caused it to seem like a long project as well... not sure.

That's exactly what it was. I went to the Public Information Centre for the Environmental Assessment where they discussed these rehabilitation measures.

I expressed concern then because the bridge was rehabilitated only about 12 years ago as well where the parapet walls were replaced and deck was rehabilitated...why it needed another rehabilitation 12 years later is beyond me.

Asphalt milling and paving along Wellington N are to start this week - weather permitting.

I have no problems with criticism in principle but sometimes Outhit's and the rest of the Record's "editorial" hyperbole is just way over the top: Roundabouts are safe if you’re happy with lots of fender-benders. Yet from reading this drivel I conclude that the headline should have read, "Intersections are safer than roundabouts if you don't mind the occasional injury or fatality."

You're right, that was pretty lousy. I laughed when I read the line "There is a safety plus to not getting hurt." "Not getting hurt" is just about the definition of being safe. We don't usually measure safety in any other terms besides risk to human beings of injury or death.

I've got my own problems with roundabouts, and would be interested in seeing data about the safety of more vulnerable road users at the roundabouts in the Region. Outhit is wrong when he says that it was hoped that they would reduce overall collisions. Most people with any education about them understand that they do not reduce the instances of collisions, but reduce the impacts of them- which is pretty good, and obviously safer.

(11-28-2015, 09:50 AM)MidTowner Wrote: [ -> ]I've got my own problems with roundabouts, and would be interested in seeing data about the safety of more vulnerable road users at the roundabouts in the Region. 

In Europe major roundabouts in populated areas include special underpasses or bridges for pedestrians and cyclists. Provision for something similar should be made here when designing and costing roundabouts here. (In particular roundabouts located near schools!)

Quote:Outhit is wrong when he says that it was hoped that they would reduce overall collisions. Most people with any education about them understand that they do not reduce the instances of collisions, but reduce the impacts of them- which is pretty good, and obviously safer.

We need better education. This needs to be a provincial initiative, not just left to those regions who decide to build roundabouts. Negotiating roundabouts needs to be included in the training of all new drivers and part of the driving test in areas where roundabouts exist.  There should also be specific language in the Highway Traffic Act about roundabouts and how to safely negotiate them.  (there is already in the Driver's Handbook, but that's hardly legally binding.) There was a bill, sponsored by local MPP Mike Harris (Bill 46, Safe Roundabouts Act, 2013) but it went nowhere. It's my understanding that the police are reluctant to stop bad drivers at roundabouts or to have safety blitzes at roundabouts because they can't cite a specific roundabout violation in the HTA. 

Outhit could have mentioned this. But then the article wouldn't be his usual prejudiced and hyperbolized condemnation of roundabouts.

I have never had any problem with the local roundabouts, although I do find them smaller than I would like. The other week, however, I did get a reminder of how vigilant you need to be on entering the circle. I was in the inside lane of Homer Watson, and came to the roundabout at Block Line Rd. There was van stopped in the outer lane and as I edged forward, looking left for my opening, I could see only at the last minute that there was a pedestrian crossing (in the crosswalk) in front of the stopped van. It was a strong reminder to me to remember to look to the right, as well as to the traffic in the circle to the left, before proceeding.

(11-28-2015, 10:30 AM)ookpik Wrote: [ -> ]In Europe major roundabouts in populated areas include special underpasses or bridges for pedestrians and cyclists. Provision for something similar should be made here when designing and costing roundabouts here. (In particular roundabouts located near schools!)

Too right. The Europeans know that roundabouts are not very friendly for people on foot or bike, without these features. That's in the best case, in places were drivers are accustomed to roundabouts and know how to navigate them. We're in even greater need for these types of features here.

A bit out of the region's price range but this shows what's possible when planners cater to traffic other than just cars and trucks: Hovenring Eindhoven.