Panorama

Today in Toronto the city introduced its first 4 way, simultaneous, pedestrian intersection crossing.

Or as Toronto likes to call it the “Barnes Dance” intersection.

Geoff Meggs, who is campaigning to be a city council candidate for Vision Vancouver, wants to know if there are any busy intersections in Vancouver that would be good places for 28 second, Pedestrian Priority crossings in all directions.

Its a cool idea that many cities throughout the world have used. In fact I could have sworn there was a similar intersection in Montreal when I was last there a couple of years ago.

However, if Vancouver really wants to be Pedestrian Friendly like everybody likes to talk about and if Vancouver really wants to put pedestrians first like its 2002 report A Walking City - Sidewalk Safety, Access and Ambience for All Pedestrians advocates for,

then Vancouver needs to close every curb lane that borders a construction site when that construction site closes the sidewalk to pedestrians. When the city does curb or sidewalk work, Vancouver again needs to close the curb lane so pedestrians can move freely and quickly.

and

When Vancouver designs a park we need to ensure that there is a pedestrian thoroughfare from corner to corner - unlike the near disaster the Parks Board almost created when they first tried to redesign Nelson Park and eliminated the path that people used everyday.

and

Critical Mass Cyclists that run amuk throughout the city on the last Friday of every month, need to yield to pedestrians at stop signs and red lights.

All these changes

will really make Vancouver a Pedestrian Priority city!