Thursday TTT pedestrian safety

[mfarnham]

Hey folks,

The Manager of UVic Parking and Transportation wrote me today to let me know that he had received a complaint about some club members who rode in the TTT this morning. Evidently a pedestrian felt that he was “almost mowed down” by us. Riders did not slow down or yield the right of way while he was waiting at a crosswalk.

I have been in touch with members who were on the ride and acknowledged seeing a pedestrian and failing to stop for him. This is not only disrespectful but could also be very dangerous had he not stopped for us.

It sounds like the incident occurred at the crosswalk by McGill Road. This is in the middle of the downhill before the “steep” uphill. There is a sign on the left-hand side for the David Turpin building. McGill Road appears at about 10:30 on this map:

https://www.uvic.ca/home/about/campus-i ... ut-map.pdf

The sightlines at this particular crosswalk are bad for both pedestrians coming from the left and people in the left-hand lane of the Ring Road. We should be extra careful as we approach this spot and, if possible, stay a few feet away from the left curb to improve the sightline.

It's also important that *everyone* in the group is *always* looking down the road for potential hazards, including pedestrians approaching crosswalks. Immediately call out any hazard you see. It’s not just the responsibility of the person in front to spot risks. This applies to all group riding--staring at the wheel in front of you does not give you sufficient awareness of your surroundings to keep you and the group safe.

I have expressed my regrets to the UVic Transportation manager and assured him that I would communicate with you all about this. He said that Saanich Police have been made aware of the incident, which might lead to increased patrols. If you ride the Thursday TTT, please remind people at start of each ride to watch for pedestrians and make sure that safety is always the priority.

Martin

[JohnT]

It would be foolish to disagree with anything Martin wrote, ...but......that's the most dangerous crosswalk on campus. I have never crossed there (15 years) without some concern about being hit. Buses never slow down and basically dare anyone to step out. Certainly, from the perspective of the pedestrian, it wasn't good, but to report this to the police! Crazy.

JT

[mfarnham]

I think it came up in discussions with Saanich Police about general traffic issues on campus--in a conversation that, unfortunately, happened to occur shortly after this incident. To my knowledge no one picked up the phone and called the Saanich Police about this. But the police did end up hearing about it, which could lead them to put it on the "to be checked out" list.

I want to make clear that I view the UVic Transportation Manager as a "concerned ally" on campus. He's been very open, helpful and constructive in communications I and others have had with him. He, like the rest of us, just wants to see things kept safe.

Martin

[L2R]

I believe I was in the group that was involved in this incident. From my visual perspective it wasn't evident to me that the pedestrian planned to actually cross at the cross walk due to the direction from which he was approaching the cross walk. He didn't step out and by the time he was actually at the crosswalk, we had all passed by. This is a good reminder that vigilance is particularly important at this crosswalk.
Shelagh

[Gerry L]

Too often a pedestrian (usually wearing a hoodie and headphones) will be walking parallel to the street and turn abruptly without looking to cross. Perhaps it is time to find room for a bell on our handlebars. Would also be useful on the Goose or Lochside trails.

You can actually find an aero bike bell on the web to avoid excessive wind drag.

http://road.cc/content/review/30901-mks-aero-bell


Gerry

[Lister Farrar]

Is there any merit in having someone marshal the crosswalk, to alert either party who may not be paying attention fully?

[JohnT]

I think a marshal is 'overkill', there are too many cross-walks, but if UVic are willing (unlikely but possible), we could place pylons at each cross-walk with small 'bike-race' notices. This is, after all, only 1 hour a week and UVic likes to think of itself as a community resource. Such a recognition might also help us with 'maintenance man van'.

JT

[Gerry L]

Here are two simple suggestions.
1.Avoid dropping off the lead if a pedestrian may cross ahead in a crosswalk. Also alert riders behind there is a walker. The curve of the road and riders ahead can hide walkers especially to the right.
2. Alert any passing groups a pedestrian is ahead. They have a blind spot to the Left. Something like “walker ahead”.

Gerry