I noticed the relatively new pedestrian lights on Monkland.

I have a small child so I support the initiative to make the streets safer and am looking forward to using the updated park at Girourd Park as well. However, I think that something was overlooked when choosing the timing for the lights at my corner (Wilson and Monkland). Wilson is a one way street going south. There is a point when the lights for cars on Monkland is green to cross Wilson however the crosswalk on the north side to cross Wilson is still a “don’t walk” . Since it is a one way street cars cannot turn up the street (see diagram) so we have bewildered pedestrians wondering why they cannot cross and they end up crossing anyway. I have seen seniors, young families and basically all kinds of people crossing on the green light with an orange hand .

One time there was a police officer at the corner and I felt embarrassed waiting for the walk sign in order to avoid a ticket since the light was green and there was no danger of cars crossing. I would like to teach my 2 year old daughter how to obey the street lights but in this situation they are ignored because they are not properly planned. I do not think that enforcement is the answer here. It does not work on a one way street to have a don’t walk when the light is green. It might make sense on the other side of the street where cars from Monkland can indeed make a turn, but normally pedestrians have right of way in that situation . We can have a straight arrow for cars as an alternative; but as it is it is not working. I invite you to go stand on the corner and you will see and if you let me know I will come bring you a coffee. I am sure that after a few minutes of standing there you will see that the situation needs to be changed.

Jason Campbell

Wilson, NDG