Photo by Whitehorse Star
HONOURING A VICTIM – Kerry Nolan (left) and Joanne Henry place flowers and a photo of Merle Gordichuck, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while he crossed Second Avenue at Elliott Street in November 2019. Inset Taylor Eshpeter
Changing the look of Second Avenue is an option to increase overall safety for pedestrians, motorists, for everybody, city council heard Thursday.
Changing the look of Second Avenue is an option to increase overall safety for pedestrians, motorists, for everybody, city council heard Thursday.
Going from four lanes to three, with one lane dedicated as a turning lane just like Fourth Avenue, is one of the reconfigurations being looked at, city engineer Taylor Eshpeter explained during the lunch-hour meeting with council.
Reducing the speed limit to 40 kilometres an hour from 50 is also an option, Eshpeter said, as is strengthening enforcement of speed limits.
“Our most vulnerable users on Second Avenue are pedestrians, and we should be focusing on protecting them,” he said.
Eshpeter emphasized the Second Avenue Corridor Study began in October 2018, long before the Nov. 21, 2019 death of a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle while he was crossing Second at the Elliott Street crosswalk.
The study will form the basis for discussion as the city begins delving into the more comprehensive city-wide Transportation Master Plan, Eshpeter explained.
He said work on the master plan is beginning this year and will continue into next year, when the bulk of the public consultation will occur.
It’s also necessary to keep in mind the city’s Bicycle Network Plan completed in 2018, Eshpeter said.
The corridor study showed there are between 18,000 and 20,000 vehicles that use Second Avenue every day, compared to 10,000 to 13,000 that use Fourth Avenue.
From 2012 to 2017, there were seven incidents of pedestrians being struck and three incidents of collisions with cyclists.
Three quarters of the pedestrian incidents occurred at intersections, and most occurred in the dark or dusk lighting, the study points out.
It suggests better lighting and improved signage are tools that could be considered to improve safety conditions.
It was noted at speeds of 50 km/h – the existing speed limit for Second Avenue – 50 per cent of pedestrians will die if they’re struck.
Death and injuries fall dramatically with a reduction in speed, it was noted.
But as some members of council noted, there are drivers who don’t pay much attention to the speed limit on Second Avenue, and are often travelling much faster.
What matters is enforcement, it was suggested.
Coun. Dan Boyd noted the RCMP have indicated if the city wants increased enforcement on Second, they will do it.
Mayor Dan Curtis suggested the time is now to provide enforcement capabilities to city bylaw officers.
The Yukon government’s review of the Motor Vehicles Act is underway, and it’s an opportunity to build enforcement authority for bylaw officers into the legislation, he said.
Curtis explained afterwards it doesn’t have to be full-on enforcement capabilities right off the bat, with radars and speed traps run by bylaw officers.
He said he’d be happy to start with cameras at intersections capable of tagging speeding vehicles, something the bylaw department could monitor and become familiar with first.
The mayor noted he’ll be attending a joint function with Yukon government officials next week to unveil a new speed awareness campaign.
Curtis did express some concern that the corridor study examines and addresses existing traffic issues on Second Avenue without taking growth into consideration.
The city, he told the meeting, is growing by 750 residents a year.
Coun. Steve Roddick said it’s important not to forget transit services as a tool to address traffic flow on Second Avenue.
Coun. Laura Cabott said the city does not have a good record when it comes to ensuring pedestrian safety.
While the corridor study was comprehensive and informative and will the lay the ground work for the longer-term discussion, something more immediate should be done, she said.
Reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 can make a huge difference, without a lot of cost involved, Cabott said.
Pedestrians struck at 40 km/h have a 70 per cent survival rate, she said.
When considering costs, Cabott insisted, the city has to look at the cost implementing a new speed limit versus the cost of a life.
The city engineer said they’ve looked at the reduction of the speed limit to 40 km/h and the capital cost is not substantial, and it would not be a complicated exercise.
But they’re also feeling that if the city is going to reduce the speed limit on Second Avenue to 40, it should lower the speed limit to 40 throughout the downtown area to make it uniform, he said.
Eshpeter said a reduction in speed would help to keep pedestrians safe.
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Comments (52)
Up 1 Down 0
Miles Epanhauser on Mar 2, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Maybe 2nd and forth should be 60km per hour and pedestrians can only cross every 5 blocks at lights. This would make it safe.
Main street between 4th and Front street should be closed to vehicles and have tables and trees and patios and food vendors and maybe music and clowns.
Up 2 Down 2
My Opinion on Feb 29, 2020 at 2:48 am
@just
Fourth and Second were not one way. For a short period fourth was four lanes but there were some pinch points by Ogilvie and the bend by Alexander. So they switched to three with the Center turn lane from Main St north.
It should be changed to Second one way north and fourth one way south. End of problem. Pedestrians will only have to look one way. Haha.
Up 9 Down 15
BnR on Feb 27, 2020 at 3:46 pm
It’s outrageous that the city would contemplate anything that might impact my rights as a tax paying motorist to do WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT! They should be INCREASING the speed limit if anything. And what’s with the ludicrous laws against distracted driving? I pay TAXES! If I choose to text or talk while driving that’s MY RIGHT! Pedestrians and cyclists are a bunch of whiny millennials who ain’t from here anyhow. This ain’t Toronto, let’s not ruin Whitehorse for a bunch of millennials.
Amiright or what?
Up 1 Down 2
justsayin' on Feb 26, 2020 at 7:10 pm
@Anie
Lasted one weekend. Then we got the turning lanes shortly thereafter on 4th
Up 30 Down 2
Charlie's Aunt on Feb 26, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Well the flashing lights by Yukon In on 4th, Wal-Mart & Justice on 2nd have helped but do we need more? Elliott/2nd is a big accident area for pedestrians. Unless disabled there is no need to cross there. It is only a short block to walk to lights on Main and traffic are just picking up speed from the lights so quit this nonsense of pedestrians having right of way at all intersections & make that 'no crossing.'
Up 23 Down 23
Drivers more the issue on Feb 26, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Max Mack Really??? The people recklessly operating the vehicles that do more damage to a pedestrian than the other way around are the one's with the greater responsibility. I can drive from one side of town to the other and see:
1. Drivers driving in the wrong lane
2. Drivers going WELL above the speed limit
3. Drivers turning in front of pedestrians crossing with a walk sign
4. Drivers changing lanes in intersections WHILE people are crossing the road
5. Drivers speeding past a stopped lane of traffic...who are stopped FOR A REASON (pedestrian crossing road)
6. Drivers on cell phones paying zero attention
7. Drivers cutting corners
8. Drivers not stopping at stop signs
9. Drivers speeding through yellow lights
10. Drivers showing NO indication of what they are doing (lack of turn signal use)
11. Drivers driving with no headlights in snowy, foggy, low light conditions
12. Drivers not showing full awareness of people who are waiting and or approaching the road to cross and preparing themselves to stop if necessary.
Shall I go on????
Up 17 Down 2
Anie on Feb 26, 2020 at 2:46 pm
To Justsayin: I've lived here almost 50 years and don't recall second and fourth ever being one way streets. Not saying they weren't, maybe it was such a failed experiment that we forgot?
Up 4 Down 19
David on Feb 26, 2020 at 2:27 pm
@Jim - Yes there are several bike lanes in Whitehorse but in reality that is not very much, a lot more can be done to make cycling in town safe. There are many areas in town that have no bike lane or shoulders to bike on, are cyclists supposed to just not go to these areas? The old saying "build it and they will come" is true in this situation. We can either build more roads and encourage more personal vehicles or build better transit and more bike friendly paths and more people will bike and take public transit instead of drive. I'm not sure why you think you can't bike in the winter, all bike brands have been making bikes specifically for the winter months for a long time now.
Yes you are correct that most cities do move forward on traffic flow solutions as the city grows, but this doesn't necessarily mean making more roadways to allow more vehicle traffic. Traffic can refer to pedestrian traffic and cycling traffic as well. The Yukon is typically one the last places in the world to adopt any type of change and we often act like we're the first place to encounter these problems when in fact we are quite literally the last! Nearly every other place in the world has already been faced with these issues so why not learn from their choices? Building larger and more roadways when vehicle traffic starts to become an issue is actually a very old-school and narrow minded train of thought and most of the world now focuses on increasing pedestrian and cycling traffic and public transit instead (which in turn reduces vehicle traffic).
Canada and USA have lagged behind in adopting this model but there are many cities in Canada and USA now shifting to this more progressive planning model. Before you ask, yes some of these example cities are located in remote northern locations, just like us. There are lots of towns in Scandinavia that are just as remote and cold as we are where it is the norm to commute by bike or walking or public transit year-round.
Your comment about there being a bus stop every block (not quite true) is not very relevant. Just because there are many bus stops doesn't mean the transit system is efficient. You can have lots of stops but still take you 45min to get to your destination 3km away.
Up 12 Down 3
justsayin' on Feb 26, 2020 at 11:46 am
Yep, let's make it one avenue north and one avenue south. Who cares about the business this will effect. This was tried and it did not work. How will this help with EMR when they need to get somewhere?
How about we keep 2 and 4th the way they are and make 6th bikers row with directional traffic. Oh that won't work because people live there.
Root cause- people not paying attention and lack of enforcement. As well, more crosswalks that change lights. It will allow gaps in traffic and if people find it too slow, the side avenues will take some of the traffic. I use the side streets more than the main drags, less targets.
Up 10 Down 5
Brent on Feb 25, 2020 at 11:39 pm
Yep, a plywood cut-out police car mounted right on the bend at Waterfront Place will do it. All the construction workers would salute as they drove by. Problem solved. Why didn't anyone think of this before. The police could even hide sometimes with the radar gun behind the sign and surprise unsuspecting drivers. I don't know about anyone else but I'm concentrating on what lane I'm driving in. Suffice to say this is not Teslin.
Up 9 Down 2
Always Questions on Feb 25, 2020 at 9:43 pm
100% Groucho, a shorter term physically visible co-ordinated Bylaw, RCMP & whoever else wants to get in on an enforcement campaign while we wait for receipt and installation of those overhead & side flashing pedestrian crossing lights! For myself, those are the best things going since crossing the street turned into a possible threat to your life (driver &/or pedestrian, both?) Geesh!
What is the hold-up here? Don't react, ACT! 1-3 days/few hrs each, take it out of the Christmas budget? Talk to each other and get it done!
Up 21 Down 5
Max Mack on Feb 25, 2020 at 5:20 pm
The focus on drivers is entirely misguided. Second Avenue is a major corridor, and pedestrians, politicians and bureaucrats need to respect that. Things I've seen pedestrians and cyclists do on Second Avenue:
1. crossing the intersection without breaking stride or stopping/looking before stepping onto the intersection
2. standing on the corner as though to cross but then not crossing
3. standing on the corner as though to cross in one direction but then suddenly changing their mind and crossing in the other direction
4. crossing while texting or using other handheld devices
5. crossing with no regard to oncoming traffic or right-of-way rules
6. failing to push the "crossing" button before crossing
7. pushing the "crossing" button and then not crossing
8. crossing before crossing lights are illuminated
9. crossing after crossing lights have gone out
10. crossing without pointing as required by the Highways Act
11. suddenly appearing from behind parked cars or other obstructions
12. running or cycling across the intersection
13. crossing between intersections
14. crossing when the walk signal is not illuminated
Shall I continue?
Up 25 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Feb 25, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Simplicity gets my vote. Something as simple as the plywood RCMP cruiser in Teslin. It works to slow drivers down.
A mountie on foot in Whitehorse with all the hi-viz safety gear and a speed gun in his/her hands walking the main routes with a chase car nearby would do wonders to keep speeders under the limit. Once speeders are trained to be alert for hi-viz safety gear on the side walks, all the local construction workers would also contribute to maintaining a vigilant presence.
Lord knows how many drivers using their cell phones would be caught too.
Up 33 Down 4
Max Mack on Feb 25, 2020 at 11:10 am
Allowing bylaw the power to enforce non-parking violations would be a mistake of monumental proportions. Curtis needs to come down off his high horse and graze with the little people for awhile. The city would simply use enforcement as a clumsy revenue generation tool. In addition, bylaw officers would then have to have all the same training and tools as RCMP officers. Imagine how enormously expensive this would be. Imagine people with guns handing out parking tickets.
For the love of god, please do NOT give Curtis' and CoW power to enforce anything other than parking violations!
Second Avenue is a major corridor through the downtown core. Slowing traffic is NOT the answer. A turning lane is NOT the answer.
Bureaucrats and politicians are continuing to push ever-greater hardships for motor vehicle users. Last time I looked, Whitehorse was a cold, northern, geographically sparse, but very active city where vehicle use is practically demanded unless you have no life. Get real, CoW.
Up 16 Down 18
ANY NAME on Feb 25, 2020 at 10:12 am
Keep it simple. How about lower the speed to 40 as suggested. But make 2nd ave one way going north, and 4th ave one way going south? Traffic would flow way better. Could have safe bike lanes on each (lots of room). Could have pedestrian controlled lights at the higher use cross streets. Would even have enough room to get the troublesome bus stops/pull outs out of the traffic! Yes, Whse peeps will have to learn how to turn on and off of a one way street, a difficult task- but not impossible. They ‘almost’ have the circles down (signal out ONLY!) Agree about the cell phones also. I drive for a living downtown, always see ppl crossing the road with their face in their phones. Death wish? Lots of great ideas on these posts, I have little faith the COW will even read them.
Up 5 Down 30
Miles Epanhauser on Feb 24, 2020 at 11:14 pm
A lower speed limit would help for sure and signs that tell drivers how fast they are going would ground this approach.
Maybe a cell phone app that would tell pedestrians how busy a few streets are would help. The city should study this for sure.
Pedestrians should be reminded that it's safer to cross in groups and to point your intention to cross.
One way streets for fourth and second are worth considering
Up 16 Down 13
Rdale commuter on Feb 24, 2020 at 8:55 pm
1. Limit where and when drivers can make left turns on Second Ave. This is a major hold up, all times of the day, other than in the evening.
2. Light up pedestrian crossings.
3. Speed cameras. For all you commentators blaming cellphone-distracted pedestrians, you are conveniently excusing the aggressive wannabe Nascar drivers that roar down Second Ave.
4. Free public transit. Fewer drivers= less vehicles= less accidents= less road repair costs= less emissions, etc.
5. Everyone (drivers/pedestrians) needs to pay better attention for safety sake. The people sharing the roads are your neighbours, your colleagues, your relatives...Be a decent human, be a role model.
Up 14 Down 1
Jim on Feb 24, 2020 at 6:53 pm
@David, I’m not sure where we are lacking infrastructure now that hinders, walking, cycling, transit. As I stated, we have 3 cycling options basically from one end of town to the other. All downtown streets have a sidewalk. Bus stops almost every block. But not one of these is overcrowded. Why do we need more, especially when we are snow covered for more than 6 months of the year. How exactly will causing more traffic congestion make for less vehicles?
Your idea is to make people mad so that they don’t drive? That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Most cities move forward on traffic flow solutions as the city grows. More lanes, turn arrows, pedestrian crossing lights, etc. The proposed lane reduction is the exact opposite. I think this is the exact reason why declaring a climate emergency was the wrong move. It gives validity to narrow minded solutions such as this.
I don’t have to travel to Riverdale, thankfully. I am just appalled at the lack of intelligence by our traffic study group that took over a year. As again they show that they don’t represent the majority (18 to 20 thousand users per day), but special interest groups move to the front. This has nothing to do with pedestrian safety. As it’s been explained, pedestrian crossing lights such as the ones on main would solve the problem without affecting traffic.
Up 16 Down 0
Nicky on Feb 24, 2020 at 6:29 pm
@ Mick Go look a 4th & Main to see how left turn arrows work without a dedicated turn lane. The same would work at 2nd & Main.
Until the CoW can get it's traffic act together then no left turn at 2nd & Main.
Up 37 Down 1
JC on Feb 24, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Guncache: Your not wrong about the use of Iphones while walking down the streets and crossing over. People have to keep them in their pockets while walking and focus on traffic. Thanks for bringing that up.
Up 23 Down 4
Mick on Feb 24, 2020 at 2:23 pm
@North_of_60
2nd ave isn't physically wide enough to accommodate a middle turn lane while still having 2 north and southbound lanes.
Up 21 Down 4
Mick on Feb 24, 2020 at 2:21 pm
This might be the most stupid idea I've heard in a long time.
Up 12 Down 7
The Salmon of No-Doubt! on Feb 24, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Dear YukonGirl - I agree. However, government is about creating big problems that it can then displace in a process of moral diffusion. Thus, it creates the Indian Act and the systemic oppression it then turns around and blames the electorate for. Most of us sit back and put our head in our hands and go WTF?!?!
Like Salmon we return to the spawning grounds to make our contributions to the political life-cycle. Much like the Salmon who eventually die, rotting... So too do our collective memories... Unlike the Salmon however most of us will return again and again to contribute to the political life-cycle...
Many of us will live the definition of insanity... Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results... The Salmon, supposedly a less intelligent creature however has the good fortune of never knowing its mistakes... What did I contribute to society said no Salmon ever!
Maybe we do not need to change Second Avenue but rather change the way in which we allow those we elect to govern. How did it come to be that the people who are to serve our interests have flipped it around so that we are serving theirs - WTF?!?!
Up 30 Down 3
Personal Accountability on Feb 24, 2020 at 12:33 pm
Don't let them think too long--they'll probably start thinking speed bumps are a good idea.
And I agree with SH. Pedestrians need to take personal accountability for their lives. I was always taught to look both ways and to make sure that a car is completely stopped. Just because a driver sees you, or so you think, it doesn't mean that they will stop. Plus, in the winter, sometimes there are attempts to stop but the vehicle slides.
I would like to know the statistics of accidents, both driver and pedestrian error, in regards to cell phones.
Up 5 Down 18
David Greer on Feb 24, 2020 at 12:17 pm
@Jim - Yes I do think that investing in infrastructure to encourage people to commute by walking or biking or public transit versus personal vehicle is a good idea. Being someone that commutes by personal vehicle every day year round I agree that at first this would be an inconvenience but in the long term I think it would pay off in so many ways. It would result in less vehicles on the road, which would mean less traffic and less pollution. Having less traffic on the roads inherently makes for safer roads both for vehicles and pedestrians, which is why this discussion is coming up in the first place. It would also promote a more active and connected community. Planning for the long term I think this is our best option.
Up 43 Down 3
YukonGirl on Feb 24, 2020 at 10:54 am
Please do not put in 3 lanes with the middle turn lane. The flow of traffic on 4th has gotten so bad because many people really don't know how to use the middle lane properly, not to mention people pulling in too soon and nearly colliding is a common occurrence.
Why not build controlled lights for pedestrians at intersections. This is a simple solution and probably a lot more cost effective than some of the other suggested changes. Also, maybe if someone actually enforced the existing driving laws we would have fewer issues (not to mention the number of people driving around either intoxicated or without a license all together).
2nd Avenue is the only 4 lane remaining in the city core and is needed to move traffic. If you keep increasing the population and slow down traffic flow you're going to have huge problems.
Up 30 Down 3
YukonMax on Feb 24, 2020 at 7:26 am
As a community member coming to town at least 16 time a year, I have learned to avoid 4th because of the commotions around the new shelter. Now I am trying to figure out how I will avoid 2nd as well as it seems whatever is happening on the riverside is dragging it's feet along all the way to 4th.
Up 13 Down 8
Matthew on Feb 24, 2020 at 6:17 am
So much talk Whitehorse... but you all do nothing.. go see city hall and register as a delegate! I Go every time! Make your voices heard ..
Up 36 Down 1
SH on Feb 23, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Josey Wales,
You are greatly over-thinking my comment.
If you're going to step onto the road, don't assume somebody will stop for you. This is why we teach kids, "look both ways".
Yes, drivers need to be responsible and cautious. Yes, pedestrians also need to be responsible and cautious.
Up 53 Down 9
Bingo on Feb 23, 2020 at 8:46 am
So the speed limit on residential streets is 50 kph and you want to reduce second avenue to 40 kph....out to lunch!
Up 22 Down 12
Josey Wales on Feb 23, 2020 at 7:34 am
SH...are you suggesting that old concept of “personal responsibility” ?
Are you new to what is left of Canada?
There are many groupies of communism and cult like group think in these comment threads that resent and get hostile with the concept suggested.
We have many generations of engineering in the most socialist way...to strip individual thought and yes responsibility removing “thee” individual from the equation.
Our handlers like it that way, and loathe individuality and independent thinking.
Whilst I agree with this concept of what you suggest, there are many many professional victims, perpetually offended, and very entitled social engineers with their head in the trough...that resent your concept.
...as it is diametrically opposed to theirs.
Cannot wait for the civic wizards in “striving for perfection”, using all their wizardry and gobsmacks of intellect...to riddle their way through this one.
I can see it now...a traffic circle every second block
...a lit crosswalk at the others.
...four more traffic lights too.
...a suggested vehicle ban.
Cameras everywhere...except inside the palace we know as city hall.
SH please carry on in sharing your perspectives on issues via continued participation...we cannot have only the socialists bloviating their cult of bad ideas being represented in the court of public opinions.
Up 34 Down 8
O. U. Diddant on Feb 22, 2020 at 8:18 pm
The solution is simple. No pedestrians should be allowed to cross the street unless they are escorted by a CoW safety officer wearing high vis gear. This may make it impossible to cross the streets before 8 am after 5 pm and during lunch and coffee breaks... Oh, and weekends and holidays too I guess. F#*% it! Unicorns, let’s get some unicorns to fly the people across the street. It will keep the traffic going. The added bonus of reliability as you are more likely to see a unicorn than a city worker actually on the job. Yes, unicorns it will be. They will fit in well with the current direction of city council... Hopes, Dreams, and a little Magic to make things work.
Up 41 Down 0
Jim on Feb 22, 2020 at 7:11 pm
@David, so more dedicated bike lanes and less driving lanes is a good solution to you. Just like 4th you say. You do realize that 4th is not 2 lane with a turn lane the whole way. Maybe you should inquire as to why. And now you think we need 2 more for the 4 or 5 bikes that ride on them in the winter. Did you not read that there is almost twice as much traffic on 2nd than there is on 4th? Those cars have to go somewhere, plus the city is growing. Do you not think the city should be adapting to make the traffic flow better along with pedestrian safety, or listening to a small group who think they want everyone to give them what they want, no matter how inconvenient it is for everyone else. We have given cyclists 2 lanes down 2 mile hill, 2 lanes down 4th ave, and the millennium trail. How about they fill those up before wanting more.
Up 60 Down 5
SH on Feb 22, 2020 at 11:00 am
Pedestrian safety goes both ways. We need to educate pedestrians to not set foot on the road until they are certain a vehicle is going go slow down and stop for them.
Up 19 Down 56
David on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:57 am
Going from four lanes to three, with one lane dedicated as a turning lane just like Fourth Avenue, plus dedicated bike lanes on either side would be awesome.
Up 52 Down 10
Oya on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:47 am
Traffic already moves too slowly through this town. I'm not talking speed limit; I'm talking about the flow of traffic. Reducing 2nd Ave to only two travel lanes, one going each way with the center lane turning, will bottleneck traffic that much more.
The focus should be on traffic flow...keeping it moving - first and foremost. This is especially true given the steadily increasing population. Put the focus on traffic flow THEN figure out how to keep pedestrians safe. If pedestrian concerns are put first, we might as well close 2nd Ave to traffic completely.
So if the focus is on keeping the traffic moving, how then do we keep pedestrians safe?
Like Anie says, pedestrian controlled lights. The crossing at Wood Street seems to work quite well. The crossing at A&W seems to work quite well. Restrict pedestrians crossing everywhere but at these controlled crosswalks or where there are traffic lights (Hanson St, Main St, Black St, Ogilvie St.)
In Merle's case, he would still be alive had he been required to cross at Main Street and not allowed to cross where he did. (Please note: I am not in any way, shape or form trying to say Merle was responsible for his own death.) The article says the City started the 2nd Ave Corridor Study in 2018 yet NOTHING has been done to make it safer. If I were the person that hit Merle, I'd be using that argument to avoid liability and place the blame on the City, for sure.
Summary: Focus on traffic flow THEN focus on how to keep the pedestrians safe. The speed limit should stay at 50 kms/hr so traffic keeps moving.
The same focus (i.e. traffic flow) should be considered for Lewes Blvd. Dedicate one of the current lanes to the schools and put up a fence creating a contained zone for school buses, students, etc. If traffic enters THAT zone, it could be restricted to 10 kms per hour, for example. Add another lane to the public zone by taking over the current paved path and/or digging into the hill across from the schools (making sure to replace the paved path again). Create turning lanes to enter the fenced-in school zone that allows the other traffic to keep moving. Remove the need for a reduced speed school zone on Lewes completely and keep the kids in their own safe zone.
The focus must first be on traffic flow if we're going to fix any of Whitehorse's traffic problems.
Side notes:
One minor change right off the bat could be to forbid left turns at Main Street when heading south on 2nd. So frustrating getting stuck behind one of those people that choose Main to take a left turn, not to mention dangerous due to the limited visibility of the outside northbound lane and to the fact that everyone behind the person trying to turn left is now looking to switch lanes so they can get through Main St.
Traffic lights should be synchronized so if you are doing the speed limit, you will be rewarded by getting green lights all the way.
Do not, do not, DO NOT let Bylaw enforce traffic for all the reasons Anie cites.
Reducing the speed to 40 kms will not solve any of the current problems and the focus is all wrong. "Pedestrians struck at 40 km/h have a 70 per cent survival rate, she said." It's almost as if the City is planning for pedestrians to get hit. SMH
Up 13 Down 12
Driver on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:11 am
The turning lane is a great idea, if someone is turning left at the same time in the opposite lane, it's impossible to see the right lanes the way it is right now. It has nothing to do with pedestrian safety but good for drivers. The speed limit change is completely useless on the other hand. Traffic laws are powerless compared to infrastructure improvements. Build some obviously visible crosswalks like the flashing one in front of the fast food area. The city is poorly lit in general, but this would help even during the day with sun in a driver's face.
Up 7 Down 23
JustAComment on Feb 22, 2020 at 9:02 am
Speed is directly proportional with economic growth. So, they want to lower the speed limit, but at the same time collect the same taxes. You figure out the rest...
Up 52 Down 1
yukonmom on Feb 22, 2020 at 8:58 am
Please keep it simple. Try enforcement first. We have so many by laws that aren't enforced. Stop people running red lights and enforce speed limits and see what happens and do it now. Not in two years.
Up 43 Down 10
Moose101 on Feb 22, 2020 at 8:26 am
Come on it seems as soon as you are a elected official all logic in decision making goes out the window . The problem is pedestrians not paying attention . I’ve travelled considerably to other small towns and cities throughout Canada and the States and I’ll tell you half of our pedestrians would not last long in these other jurisdictions crossing the streets there with there heads down and hoody up looking straight ahead . The problem is our pedestrians .
Up 36 Down 20
Jimbo on Feb 22, 2020 at 2:48 am
Simply remove the many crosswalks and force people to cross at a traffic light intersection or at least every second/third intersection. There no need to lower the speed limit. The safest option would be a pedestrian overpass.
Up 40 Down 4
Martin on Feb 21, 2020 at 11:15 pm
Problem is; CoW is giving money away to "groups" instead of investing in traffic lights, hoping others Gov't will give CoW money for infrastructure. Stop wasting taxpayers contributions and invest in what is important.
Up 45 Down 3
Jason on Feb 21, 2020 at 10:16 pm
3 lanes is a terrible idea. I’ve been almost hit because of people taking the lane too early on more than one occasion on 4th ave. That will not improve anything. Lights as anie said would be far better.
Up 23 Down 13
Josey Wales on Feb 21, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Great...our civic wizards are going to save us.
Why in the hell does M need permission from those fools to ENFORCE existing laws as it relates to traffic?
Are there more things outside of traffic law, that M needs the civic wizards permission to get motivated?
Perhaps that is the reason for the police malfeasance, the king & nobles wishes it so?
So should we call city hall first to see if it is cool, if we need a member on scene for whatever reason that may pop up?
What a ridiculous tapestry of bureaucratic nonsense, many layers thick this facade of public safety.
Oh yeah, many years ago civic wizards ahead of you already wasted heaps of money, time and resources giving our By Law those powers.
Guess such a s**t job was done last time, nothing stood in court.
All your (our) civic compliance gadgets as it relates to traffic sit somewhere collecting dust.
All those meetings wasted, and you suggest we do it all over?
Now your nobles can waste (again) all those same resources, order new swank traffic compliance gadgets etc.. blah...blah..
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Jim on Feb 21, 2020 at 7:22 pm
@Anie, you are 100% correct. No need to study it for over a year. It works in every other city that I’ve ever been to on major streets. This is not some residential street that you can purposely slow traffic without the concern of creating traffic congestion. Most cities try and move traffic smoothly and efficiently. We seem to be the only backwards city that wants to choke traffic down. But I guess pedestrian safety is not worth the cost of traffic lights. Seems to me this traffic study committee is being guided by a cheque book, or lack of.
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North_of_60 on Feb 21, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Why don't these so called city engineers recommend left turn arrows at Main and 2nd? That has been needed for decades, but they can't seem to understand the problem and make no mention of it. The recurrent pattern seems to be study and talk until the next municipal elections, then start all over again with the new Mayor&Council. I question their qualifications, and have no faith in these people ever coming up with any useful suggestions, much less taking any action.
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Guncache on Feb 21, 2020 at 5:51 pm
The corridor study shows that between 18,000 and 20,000 vehicles use second ave on a daily basis. I find that figure hard to believe. Are there that many vehicles in the whole Yukon? Taylor Eshpeter thinks going from 4 lanes to 3 is the answer. Do you see how the traffic backs up with 4 lanes now? What do you think will happen with 3 lanes? Apparently these people went to university but what is the pass mark? Here is a far fetched idea on pedestrian safety.
When the pedestrian wants to cross at a cross walk, they pay attention to traffic, not their cell phone. They make eye contact with each driver in order to safely satisfy themselves that each car is indeed going to stop. Or they can blindly cross while surfing the net. It's not a rocket science problem, nor do you need a university degree to solve it.
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JC on Feb 21, 2020 at 5:14 pm
I got no problem with these ideas. Whatever saves lives. Thats #1
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Matt on Feb 21, 2020 at 4:50 pm
What created the problem or at least enhanced it, was the "point your way to safety" campaign, which while well meaning was completely wrong. It gave everyone that used it including children a false sense of "rights". Basically education on the "stop, look, look, look" approach is all that is required along with pedestrian activated lights (thanks Anie).
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Dave on Feb 21, 2020 at 4:45 pm
What about all the parking along second avenue that inhibits both driver and pedestrian lines of sight? I personally drive in the inside lanes to give myself a better field of vision.
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Anie on Feb 21, 2020 at 3:53 pm
Pedestrian activated full traffic lights at the two main problem intersections is such an obvious and simple solution. Why are they going at this with a sledgehammer instead? And is the city really employing someone who says pedestrians are the most vulnerable users on Second Avenue? Did we think it might be transit passengers? Car drivers? Talk about department of the obvious . Please please please do not give traffic enforcement to bylaw. They cannot keep up with current workload and will no doubt want to grow the department, buy more vehicles, get new uniforms, and increase their pay. Traffic lights, folks, try something simple.
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Miles Epanhauser on Feb 21, 2020 at 3:35 pm
The city has offered some good ideas that may improve pedestrian safety.