Another pedestrian injured on Northbourne

Arthur Davies said :

…There is an urgent need for better education on road use, both for newcomers to Australia … for good old fashioned “look right look left” before crossing…

The Government has confused this issue by painting “Look ->” signs on the roadway, in places where the signs contradict road rules that require turning drivers to give way to pedestrians.

I don’t know if anyone collects statistics on the background of pedestrian victims, but I have noticed that many people who appear to have recently arrived from overseas seem to be disproportionately likely to step out onto the road without looking. This is very obvious on the ANU campus at the beginning of the academic year, it improves as the year goes on. These same group of people have been found to be disproportionately represented in drownings, the statistics are kept on drowning victims.

Another terrifying group are, usually younger, people who only look down at their yuppyphone while walking, usually with headphones on. They are obviously looking for a mention in the Darwin awards (look it up if you don’t know of them).

There is an urgent need for better education on road use, both for newcomers to Australia (along with water safety) & for good old fashioned “look right look left” before crossing for our own younger generation.

I realise that eventually evolution will eliminate the careless but it is so slow & the unnecessary pain & suffering in the meantime is unacceptable. Far better to think first & behave better when crossing roads (& before driving & riding a bike as well).

JoueurBoy said :

You can not have it both ways unless some major infrastructure is built. … To solve the problem the road should be lowered for the city section. The traffic going north and south would have unimpeded flow. The street level would be free for pedestrains and tram passengers.

JoueurBoy is right, but there’s a cheaper option that’s been waiting 50 years since traffic lights were first installed.

Walter and Marion designed Northbourne Avenue NOT to have traffic signals.
If they had designed it for traffic signals, they would have put the roads down the centre and the parkland along the sides. That would allow pedestrians to cross without having to wait again at the median. It would also increase the green time for general traffic by 10%, because the signals would not have to provide extra red time to allow crossing and right-turning vehicles to clear the intersection by crossing the wide median.

I am not sure what the OP is trying to advocate. Is it for greater attention to pedestrian safety in the area? If so, please say it clearly and I can then support it. Thanks.

Trams are not infallible either.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/light-rail-train-derails-during-morning-rush-in-northwest-calgary/article31963318/

The OP is complaining about the traffic backing up at the lights and then complains about pedestrains have to wait too long to cross. You can not have it both ways unless some major infrastructure is built. You would complain about the cost of that too.

To solve the problem the road should be lowered for the city section. The traffic going north and south would have unimpeded flow. The street level would be free for pedestrains and tram passengers.

Maya123 said :

Genie said :

Yesterday as I waited to cross the northbound lane at the Alinga and Northbourne Ave intersection, a gentleman on a motorised scooted crossed against the red, there was no oncoming traffic at the time. A speeding driver (there was no way they were doing 60) appeared through the London Circuit intersection and spent that entire distance with his hand on the horn.

Didn’t quite understand the drivers actions, even at the speed he was doing he was unlikely to crash into the scooter or he could of eased off the pedal and stuck to the speed limit. Instead he actually sped up !!!

I’ve had some drivers (okay, two occasions I can remember) speed up behind me so as to tail gate me when they’ve seen my blinker go on (with plenty of warning) to leave the road. Then when they didn’t manage to intimidate me into not leaving the road (strange game of theirs), they get on their horn and blast me. On at least one of those occasions with a second empty lane beside us they could have used. Some people get some weird idea about power games. Sounds the same with your example. What did that driver get from blasting the gentleman on a motorised scooter. Something is lacking in them.

The person on the scooter did a very dangerous thing. I would blast my horn too. I drive a merc and the horn is a beauty. How else is the old codger going to know my dissatisfaction?

rommeldog56 said :

Maya123 said :

I’ve had some drivers (okay, two occasions I can remember) speed up behind me so as to tail gate me when they’ve seen my blinker go on (with plenty of warning) to leave the road. Then when they didn’t manage to intimidate me into not leaving the road (strange game of theirs), they get on their horn and blast me. On at least one of those occasions with a second empty lane beside us they could have used. Some people get some weird idea about power games. Sounds the same with your example. What did that driver get from blasting the gentleman on a motorised scooter. Something is lacking in them.

Whether it be on a push bike (as u have previously posted) or in a car, you seem to have the darnedest trouble with other vehicles.

Just saying……

Maybe it’s just that I remember them. In this example, as I stated, only two that I do remember. Incidents would have happened to you too, but perhaps you then forget them. They happen to everyone.

Maya123 said :

I’ve had some drivers (okay, two occasions I can remember) speed up behind me so as to tail gate me when they’ve seen my blinker go on (with plenty of warning) to leave the road. Then when they didn’t manage to intimidate me into not leaving the road (strange game of theirs), they get on their horn and blast me. On at least one of those occasions with a second empty lane beside us they could have used. Some people get some weird idea about power games. Sounds the same with your example. What did that driver get from blasting the gentleman on a motorised scooter. Something is lacking in them.

Whether it be on a push bike (as u have previously posted) or in a car, you seem to have the darnedest trouble with other vehicles.

Just saying……

Genie said :

Yesterday as I waited to cross the northbound lane at the Alinga and Northbourne Ave intersection, a gentleman on a motorised scooted crossed against the red, there was no oncoming traffic at the time. A speeding driver (there was no way they were doing 60) appeared through the London Circuit intersection and spent that entire distance with his hand on the horn.

Didn’t quite understand the drivers actions, even at the speed he was doing he was unlikely to crash into the scooter or he could of eased off the pedal and stuck to the speed limit. Instead he actually sped up !!!

I’ve had some drivers (okay, two occasions I can remember) speed up behind me so as to tail gate me when they’ve seen my blinker go on (with plenty of warning) to leave the road. Then when they didn’t manage to intimidate me into not leaving the road (strange game of theirs), they get on their horn and blast me. On at least one of those occasions with a second empty lane beside us they could have used. Some people get some weird idea about power games. Sounds the same with your example. What did that driver get from blasting the gentleman on a motorised scooter. Something is lacking in them.