When I quickly read the header about a pedestrian crossing between James and Beverly in Duncan, my heart jumped and fell flat on the ground when I saw that the province had nixed the plan. WHAT?
It seems that somebody thought it prudent to install a pedestrian crossing such as I suggested before the high school opened. When I mentioned it in my letter to you some time ago, I urged the people in power to look at the safety issues to the students and others who will be taking the shortest route across the TCH to their favourite restaurants.
This situation is becoming very urgent as traffic is not always aware or willing to slow down and give the students a break. Yes they are not supposed to be crossing at that point in the road, but when time and hunger drives a teenager to his/her lunch, common sense often goes by the wayside.
Instead the province proposed to beautify this part of the TCH by planting trees in the median. Which makes me wonder, how this will stop the students from crossing and trampling over the median. Remember, the shortest distance to a place is a straight line! Then there is the cost for maintenance of these trees; is this bill picked up by the province? I can also foresee mayhem in the fall with all those leaves on the highway!
Years ago, we had a similar situation on the Pat Bay Highway just south of McDonald Park, where students had to cross the highway to get to their schools in Sidney. There was no crosswalk nearby and no crossing guard! Unfortunately it took a fatal accident that took the life of a young student for the people in power to wake up and build this crosswalk and many others across this highway. Is this what the province is waiting for rather than being proactive and learning from similar situations? I surely hope not!
Would it help if the student body, restaurants and businesses along this stretch of the TCH write a letter of concern to the Provincial Department of Highways?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Judy van der Boom
Cowichan Bay
