Dear editor,
You almost read about me in the paper or heard about me on the radio yesterday. But not for an achievement of mine, but because I was almost a statistic. And it wasn’t the first time at this particular intersection.
Every day I walk from North Island College to Tim Hortons at the corner of Lerwick and Ryan. You would think people leaving the Home Depot parking lot across the street would notice someone in a crosswalk, but drivers aren’t noticing pedestrians in this area for whatever reason.
Lerwick has four lanes of traffic. I had already walked past one lane on my way to Tim Horton’s when I see a car coming from Home Depot. He was turning left and he wasn’t slowing down. I ran. Fast. I barely got out of the way in time. Not once did I see him look my way.
This wasn’t the first time I was almost hit in this intersection, however this was the first time I physically had to run for my safety. I have even had near misses when there were flag people working in the intersection. I’m sure you hear their horror stories. Yesterday’s incident made me realize that I needed to make a formal complaint as this intersection is getting worse.
And now, as I’m writing this I get word that someone was hit in this intersection today. A construction worker from the hospital, who was wearing his safety gear. If drivers aren’t noticing a man wearing a fluorescent vest with a giant X on it, then you know that they truly aren’t expecting, or even looking out for, pedestrians in the area.
As this entire area is known to be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and even other cars, I hope that the City of Courtenay will look at ways to improve the safety of the Lerwick corridor. No one wants to become, or wants their loved one to be, a statistic.
Teresa Edgar
Courtenay