When there’s something on the other side of the street you need to get to, the nearest intersection just might not seem close enough. It can be tempting to cross (or jaywalk) in the middle of the road. The problem with jaywalking is that it poses a huge risk to you as a pedestrian. Drivers aren’t expecting pedestrians in non-pedestrian areas like a travel lane and may do something unexpected or not brake in time for you to make your trek safely across the road.
During construction, crossing at designated crosswalks is even more important than ever. Lane closures can change frequently and when areas are blocked off, drivers must pay close attention to signs and road markings so they know where to drive and stop. Drivers might easily miss a pedestrian who is crossing or running into a non-pedestrian safe zone.
Even when crossing at a designated crosswalk, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Be sure to look both ways and stay aware. Put away your phone, MP3 player, or tablet, and focus on the road. You should be constantly alert, just like the drivers.
Other safety concerns as a pedestrian are the construction zones themselves. There are a lot of hazards around a construction site that you wouldn’t necessarily know about. We block off work areas and create detours to protect drivers and pedestrians, so it’s important that you respect those boundaries for your own safety.
You’ll be able to enjoy all that the vivaNext transformation has to offer once it’s complete.[poll id=”34″]
2 replies on “vivaNext puts safety first”
Oh and VivaNext did NOT “put safety first”, both sides of the sidewalk were closed down on Davis at one point, causing pedestrians to walk along the road with vehicular traffic. Just saying.
DaleA: Hi Remy,
We take this issue of pedestrian safety seriously. We make every effort to keep sidewalks open. In this case as soon as the sidewalk issue was brought to our attention we resolved it the same day. If you have any other questions or concerns about the project we welcome you to contact our Community Liaison Michelle Dudzik at Michelle.Dudzik@york.ca.
I despise you people. I’ve lived on Davis Drive for years now and every Spring, Summer and Fall has been destroyed. This little construction situation (not just that, but even BEFORE this little project there was construction CONSTANTLY) is absolutely destroying the quality of my life. Working through the night, during the day. It never matters, nothing is sacred. I’ve never regretted anything more. I bought my first home (a condo) right along this darned path and this whole VivaNext plan is completely messing with my existence. I hate living here. Newmarket, VivaNext, you suck.
DaleA: Hi Remy,
Davis Drive is long overdue for revitalization – above ground and below. The infrastructure is very old, which is why there’s been a constant effort to keep things in good repair – even things you can’t see like culverts, water pipes and so forth. VivaNext not only brings true rapid transit to those who live and work in Newmarket, but it replaces aging infrastructure, creates a welcoming environment for all and will help shape future growth for generations. But, to get there takes messy construction work and time to complete it. We hope you’ll enjoy the finished product and positive effects it will have on your property and in our community.