With today being Halloween, the leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter, and the light levels are much lower, especially once Daylight Savings time ends on Sunday November 3. There are lots of things we love about this time of year, but the darker mornings and afternoons take a little getting used to.
No matter what time of year, keeping yourself safe, whether you’re a transit user, pedestrian, cyclist or driver is a shared responsibility and we all need to be looking out for each other. That becomes even more important now that we’re getting into the darker, cold days of winter.
Here are some reminders to make everyone’s travels safer along our rapidway and construction sites:
Pedestrians and transit users should:
- Always walk on sidewalks. From time to time sidewalks need to be closed for construction, and signs will direct you to the other side of the road. It is incredibly dangerous to walk on the road in live traffic. Please take the small amount of extra time needed to cross to a sidewalk.
- Only cross at crosswalks and intersections. If you’re crossing Highway 7 remember the walk signal won’t come on automatically; you need to push the button first.
- Obey traffic signals and wait for the walk light to shine. At two-stage crossings wait in the protected median for the next stage.
- Bear in mind that you’re probably not as visible to drivers as vehicles are to you, especially in winter if you’re bundled up in layers of dark clothing.
- On busy roads, especially those with multiple lanes like Highway 7, remember that drivers are focused on their signals, including advanced green arrows for drivers turning left. Pedestrians need to take their own safety very seriously.
- Obey construction signage. We cannot emphasize strongly enough: construction zones are dangerous places for pedestrians, even if there’s no active construction activity underway at the time. There are many hazards, and fences are there to keep people safe. Please obey them.
Drivers need to:
- Watch road markings carefully, especially through construction zones. With paving going on until the weather gets very cold and other construction continuing all winter, crews will be actively working. Please be on the lookout for lane changes and temporary closures, which can change from day to day and hour to hour, especially around stations.
- Pay attention to the new rapidway alignment and turning lines. It’s becoming more familiar to drivers, but some drivers are still learning about the new turning markings for safe left turns and u-turns at intersections.
- Be extra careful when making right turns to watch for cyclists and pedestrians – remember they have the right of way across intersections and driveways.
- Approach crosswalks at stations carefully. Pedestrians have a responsibility to be aware and obey the signals, but drivers need to be careful too, especially near schools.
Cyclists should:
- Use the dedicated bike lanes where they’re in place; bikes cannot use the sidewalks.
- Obey traffic signals.
- Watch for pedestrians and remember they have the right-of-way if you’re turning right at a driveway or intersection.
- Use the dedicated bike boxes where they’ve been installed for left hand turns, rather than making left turns from the traffic lanes.