Pilot project to boost safety for pedestrians
Whether it’s sheep grazing in parks, or a pilot project to allow residents to keep chicken coops, or a plan to build a butterfly garden at a major intersection, it seems there’s always something happening in Rosemont—La-PetitePatrie.
On Beaubien St., at De Chateaubriand Ave. and De St-Vallier, StHubert and St-André Sts., it’s hard to miss the colourful semicircles at each corner, delimited by black bollards.
The designs aren’t just for esthetics — they are new pedestrian safety zones, part of a pilot project launched by the borough last week.
“One of the borough’s top priorities is to alleviate traffic congestion and increase security for pedestrians and cyclists,” borough spokesperson France LeBrun said.
The enlarged pedestrian zones were inspired by similar initiatives in Chicago and New York.
The pilot project, including installation of the bollards, costs less than $25,000, said LeBrun, who noted Beaubien St. is busy with pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and buses.
The goal is to make pedestrians more visible and reduce the time and distance for crossing the street by enlarging the space allocated to them and narrowing the road for vehicles.
LeBrun said studies have shown such pedestrian zones to be effective.
The borough enlisted artist Peter Gibson — a.k.a. Roadsworth — to come up with the design.
“I’ve always been a proponent of cycling and walking in the city in general, so any initiatives that encourage cycling and makes pedestrians safer is something that I want to be part of,” said Gibson, who lives in the borough.
The semicircles contour each street corner with a blue, red, yellow and white design that repeatedly mirrors the letters RPP, for Rosemont—Petite-Patrie.
“It ends up looking like tile work or almost a lattice work,” Gibson said.
“That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s abstract.”
He believes the eye-catching design will contribute to get everyone to slow down.
“Any project like this where there is some sort of artistic element, it generally makes people pause and slow down and there’s a consideration that I think … brings a certain level of awareness that enhances safety in and of itself,” he said.
LeBrun said the borough hopes the pilot project becomes permanent and expands to other parts of Rosemont—La-Petite-Patrie.