Easy remedies

For better or worse, Hamilton needs a steady flow of vehicles into the core (but not transports). The real danger is speeding and careless driving. Converting Main Street into two-way, aside from being a very expensive project, will not discourage reckless behaviour. Indeed there will be more left turns across oncoming traffic which is the cause of many collisions and is especially dangerous for walkers and cyclists.

But there are some fairly easy remedies that will slow down traffic on Main Street.

Allow all-day parking on both sides, with allowances for bus stops. Three lanes, instead of five, will automatically slow down vehicles and it creates a buffer between pedestrians and vehicles. Add bump outs at appropriate pedestrian crossings to reduce crossing distances. Eliminate the pedestrian countdowns. Drivers use them to speed up as they approach intersections. Enforce the law regarding tinted windows. Drivers and pedestrians often can’t make eye contact like they should. And, please, reduce the stoplight synchronization to 40 km/h instead of the current 55 km/h! How hard can that be? Any decent lawyer could prove in court that the city is negligent in encouraging drivers to break the speed limit.