Pedestrian crossing button mired in muck
Nobody should be dragged into the mud just because they need to push a pedestrian crossing button.
Crossing a busy street with two lanes of speeding traffic coming at you from both directions is not nearly as dangerous and hair-raising when a pedestrian crosswalk is available.
Chances of being run down like a dog in the street are greatly reduced within the confines of a marked crosswalk with flashing yellow lights to alert drivers that someone is about to walk in front of them.
But when reaching the button to activate the lights involves a stroll into a patch of mud, some people — maybe foolhardy kids — might be tempted to not bother and just make a run for it.
Catriel Blum emailed to say the button to activate the crosswalk signal at the northwest corner of Bathurst St. and Shelborne Ave. is in the worst possible place, at least in wet weather.
“Unfortunately the pole was placed three feet away from the sidewalk and to reach the button one has to step into mud,” he said.
“Within two blocks there is a junior public school, two private girls’ high schools, and a private boys’ school. They all use this street crossing and all get their shoes dirty, plus many adults like me!
“All it would take is some concrete, three feet by three feet, to solve this problem.”
We went there on a rainy day (and when isn’t it?) and found the button mounted to a pole just far enough from the sidewalk that people who aren’t equipped with long arms can’t avoid stepping in the mud to get to it. Status: We asked James Chandler, who’s in charge of city traffic signals, if it’s possible to have the button moved.
He emailed to say he’s asked transportation services to look into pouring a small concrete pad in the area now occupied by mud, as Blum suggested. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Send an email to jlakey@thestar.ca. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.