Dear Editor,
For as long as I can remember, due to the high amount of pedestrian traffic, busy city areas generally had pedestrian signals that automatically came on without needing to press a button.
For some reason, Richmond is removing these all over the city. I asked the Department of Public Works why, and the reason was ridiculous: “Pedestrian signals as you describe lead to inefficient traffic flow.”
Is this the 1960s? Are we still building the Chinatown Freeway?
In this day and age, with the whole Vision Zero thing in mind, why is the City of Richmond actively prioritizing motor vehicles in the City Centre?
Perhaps it could be justified if it was in a typical suburb with low pedestrian traffic.
But, no.
The intersections that they have recently removed include outside SkyTrain stations, a couple near busy secondary schools and recreation centres, and one beside an assisted living home where there are seniors crossing throughout the day.
To the readers, if you do not agree with the deprioritization of pedestrian traffic, I implore you to contact the City of Richmond by email at trafsig@richmond.ca or to send snail mail to Traffic Management Centre, 6911 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, B.C. V6Y 2C1.
Jeff Yu
RICHMOND
