The Editor,
I would like to bring to your attention that on garbage days I have noticed people put their garbage bins out very neatly, and not on the sidewalks in the way of pedestrians.
But on several occasions, I have seen the garbage van come and two garbage men literally throw the bins anywhere on the sidewalks. This makes it very inconvenient for pedestrians and those on scooters to try and manoeuvre around the bins, or push them out of the way.
Some of the bins also have maggots in them, and they smell. You can see the maggots crawling around all over. It is sickening, as the bin is one place and the cover somewhere else.
If you wish to verify this, walk down St. Alban's Road at about 8 a.m.
Also on the same road, there is so much construction, that some of the trucks park on the sidewalk as well, forcing the pedestrian to walk on the road and into oncoming traffic.
Secondly, drivers are not waiting for pedestrians to cross the roads here in Richmond -- even if they, the pedestrians, have the right of way.
At four-way stops, as well, they bring the car right out into the centre, so the pedestrian has to walk behind the car, between two cars, to cross the road, or wait for the car to go and then cross. All the while, the pedestrians have the right of way.
There is no waiting or slowing down on right turns as well, and that is why most people from other towns do not wish to drive in Richmond.
Many Richmond drivers do not even notice pedestrians. One has to jump back to save one's life.
Unfortunately, I literally had to do that last week. I had the right of way when a big truck spun in front of me, from No. 3 Road. The driver did not wait and did a right turn on Saba (towards the Bay) even though the signal showed the right of way for pedestrians.
If I did not step back in time I would have been under that truck.
Angel Dean
Richmond
