The following are letters sent to the Record in response to a recent plea to city council for a traffic light near Herbert Spencer Elementary.
The Editor:
Regarding the article on the intersection of 6th Ave and 2nd Street, I couldn't agree more.
I live nearby and I am shocked something has not been done to make that intersection safe.
Living so close to it, I’ve personally seen and heard loads of car accidents - not itty bitty fender benders (and I’m not minimizing those - they suck) - big accidents.
Horrible and preventable, with proper lights.
It's wildly busy at rush hour and drivers seem to struggle and lose sight of pedestrians and others as they try to dash though the flashing lights to turn or cross.
I won't walk with my dog or family at that intersection at night or make a left turn there unless absolutely necessary.
All this at a elementary school crosswalk. New West can (and should) do better.
- Lyndsay Cotterall
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The Editor:
I support a fully controlled light intersection at 6th Avenu and 2nd Street.
I use this intersection to cross 6th Avenue on my bicycle and although the button activated light is a big improvement.
I have witnessed drivers who are southbound on second attempt to turn left on to 6th Avenue when the crosswalk is being used by kids and is also controlled by a crossing guard.
I have heard the crossing guard yelling at drivers who move their car into 6th and up to the crosswalk where kids are crossing and effectively blocking all northbound traffic on 2nd, including bicycles.
What's there now is a half measure and frustrated drivers take advantage of it.
The only safe option is a fully controlled light intersection.
- Ian Walker
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The Editor:
I drive up 6th Avenue past Herbert Spencer Elementary most days around 2 or 3 p.m.
That's a 30 km/h zone AND the wonderful crossing guard is on duty to ensure the kiddos cross safely.
The 1st Street intersection is a pedestrian-activated four-way traffic light crossing and the 2nd Street crossing is also pedestrian-activated but the traffic light is only for 6th Ave traffic.
Fine, make it a full four-way traffic light, but ONLY if it's ped-activated (ie. a pedestrian/cyclist MUST push the button to change the light to cross) or the traffic backup on 6th will be even worse.
Traffic cops could also start ticketing parents who jaywalk WITH their kid(s) across the middle of 6th Avenue to get to their cars.
Some of them don't even look to see if any cars are coming, as if it's their right to jaywalk.
While the city council is at it, they can put a four-way traffic light on 6th Street and 7th Avenue, and recalibrate other traffic lights so pedestrians and vehicles are not waiting for long,
Most of us obey the traffic laws and stop at red lights and don't walk signs, but it's tiresome when there is NO traffic and we must wait for the light to change.
- Mary Ruth Olson
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The Editor:
Traffic in New Westminster seems to have increased steadily and Uptown 6th Avenue and 6th Street area is so dangerous.
I am often in this area and you constantly see drivers making illegal left turns and so many people doing U- turns on 6th Street.
The crosswalk at Belmont & 6th needs a flashing light or something to get drivers to slow down.
Some drivers fly down the street, oblivious to the crosswalk.
I have family members that have gotten half way across having to stop in the middle while a car speeds through on the other side.
- Lynne Norrish
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The Editor:
I am and have been, in full support of a full signal here for years.
Two years ago, when the intersection was updated, I thought a full signal was being installed, but that did not occur.
There is a full signal at 8th Avenue. Why not here?
- Andy Goyan
