While the accident in front of CNC was indeed tragic, I think there is more to the problem than just impaired driving or jaywalking that seem to be the topics of many of the comments on social media.
Do not get me wrong, these are also important issues that certainly add to the problem, but I would like to take a moment to address what I think are issues that also do not help the problem.
I have lived in that neighbourhood for the majority of my life. It is not a great area for being pedestrian friendly. There is no sidewalk along Central Street East from 22nd Avenue to 20th Avenue. Many of the apartment tenants park two or even three cars wide along the shoulder, forcing many people trying to walk along the side out into the middle of the road. Many CNC students also park along Central or the side streets off Central in order to avoid paying parking at the college parking lots. There is also no sidewalk on the edge of college property, forcing many to feel they must walk along the shoulder.
The intersection and crossing at 22nd Avenue is not the safest. You have constant merging of traffic from Griffiths and Central with no sidewalks or safe places for pedestrians heading to the college or the high school. The crossing on the north sideclosest to the college is dangerous. I cannot tell you how many times cars turning from 22nd Avenue north onto the highway do not yield to pedestrians that have the right of way on that crossing. I have personally almost been hit by cars as I try to cross the northbound lane while the crosswalk light is set to cross. The crossing at 15th Avenue is much better but understandably adds a lot of time to walk two blocks to get to the college.
My sincere hope is that this accident is a wake-up to make improvements in the area, much like the accident at Cowart Road and Highway 16 made people realize the need for the dedicated turn signal onto Cowart Road from the highway. I think some of the first steps could be to make those sidewalk improvements, or what about making parking free at the college with proof of enrollment. Students already pay lots in tuition without having to pay more just to park their car. Or maybe it's fixing the intersection layout so that pedestrians feel safe crossing the intersection rather than taking their chances to cross elsewhere?
Kim Lawyer
Prince George
