As I made my way home down Queensway last weekend, I noticed a large sign stating that the street would be closed at Patricia beginning Nov. 7. I sighed. I felt defeated. I live in the Millar Addition, very close to the intersection in question and the construction that has been going on lately has been a nuisance to say the least.
However, I am holding onto one small hope that maybe, just maybe, the municipal overseers will realize that in addition to a new sewer line, what Patricia and Queensway really needs is a crosswalk.
I often walk down the lovely sidewalk along Patricia and follow it until it ends, abruptly, at Queensway. I then cautiously survey the rushing traffic and sprint across it when there is a break, hoping that I won't miss the bus to UNBC that stops in front of the Four Seasons Pool.
Last winter made this feat especially terrifying after a winter storm left massive snow banks in the middle of Queensway, snow banks that were extremely difficult for one small human to see around. I must mention that there is a crosswalk in the area though I would argue it is misplaced. Furthermore, as previously stated, there is a paved path that leads directly to the location of my proposed crosswalk, yet there is nary a crosswalk to be seen.
Roughly a month ago, after Patricia was made impassable, I once again darted across Queensway, this time to city hall to find out who is in charge of crosswalk installation. My request was logged and I was given a file number and informed that somebody would follow up with me within a couple of weeks. Despite this, I have yet to hear from anyone from the city regarding the status of my request.
I've lived in several cities and a great benefit to living in the core is the fact that walking places is a valid option. However, sadly, I am currently unable to classify my hometown of Prince George as a walkable city since I risk my life trying to walk anywhere. Through the years I've witnessed constant efforts of the municipality to revitalize downtown to make it a more enticing place for people to live and work, a fact made more clear recently, as the construction in question is for a condo development that will see many new faces calling downtown home (I must also point out that this development is located directly across the street from the path that mysteriously ends at Queensway).
Now, of course I am biased about this issue, I wouldn't be writing a letter to the paper if I wasn't, but I value my life, and I believe I am a reasonable and logical person.
When one takes the above facts into consideration, installing a crosswalk seems like a pretty decent idea doesn't it? Especially when the road is going to be torn up and blocked off for the next few weeks. Just in time for Christmas come to think of it.
Torie Beram
Prince George
