In February I wrote to the city engineering department with a danger assessment for the intersection below. They failed to write back as they are supposed to by law. So I wrote again. No words but deeds this time.
I rode my bicycle through the intersection today and happily found a heavy construction operation entering later stages. You can see from the photo that a space has been carved out for cyclists, pedestrians and other users.
I certainly don’t mind the silence when engineering is truly busy and completing a crucial project for our health and safety.
At the same time, it has been my experience that city planning, engineering and streets departments need our voices to complete these crucial projects.
This is the new crosswalk and intersection completed a few weeks ago after I submitted a letter highlighting the danger to cyclists, pedestrians and other non-car users of not having a crosswalk at a busy intersection on a university campus and on a popular city bike route.