The intersection of Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue was recently converted from a two-way stop to a four-way stop.
I like it.
Way to go, city!
I think it’s long overdue, especially considering the other entrance to Tyee Plaza, at the intersection of Shoppers Row and 10th Avenue, was changed to a four-way stop last year.
It’s about time the other one was converted too.
For those who aren’t sure where I’m talking about, it’s the entrance/exit to Tyee Plaza next to the new Comfort Inn, and which is directly across from 13th Avenue.
It’s always been a sketchy intersection. Many times as I’ve gone to pull out of Tyee Plaza it’s been difficult to see if cars are coming to my left because vehicles parked along Shoppers in front of the Visitor Centre obscure the view.
Even just pulling out to make a right turn, I’ve often just closed my eyes and hoped for the best.
Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean.
And if that weren’t scary enough, add some pedestrians in to the mix because there are two crosswalks in that intersection as well.
The city’s transportation manager said the four-way was added in order to make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross Shoppers Row and to provide vehicles with more crossing opportunities.
Fair enough.
It should in theory make it faster for vehicles coming out of Tyee Plaza or coming off 13th onto Shoppers to make the turn because they won’t be having to stop for traffic going straight through on Shoppers Row.
Now let’s just hope everyone obeys the new stop signs and everyone remembers how to use a four-way stop.
The other major traffic change the city has implemented is a new speed zone on 2nd Avenue near the hospital.
With the amount of pedestrians crossing 2nd to get to the hospital and the elderly folks and their families crossing to Yucalta Lodge, it’s a good idea to slow down.
But I think it could have been done more effectively.
The 30 km per hour sign for vehicles traveling west-bound is near some tall bushes and it doesn’t stand out very well.
It would have been helpful if the city had put up some signs warning that the speed limit up ahead has been changed, or made the new signs splashier.
Having said that, I do commend the city for making the effort to make our roads safer.
To me it’s common sense to slow down on that stretch of road, but not everyone thinks the same way or maybe the thought just never crossed their mind.
Some people just need a gentle reminder.