The Editor,
Re. "Safety work done at site of fatal accident" (The Tri-City News, Jan. 12).
I live two doors from the crosswalk at Paula Place and Eastern Drive in Port Coquitlam's Mary Hill neighbourhood and my son and I take our lives in our hands crossing this intersection.
I've had hundreds of cars fly by us without a thought to slowing down due the speed limit or even think of stopping for us in the crosswalk. What's worse is that due to the parking on Eastern Drive, going north in the crosswalk, you are halfway into the intersection before you see the cars flying at you. I've even had vehicles going east stop for us and, while we were stepping into the crosswalk, drive right in front of us.
Oddly, there are a lot of parents with children in the cars zooming through this crosswalk - give yourself more time, the consequences are not worth it.
Another parent and I were talking about the crosswalk. She said she has called the city on numerous occasions, written to the city, written to municipal officials and the same consistent response, if a response is even given, is it's not in the budget.
I would like to know how many people need to be hit or killed to make room in the budget? We are so concerned, we talked to our child's school principal, who was concerned enough to put on his jacket and walk the block to the crosswalk. While the three of us stood at the crosswalk, three cars sped by us within four minutes. (Thank you to the drivers of the other two cars within that time frame that actually allowed us to cross.)
I am reaching out to the city of Port Coquitlam, the RCMP, ICBC or anyone that can help us get a pedestrian-controlled light at this crosswalk.
D. Ward, Port Coquitlam
