This Came Close To Being A Terrible Tragedy...!

Here's a note from Glen, a near-by Oxton-Oriole neighborhood resident, who writes...

Hi Mark,

Thanks for setting up a site to deal with this problem. I was referred to your site after complaining to the City about the Oriole/Oxton intersection.

If you interested, here's our near-death experience....

I was walking along Oriole with my wife and 1-year old in her stroller last Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18, '05) and we waited for a gap to cross Oxton (which was a
long wait).

As there was never a moment when there was no traffic approaching, we waited until there was enough of a gap to make it across and proceeded. However, a car that was surely speeding turned left from Oriole onto Oxton an almost hit our baby (within 2 to 4 feet). He was driving as if Oriole and Oxton were one continuous road, which the signage encourages and which I've observed other drivers doing. I don't think he would have stopped had I not screamed just beforehand! As we were frantically trying to get out of this car’s way, another car from Oxton was rapidly approaching (and I'm also certain speeding) and had to stop very abruptly and closely to avoid hitting us.

I've just never seen such inane street rules - that actually seem to be asking for a fatal accident. It's also the cockiness of the rule that favours motorists to the detriment and possible death of pedestrians. I also believe that the rule of the road in pretty much any Western country is that the pedestrian has the right of way - but Oriole and Oxton contravenes common practice and common sense. I'm just glad that my baby didn't have to pay the ultimate price so that motorists could get somewhere one minute faster!

Thanks again for your time and effort to fix this potentially lethal problem.

Glen (Last name and email address withheld by request)

(You can comment on this email and all emails by clicking on the "Comment" link below)