Gloucester-Colombo St. Crossing

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 3

Gloucester-Colombo St. Crossing

Sir,—Having waited what seemed an unconscionable time for the “Cross Now” signal this morning I shot off the pavement like a scalded cat, only to find my hand on the wing of a car turning left into Gloucester street from Colombo street. For a moment the driver and I regarded each other with marked disfavour, before continuing on our respective ways. As a motorist with 40 years’ experience and a clean licence I would certainly not blame this driver for our brief contretemps any more than he would have a shadow of right to blame me, since both of us were pursuing our lawful avocations; but if there is to be a pause in the light system on this crossing why. in the name of common sense, isn’t it used in favour of the pedestrian, whose movements are clearly predictable, rather than of the motorist who can turn left or right at will? It is unlikely that a fatality will result from the present system, but it does promote an avoidabe hazard.—Yours, etc., I. TREW. November 30, 1961. [The chairman of the City Council’s traffic committee (Cr. M. E. McLean) said: “The intersection referred to is to have a Barnes dance system of control introduced on a trial basis early this year. If it proves necessary to return to the present method of control, adjustments will be made to allow pedestrians to cross on the first portion of the phase, as is the case for those crossing Colombo street at the present time.”]