r/saskatoon • u/StrongTownsYXE • 1h ago
PSA 📢 Saskatoon: How long should people have to cross the street?
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At signalized intersections across Saskatoon, crossing times are too short and well below the City’s own standard. This frequently leaves pedestrians stranded in the middle of the intersection, creating uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conflicts with oncoming traffic. Sign the following petition to express to the Mayor and Council support for increasing crosswalk times across the city, creating a safer Saskatoon for all. https://forms.gle/RZbjgnFK66Nuw3TL6
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The City of Saskatoon has adopted guidelines from the Transportation Association of Canada. Current recommendations call for crosswalk signals to be timed using a walking speed of 1 metre per second for the general population. This recommendation is a maximum, with slower speeds used in school zones, areas with higher foot traffic, dense senior populations, or people using mobility aids.
The purpose of these standards is straightforward: people should be able to cross the street safely without rushing. However, intersections across Saskatoon fall well short of this standard.
In a recent video, we examined the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 20th Street. The crossing distance is approximately 30 metres. Therefore, based on the guidelines, one would expect a minimum of 30 seconds provided to ensure safe crossings (30m ÷ 1m/s = 30s). Instead, the signal only provides 26 seconds, 6 seconds with a white signal, and 20 seconds with the signal flashing red.
Even starting exactly when the white walk signal appears, an average adult walking at a normal pace reaches the other side with little time to spare. For many people in our community, including seniors, children, parents pushing strollers, and those with mobility challenges, achieving that pace is not realistic.
Under the current signal timing, the scenario shown in the figure below is all too possible. A pedestrian with mobility challenges walking at 1 m/s could begin crossing with 21 seconds remaining while the signal is still white, reasonably believing they have enough time to cross safely. Instead, they would only make it about 70% of the way across before the pedestrian signal turns solid red, leaving them stranded in the path of vehicles now expected to proceed through the intersection the pedestrian occupies. This dangerous situation is entirely the result of pedestrian signals that fail to provide sufficient crossing time. Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence, and is a situation I frequently find myself in despite having no mobility challenges.
This is not simply an inconvenience. It affects how safe and welcoming our streets feel. When pedestrians have insufficient time to cross, they begin to rush to avoid being in the way of traffic. Their attention shifts away from surrounding hazards and towards reaching the other side. Additionally, it increases the likelihood that they become obstacles in the roadway for drivers who are only trying to follow the rules of the road. These conditions create stress and uncertainty in a situation that should be mundane.
One must then ask: why are crossing times so short?
Shortening pedestrian crossing times allows vehicle traffic along major thoroughfares to receive a green signal sooner in an attempt to move more vehicles through. Although, are these efforts effective? If drivers are constantly in conflict with pedestrians who are caught in the intersection due to inadequate crossing times, this adds confusion and increases wait times for drivers when they are expected to drive. Creating adequate conditions for all is beneficial for all. It improves pedestrian safety and reduces the number of uncomfortable interactions drivers may have with pedestrians, making the driving experience smoother and safer.
Fortunately, this is a problem with a straightforward solution. The first step is to follow the city’s guidelines. To make signalized crosswalks safer, walking signals should start flashing when the minimum time is reached. In the case of Idylwyld & 20th St, when 30 seconds are remaining, the signal should start flashing. In this example, with a current white hand time of 6 seconds plus 30 seconds of flashing, it equates to a total light time of 36 seconds. This way, those in our community who cannot move as fast can reliably cross on a white hand and make it to the other side before it turns solid red. Additionally, intersections in areas with significant pedestrian and commercial activity should be prioritized further by increasing the white hand time to increase the time window in which people can cross. These are necessary steps if Saskatoon is to become a safer and more walkable city.
