Pedestrians First

Have you ever begun to step off a streetcar and almost been hit by a fast moving car, truck, motorcycle, scooter or bicycle? I know have.

And we are not alone. Each day, TTC drivers witness over a 100 incidents where vehicles failed to stop behind the open doors of a streetcar.

And each month a TTC rider is hit by a vehicle passing the open doors of a streetcar as the rider steps off.

One day when I was walking from the sidewalk, with 6 other people, an unmarked Toronto Police car drove among us. Blows the mind.

Speaking of the Toronto police catching errant motorists driving past open streetcar doors is not a prior - yet.

Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act failing to stop behind the open doors of a TTC streetcar is a violation and the motorist can be fined $109.00. I think the fines are too low. We need higher fines. What do you think?

So motorists:

• Be prepared to stop behind a streetcar
• Stop and do not pass the open doors of a streetcar
• Watch for riders exiting and boarding streetcars
• Proceed slowly once the streetcar doors close and the roadway is clear

If you want things to change call your city councillor, the Toronto Police Service station in your neighbourhood and the TTC and complain. Raise your concerns. You or a loved one could be the next TTC rider hit by a fast moving vehicle driven by a mindless, thoughtless motorist.

Take action. Make a few phone calls.

The blog is moved and re-installed with a new theme and I have a number of ideas, questions, observations and rants that have been drifting around in my mind as a I walk around the city of Toronto:

• cars drivers seemingly intent on hitting people as they get off street cars
• bicyclists careening down sidewalks
• why do people stand at the bottom of escalators?
• why do people stand at the bottom at the stairs in subway stations blogging the way to the platform
• and so

So I have a few things to write about in the coming weeks.