🔥Cassandra🔥Currently watching, Ottawa city council, pedestrian safety:
YouTube
I don't know who this councillor is who just said to a woman who is crying on camera about her kid sister who died in a collision "Sorry that happened to that person" but we have to "discuss the trade-offs."
Two councillors using their bad French to explain to a delegate you're welcome to delegate in French but then not asking any questions in either language.
Surprise motion to... maintain the status quo. 🎉
Shenanigans. The chair trying to tie responsibility on staff, the staff pointing out actually the chair makes rulings.
Oooh! Delegate the authority to program street lights to AI. That's exciting.
They had to get someone more knowledgeable on the call because nobody could agree on the impact of the surprise motion.
That more knowledgeable person now suggesting that an opinion on substantive questions can't be answered without a motion.
The motion to maintain the status quo has been withdrawn.
83 people watching!
Marielle Quinton@Cassandra Personally I felt the staff was trying very hard to indicate pedestrian scrambles would be much more effective. "What works the best is to have vehicular and pedestrian traffic separated by time and space..." states staff "What about if we have a leading pedestrian green AND no right on reds?" asks a councillor, large sigh from staff that councillors did not pick up the hint "yes, that's more effective than just a red light reduction". Maybe we can sell pedestrian scrambles as enhanced no right on reds lol.
@mariellequinton Absolutely. Lots of people talked in favour of leading pedestrian greens, acknowledging that it *is safer* when *pedestrians don't have to compete with cars.* The logical extension of that is: scrambles.
@Cassandra They have an allergy to the concept and I don't understand why. I don't understand the rules they operate these meetings under, but surely they could've asked staff if pedestrian scrambles would work better and thus be recommended by them? So frustrating.
gardencat@Cassandra
Such a "surprise". I guess it will only change when one of them is directly affected??? Or not even then.
Such a "surprise". I guess it will only change when one of them is directly affected??? Or not even then.