W. K. Lis
Superstar
So they painted them on instead. View attachment 201428
Let me guess. Short of funding... again.
So they painted them on instead. View attachment 201428
I anticipate the next streetcar corridor to see priority would be the 506 Carlton as it's a relatively wide street.
As fastening plastic to asphalt clearly did not work (and they used both glue and 'screws') it strikes me as quite sensible not to spend big bucks on these. Paint is quite good enough until the whole street is rebuilt.Let me guess. Short of funding... again.
If red paint would deter people I agree it's a good (cheap) idea but I doubt strongly it will do so. Some people know very well they are breaking the law, others simply are confused. Red paint (or clear signage) might work if NO CARS etc were on a street but the current situation IS confusing. You come to a street and see a car in the distance going where you want to go - it looks as though you can follow them. If you are stuck behind a streetcar you follow it (it gets what looks like a regular green light) and then realise you have just gone straight through and not turned right. The arrangement is simply complicated but there really is FAR FAR less car traffic on King and the streetcars can maintain a very good speed. That is the aim and it really has been achieved to at least the 90% level. I think we should stop obsessing about having 100% compliance!Red paint would be welcome to deter through traffic.
You come to a street and see a car in the distance going where you want to go - it looks as though you can follow them. If you are stuck behind a streetcar you follow it (it gets what looks like a regular green light) and then realise you have just gone straight through and not turned right.
A variant of this is how out of town people find it confusing. Many times I have seen cars waiting in the right turn lane at the intersection when a car drives straight through illegally. The cars in the right turn lane hesitate for a moment, then pull left and drive through too. Sometimes chains of three or four cars do this. I suspect those drivers unfamiliar with the area would default to think "I guess you are allowed to drive through here because that guy just did." That decision is easily reinforced by the solid green signal. This happens far less often--almost never--when no cars driving straight through.
Other jurisdictions use the red, yellow, and green arrow traffic signals. Other jurisdictions use have more specific and DIFFERENT transit signals. Not here in Toronto, because they didn't think of it, so cannot be implemented.
Or just don't care.Some people just don't have a clue.
I have to say I would like to see more transit riders on King standing out in that space to "claim it." I get that shouldn't be necessary, but I make a point to stand right out in the corner of the box to let drivers know that, yes, this space is for me, not you. It's weird how coming up on two years into the pilot I still see 50 people waiting for the streetcar at rush hour, and 47 of them are standing back on the sidewalk.