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1. Welcome to Toronto, where apparently you should now wave a flag if you hope to cross the street safely.
At a signalized intersection.
By a school.
At a signalized intersection.
By a school.
2. For context, this if the intersection where these flags have popped up.
The problem here is not pedestrian visibility. It is drivers who race through yellows and run red lights to make it down the road to the next red light 30 seconds sooner.
The problem here is not pedestrian visibility. It is drivers who race through yellows and run red lights to make it down the road to the next red light 30 seconds sooner.
3. So why does this make me angry?
Because why should a pedestrian, at a signalized intersection, need to hold a flag to ‘take back the road’ when traffic is facing a red light and THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.
Because why should a pedestrian, at a signalized intersection, need to hold a flag to ‘take back the road’ when traffic is facing a red light and THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.
4. Why does this make me angry?
Because (once again) it puts the onus of safety on the pedestrian, instead of on those who are driving motor vehicles aggressively and irresponsibly.
Because (once again) it puts the onus of safety on the pedestrian, instead of on those who are driving motor vehicles aggressively and irresponsibly.
5. Why does this make me angry?
Because this sets up as another reason to blame victims.
“But they weren’t holding a flag…”
Because this sets up as another reason to blame victims.
“But they weren’t holding a flag…”
6. Speaking of victim-blaming, you can also put a digital flag on your mobile phone. Because “looking down at your phone while walking, especially crossing the road, can be distracting and dangerous”.
7. Why does this make me angry?
Because one-off interventions like this muddy the waters of clear communications and expectations for both drivers and those who want to cross the street.
Because one-off interventions like this muddy the waters of clear communications and expectations for both drivers and those who want to cross the street.
8. Why does this make me angry?
If we’re depending on flags to be safe when we have a pedestrian crossing signal, what do we do if we’re holding a baby in one hand and a bag in the other? Pushing a stroller? Using a walker?
If we’re depending on flags to be safe when we have a pedestrian crossing signal, what do we do if we’re holding a baby in one hand and a bag in the other? Pushing a stroller? Using a walker?
9. Why does this make me angry
Because if these ‘tech enabled flags’ have anything to do with data collection, they will inherently undercount pedestrian activity at the intersection.
Because if these ‘tech enabled flags’ have anything to do with data collection, they will inherently undercount pedestrian activity at the intersection.
10. Why does this make me angry?
Because there are real steps that could be taken - in terms of design and enforcement - to make streets safer, and this is none of them, and will lead to none of them.
Because there are real steps that could be taken - in terms of design and enforcement - to make streets safer, and this is none of them, and will lead to none of them.
11. Why does this make me angry?
Because this co-opts the language of pedestrian prioritization and empowerment (take back our roads!) while actually further entrenching the subordination of pedestrians to the car.
Because this co-opts the language of pedestrian prioritization and empowerment (take back our roads!) while actually further entrenching the subordination of pedestrians to the car.
12. Why does this make me angry?
Because why are road safety interventions branded by a private insurance company being installed on public infrastructure, on the public right of way, by a public school?
Because why are road safety interventions branded by a private insurance company being installed on public infrastructure, on the public right of way, by a public school?
13. Why?
Because children - anybody - should feel safe crossing the road, but we are collectively too selfish and petty to spare a few seconds and consider the safety of others, and we are too miserly and cowardly to take steps to change this reality - and so we get this…
Because children - anybody - should feel safe crossing the road, but we are collectively too selfish and petty to spare a few seconds and consider the safety of others, and we are too miserly and cowardly to take steps to change this reality - and so we get this…
14. This isn’t a ‘take back our roads’ flag. It’s a surrender flag.
There is no right of way, if you’re on your feet.
Wave a flag, and hope that, this time, you are allowed safe passage.
There is no right of way, if you’re on your feet.
Wave a flag, and hope that, this time, you are allowed safe passage.
Another good question.
Out of luck, I guess?
Out of luck, I guess?
