LETTER

Unsafe crossing on Lucerne to get to Woods Park  

 

I am frustrated with the Ville de Gatineau for repetitively, over the past eleven  years, refusing to install a sign which warns cars that there is a stop coming up on the corner of Bancroft and Lucerne.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen cars speeding along Lucerne and slamming on their brakes last minute when they perceive the stop sign there. I have almost been hit, turning onto Lucerne from Bancroft. The city maintains that the stop sign is visible and that cars are choosing not to make their stop. The police regularly park on Bancroft to catch drivers who do not stop. So they are aware of this problem. Would they be doing this repetitively if it  wasn’t needed?

About six years ago the city installed a sidewalk from Bancroft to Parker St. on Lucerne, opposite Woods Park.  The entrance to the bike path and to the park is on Parker St. and Lucerne. There is no way to cross there safely.  The park is on the opposite side of the street from the sidewalk.  My request for a pedestrian crossing has also been refused; the City says there are not enough pedestrians crossing there.  

Moreover, there is a curve in Lucerne coming from the marina. I am convinced cars do not see that there are people, many of them children, crossing Lucerne on foot or on bike at Parker (where there is no stop sign) to get to the bike path and to Woods Park, and they do not see the stop sign on Bancroft due to this curve.  

The city disagrees and has refused my request year after year. Are they  waiting for someone to get hurt first? When that happens, they cannot say they were unaware of the problem because each of my requests has been refused. I have sent requests to the last three city councillors: Frank Therien, Stefan Psenak and Josée Lacasse. All refused my requests. 

I ask other citizens who cross there to contact the city and make a complaint. There is strength in numbers.  

Lisa Vilbrunt 

Aylmer