Calgary councillors push to protect pedestrians

CALGARY- A city councillor wants the city to move faster to improve pedestrian safety, following a string of collisions.

Two women were hit in Kensington on Monday, adding to the statistic of nearly 8,300 pedestrians struck around Calgary over the past 16 years.

More than 150 people have been hit along 17 Avenue S.E., and councillor Andre Chabot says he wants that area addressed as part of a city-wide pedestrian safety policy.

“This just further supports the need for us to move forward on this investment, and start making things safer for pedestrians in this area,” Chabot says. “We have a limited number of dollars. We need to focus on the high priority, the hot spots first, and this one has obviously been identified years ago.”

Traffic engineers are developing the safety strategy, which could include better signage and intersection design. The strategy goes before city council early next year.