I have encountered pedesterians in that general area on a number of occasions crossing the highway, having to make their way over the concrete no-post guardrails. There are many places where Pronce George is not pedestrian friendly. That part of town is one of them.

Probably a suicide walker after losing his shirt at the casino.

My condolences to the relatives of the person who lost his life needlessly, sadly for lack of a proper pedestrian overpass.

Prince George doesn't have any even in the most needed locations where people have been darting across heavy traffic for many years, such as at the CNC and the Spruceland Shopping Mall.

It is deplorable, to say the least.

Chadermando, U ought to be ashamed of yourself, this is not a time for needless comments such as your's, My condolences to the family and friends.

Amen.

I do not know details of the case, so cannot say whether this individual fell into a possible pattern which may be emerging, especially in the summer.

We have the casino on one side of the road, with its hotel. We have two existing motels on the other side of the road, with a third one to finally open its doors likely early in the new year. There are also three restaurants now on that side.

It would stand to reason that some of those people who may come here to gamble as the primary reason, or even as a secondary reason, may end up wishing to walk rather than take the car which would mean finding a parking space on the other side, which can be busy at times, not to mention getting back a very confusing and long drive for newcomers to the community.

Upland street passes under the highway and connects the tourist facilities on the north side of HWY 97 to the north east corner of the casino property on the south side of the highway.

All that is needed is a dedicated, ramped walkway and signage to give those people who are looking for that connection, and anyone else for that matter, a safe way to cross the highway. It would give the commercial facilities on both sides of the highway another feature which would promote all facilities located there.

After all, we want to make this community as attractive and safe for our visitors and any of our local residents who love gambling and vietnamese food.

aerial view here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26306372@N00/307912768

:-)

Thanks for the picture! I think that few people would use that convoluted up and down path and the crossing of Upland plus there may be a fear (especially by out-of-towners) from entering an underpass in the dark of night!

There is nothing wrong with a direct well lit pedestrian overpass across 97 South, connecting the two commercial areas on both sides of it.

Kamloops has pedestrian overpasses across main highways and I don't think Prince George should get anything less than what other cities have already gotten under similar circumstances!

Why always accept second best? Same goes for the other two locations I mentioned.

:)-

I do not like driving under pedestrian overpasses since I am always afraid or getting hit with rocks thrown by kids ..... or a suicide jumper landing on the hood of my car ....

:-)

That particular overpass is short and wide and relatively bright. Not much different than walking under a bridge, such as the railway bridge over the Fraser with the riverfront trail going underneath.

Overpasses are also not safe. If someone wishes to confront someone, all they need is a second individual on the other side. When there is no one on the overpass other than the intended victim, the two or more than trap the person on the overpass. Cars travelling below may not see anything, certainly not in detail. By the time someone passes by that sees something unusual and will actually pick up the cell to dial 911, the incident will be over.

Myself, I would prefer to stay on the ground where I have some hope of escaping rather than a restricted walkway from which there is no escape.

So, for those who fear such situations, they will use the car.

I have never been afraid in cities like Chicago, New York, Toronto. I am certainly not afraid in Prince George. Of course, that does not mean that others are not and that we should not try to make things as safe as possible.

Here is a tunnel, for instance. Nice and bright, large enough to see the other side, no niches to hide in .. and certainly not cheap or second best to a pedestrian bridge.

http://www.ite.org/activeliving/files/C-2-C_ppa029.pdf

Think good design, don't think 8 foot diameter black shaft .....

BTW ... the "convoluted" path to cross the highway is obviously as a result of ramping down to the underpass.

Whether one ramps up to an overpass or down to an underpass really does not matter, distance and a climb is involved in either case.

Stairs are not acceptable since it will provide unrestrcited access only to those who are able bodied pedestrians. It will disregard bicyclists, people with strollers, people who have a hard time to climb stairs and those who are in wheelchairs ... as well as the street people who use shopping carts to carry their worldly belongings in .....

;-)

It is a provincial highway, not a city street. "Jaywalk" across a provincial highway at your own risk. And I do mean risk. Obviously.

A Google search of "pedestrian overpasses" shows how these are being designed with very gradually sloping ramps to accommodate those who walk, with or without bicycles or shopping carts, and those with a motorized wheelchair or a stroller.

However, these structures are very expensive, so that explains their non-existence in our community.

The province would be responsible for the cost, but City officials have to put in a request.

That is where the matter is stalled, obviously.

These do not look like they would be too expensive. After all, we want to use wood wherever possible. Maybe the province will sell it to us for a dollar eventually.

;-)

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=142766774&size=l

http://flickr.com/photos/superdavenm/201502948/in/photostream/

or how about this one from the scrap metal from expo 87 in Vancouver??
http://flickr.com/photos/bearface/141460529

The Spaniards know how to defy gravity ....
http://flickr.com/photos/ms_cwang/93640295
http://flickr.com/photos/fuckit/98975901

Just think, we could put highway direction signs on the bridge too and save money by not having to put them on posts with footings.

:-)