Safe sidewalks means safety from cars

I've already written about elements that make sidewalks appealing to pedestrians (Appealing Sidewalks). Safety as an appealing element is something that is lacking in most places in Metro Vancouver, particularly in Kitsilano where a pedestrian was just killed by a car entering the sidewalk.  A simple barrier that would prevent vehicles from jumping the curb and endangering pedestrians is lacking virtually everywhere sidewalks exist here.

Woman killed when pinned between car and Kitsilano storefront

By Christopher Reynolds, Vancouver Sun June 12, 2012 12:37 PM

VANCOUVER - Police will not be releasing the identity of a woman killed early Monday afternoon after a car, whose driver was attempting to parallel park, suddenly careened onto the sidewalk, pinning her between the vehicle and a storefront.

The decision comes at the request of family members who were notified Monday.

The woman, a 52-year-old Kitsilano resident, had been walking westbound in front of The Shoe Studio on Broadway near Macdonald Street when the station wagon lurched over the curb and into her midsection around 12:30 p.m.

She was taken to hospital but died of her injuries.

The 67-year-old driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, said Const. Lindsey Houghton. The car will undergo mechanical testing. Speed and alcohol are not considered factors in the incident.

This is Vancouver's eighth traffic-related death of 2012 compared to seven for the same time period in 2011 and four in 2010.

"I heard a loud, loud crash," said Nicole Belanger, 22, who had been working at Solly's Bagelry next door. "I immediately saw that there was a car on the sidewalk, and then someone came in yelling 'Call 911.'

"I was shaking," she said. "All my co-workers were shaking a good hour afterward."

Vancouver police sent victims services workers to the scene to offer trauma counselling to bystanders, said Const. Lindsey Houghton.

creynolds@vancouversun.com

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