Red flags anonymously placed at West End crosswalk in an attempt to improve pedestrian visibility

Red flags have appeared at a crosswalk in Vancouver’s West End neighborhood in an attempt to make it safer for pedestrians.

Two buckets with portable, cloth flags have been anonymously taped to poles at either end of the crosswalk at Nelson street and Nicola street, which residents say is one of the neighborhood’s busiest intersections.

A crosswalk at Nelson Street and Nicola Street is being called out as one of the busiest in Vancouver’s West End. (CityNews image)

Easter Lewis has lived in the West End for over 50 years and says it’s common for cars, vehicles and scooters to speed in her neighbourhood.

“It’s like a raceway,” Lewis said. “It’s becoming an avenue that goes right through downtown and over the Cambie Bridge.”

According to ICBC data, there were 14 collisions at this intersection between 2018 and 2022.

Signs on each bucket indicate the flags are meant to make people crossing the road more visible to approaching vehicles when used.

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But Lucy Maloney, local parent and chair of the Lord Roberts Elementary School Parent Advisory Committee, says she thinks the flags represent more than that.

“It’s a red flag for the city. It’s a cry for help,” Maloney said.

Maloney says although she thinks it was done with the best intentions, the flags aren’t going to make the street any safer for children or seniors.

A bucket containing flags to be used for pedestrian visibility has been anonymously placed at the crosswalk at the intersection of Nelson Street and Nicola Street. (CityNews image)

Lawrence Rowland, a member of transportation system safety organization Vision Zero, echoes Maloney’s sentiment.

“It’s a form of personal protective equipment and that is the least effective way to remove a hazard,” Rowland said.

The City of Vancouver says it plans to take action by extending the intersection’s corner clearance on the northeast corner by six metres to improve visibility. However, it says these changes may not be completed until next year.

Steve Addison, spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department, says all road users, no matter what neighborhood they’re in, need to be cognisant of each other when heading out the door.

“Road safety is everybody’s responsibility,” he said. “The best thing you could do is just give yourself extra time, plan ahead, chill out, slow down and be respectful of other road users.”

Correction: This article was updated to better reflect comments made by Steve Addison about road safety.