Vancouver traffic petition calls for light at Nanaimo and 3rd

A 14-year-old Vancouverite is hoping to enact change, launching a petition calling for a traffic light and crosswalk in a local neighbourhood.

Elsa Rahim says in the Change.org petition to city council that not having a light in the area of Nanaimo Street and east 3rd or 4th avenues affects many people living there. That includes kids who play at the park nearby, as well as transit users who need to cross the busy route to catch certain buses.

“One last unsafe part of crossing at Nanaimo and 3rd at the moment is that it looks clear and then a car whips around the corner from the west of Nanaimo because cars cut through there all the time,” the petition reads in part.

“I believe it is important to have a traffic light on Nanaimo and 3rd because it would make the corner safer and it would make it faster to cross Nanaimo. I know think (sic) that because we don’t have a light there some kids in the neighbourhood have to walk down to 6th to go to garden park (sic). I know that corner is terrifying to cross and the people driving on Nanaimo do not stop for pedestrians.”

Elsa’s petition has caught the attention of city councillor Christine Boyle, who said on Friday that Elsa and a friend had already collected 75 signatures.

“Investments in road safety are so important!” Boyle wrote in a Twitter thread. “I saw two cars almost hit someone crossing at 1st and Nanaimo, the nearest intersection with lights, after Elsa and I met this afternoon.”

I saw two cars almost hit someone crossing at 1st and Nanaimo, the nearest intersection with lights, after Elsa and I met this afternoon. #VanPoli #EastVan #EastVancouver #HastingsSunrise #NanaimoStreet #Vancouver 2/3

— Christine Boyle (@christineeboyle) February 25, 2023

Boyle says she’s doing what she can to “amplify” Elsa’s voice, adding she will work with the teen to increase safety for all road users.

In an interview with CityNews, Boyle says that people frequently cross there, but it is “very hard and unsafe” to do so.

She adds that even if people head to the marked crosswalk at 1st Avenue and Nanaimo it can be dangerous.

“I’ve heard from a number of parents in that neighborhood now that, even at 1st and Nanaimo, they don’t feel comfortable having their kids cross on their own,” she said.

“A safe, protected crosswalk would allow kids in the neighborhood, families, seniors, people with disabilities, to get across that street safely.” 

As of Monday morning, the petition had gathered more than 500 signatures out of the goal of 1,000.

With files from Maria Vinca