Editor:
I'm sure I'm not alone in noticing the increasing number of seniors who are unable to navigate their way across 56th Street intersections (especially at 12th Avenue) before the lights change. While drivers do patiently wait until pedestrians reach the sidewalk, the situation is a risky one.
Some years ago New York City instituted a Safe Streets for Seniors initiative that brought in many changes, including modified signal timing. The need for such adaptations here was vividly brought home to me a few days ago when a senior lady stopped me after I'd crossed 56th Street at the Town Centre Mall intersection and expressed concern about whether she and her walker could make it back across that same road before the lights changed.
When she politely refused my initial offer to escort her I told her she had spurred me to relay those concerns to the Optimist since I'd noticed many of her contemporaries struggling to safely cross intersections in the allotted time. As we talked I learned the charming lady was the widow of our highly respected former MLA Fred Gingell. "I've lived here for 40 year and used to be able to sprint across streets, but now..." Given our aging demographic, Mrs. Gingell's plight is clearly not an uncommon one.
We started across the mall intersection together the instant pedestrian sign appeared, but were still a few feet short of the curb before the light changed, even though Mrs. Gingell's speed was well above that of many seniors observed crossing major streets.
The community would surely adapt with grace to slightly longer wait times at busy corners for sake of residents' safety.
Wellner Gagnier
