Children on Bowen Island are learning a new safety skill — how to operate the island’s first traffic light.
On Tuesday morning, an energetic group of children took the solar-powered LED pedestrian crosswalk near BICS through its inaugural paces. Push the button, wait for the crosswalk’s yellow lights to start flashing, look both ways and then cross Bowen Trunk Road once all the cars have stopped.
Municipal staff, RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga and acting mayor Sue-Ellen Fast joined them.
“This great little project will make this tricky, top-of-the-hill spot safer for Bowen school children and others at a crossing that is getting busier,” Fast says.
“When there’s a power outage on the island, the light will still work because it has its own power source and it fits nicely with Bowen’s focus on sustainability.”
The light is pedestrian activated. Drivers are legally obligated to stop for pedestrians but can proceed on their way once the pedestrians have reached their destination. (You don’t need to wait the full 15 seconds for the lights to stop flashing.)
RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga says, “Drivers are often in a hurry to get into the ferry line-up when they are driving past the school. We are hoping that having a light in this location will help slow people down.”
The next time that portion of the road is paved, the speed bump will be removed.
ICBC’s Road Improvement program for municipalities will help pay for the project.
