Calgary council approves head start for pedestrians at busy intersections

Calgary council approved Leading Pedestrian Intervals — a traffic safety measure that gives pedestrians a 3 to 7 second head start to cross before drivers receive a green light. The city will roll out the system within two years, prioritizing high-collision intersections, school zones, and heavily used areas.

Fifteen pedestrians died in Calgary last year, with intersections accounting for the highest-risk locations for pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Councillor DJ Kelly brought forward the motion.

"When the walk signal comes on, people begin crossing first. A few seconds later, drivers receive the green light to proceed or to turn," Kelly said. "That small head start makes a really big difference though. It allows pedestrians to establish themselves in the crosswalk and become much more visible to drivers."

Data from Toronto, Vancouver, and New York shows LPIs reduced pedestrian-vehicle collisions by 25 to 60 percent. The city has not yet named specific intersections for priority rollout or stated the cost of implementation.

Resident Megan, who lives in Dalhousie, said she's nearly been hit multiple times while following safety rules and wearing bright colours. "I find it very, very frustrating," she said. Another resident, Hannah Sanno, said she feels safer knowing pedestrians have priority. Some residents, like Megan, are also asking for four-way pedestrian crossings similar to Banff's system, where all vehicle traffic stops simultaneously.