Automatic walk signs at intersections. Making the pedestrian experience better along 64th Avenue.

I can count the number of times that I’ve left Langley on my hands over the last nine months. These days my world is the area bond by the BC Hydro right of way, Surrey border, 64th Avenue, and the Derek Doubleday Arboretum. As walking is my primary way of getting around, I’ve become very familiar with the pedestrian experience in this section of our region.

Some parts of our community are pleasurable to walk, such as in our parks, trails, and Downtown. There are other parts of our community where it is downright scary to walk, such as along the Langley Bypass.

One of the things that I’ve noticed recently was an improvement when walking along 64th Avenue, which is in the Township of Langley. In the past, you had to press the walk button. If you missed pressing the button before the start of a green light cycle, you would have to wait until the next green cycle. This could result in waiting between 2 to 4 minutes. The last few times I’ve walked along 64th Avenue, the walk signs at intersections have automatically activated without me needing to press a button.

This walk sign is automatically displayed at 64th Avenue and 202nd Street. Select image to enlarge.

This change has shaved a few minutes off the walk between 204th/Willowbrook Connector and the SmartCentre mall, improving the pedestrian experience.

Langley City has also been improving the pedestrian experience at some intersections. If there is enough time left in a green cycle, when you press the walk button at some intersections, you will immediately get a walk sign without having to wait for a complete cycle.

I’m encouraged that in Langley, we are slowly improving the pedestrian experience at intersections.