Thorneside resident Peter Black, who only has 5 per cent vision, wants a pedestrian crossing on Thorneside Road so he can get to the bus stop and the train station. Photo by Chris McCormack
Thorneside resident Peter Black, who only has five per cent vision, wants a pedestrian crossing on Thorneside Road so he can get to the bus stop and the train station. Photo by Chris McCormack
Thorneside resident Peter Black, who only has 5 per cent vision, wants a pedestrian crossing on Thorneside Road so he can get to the bus stop and the train station. Photo by Chris McCormack
REDLAND City Council is still investigating a request for a pedestrian crossing on Thorneside Road, between Railway Parade and Ferry Road.
The council rejected an initial request for a crossing at the site from 49-year-old visually impaired Thorneside resident Paul Black in April.
Officers said the requested crossing "did not meet the requirement criteria such as traffic and pedestrian volumes".
To make their finding, officers spoke to Mr Black and then spent "several weeks" gathering data from state government departments on the road and its traffic.
However, since then, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland asked the council, on May 2, to consider one of three crossing options on Thorneside Road.
It suggested installing an "audio tactile signal" crossing, which makes a noise when it is safe to cross the road, or a pedestrian zebra crossing, or upgrading or relocating the existing pedestrian refuge.
Redland City chief executive Gary Stevenson said the council was assessing the three suggestions.
He said any assessment would be done according to the state government-issued Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which complies with Australian Standards.
"This manual does not provide any dispensation for the visually impaired," Mr Stevenson said.
Mr Black, who has about five per cent vision, said he needed a safe spot to cross Thorneside Road so he could get to Thorneside train station and the bus stop for route 253 to Capalaba.
"The road is quite busy and there are no safe places to cross, nor are there any electronic or zebra crossings on that road," Mr Black said.
"It's not just for me. There are other visually impaired and elderly people who want to cross there to get to the train.
"I have not asked for anything out of the ordinary ? all I have asked for is a crossing for everyone to get across the road and it doesn't have to be one that is especially for the blind," Mr Black said.
New Division 10 councillor Paul Bishop said he was looking into the issue and would speak with officers to determine a safe solution.
"At certain times of the day, when Mr Black wants to cross the road, it is difficult as there are so many cars going both ways," Cr Bishop said.
"Because of his disability, it is also difficult for him to ascertain the speed of cars coming around the corner. Before we can take any action, I must get more details and I am also looking into requests for a crossing at Collingwood Road," he said.