Voters in a contest that spotlights dangerous and unsightly public walkways in the region have dubbed a narrow Saanich path as the worst.
A strip of pavement that winds around a tree in Oak Bay finished second.
In both instances, pedestrians are left “playing Frogger,” referencing a 1980s Sega game where players navigated frogs across a busy road (or river), said Natasha Moroz, Walk On Victoria member and organizer of the second-annual #JankyJune contest.
The strip on Lansdowne Road adjacent to Camosun College won the vote – and thus dubbed most dangerous – by a landslide, Moroz said.
“It looks like a curb, but it’s technically a sidewalk on a busy part of Lansdowne Road,” she said, noting even when winding down the entries it was a no-brainer for the shortlist of five for the public to vote on.
“There’s no way you’re taking a stroller, or a kid or even as an adult walking there.”
RELATED: Saanich sidewalk voted worst in Greater Victoria
In both instances, a full sidewalk runs the other side of the road, but that’s beside the point, Moroz said.
“It came in second place for a reason,” she said. “It’s these hurdles that we believe are going to discourage walking and other modes of transportation.”
The light-hearted contest opens a way for people to where they see a need for improvement in the community, in a way that’s conducive to positive change.
“The goal is to have a playful, positive way to engage between ourselves, the public and the municipalities,” Moroz said. It also helps people appreciate the infrastructure around them, whether it’s fantastic or has room for improvement, she explained. “We want to provide a great outlet for people to share that.”
Surprisingly, the bulk of submissions came from outside of the downtown core, she said. Despite being hosted by an organization with Victoria in the name, there were no submissions from that city, suggesting it’s doing well in pedestrian infrastructure.
Most submissions, and several individuals submitted multiples, came from the largest municipality with a significant rural/urban interface – Saanich.
“People were so thorough and so thoughtful in their responses,” she said. “I was impressed with the way the community responded.”
Visit walkonvictoria.org to learn more about the pedestrian advocacy group.
