Residents of the Jannes van der Sleedenhuis residential care center in Hoogeveen do not get the zebra crossing they want in front of their door. The municipality is not interested in an additional zebra crossing at Het Haagje.
A consultancy firm conducted research for the municipality into the possibilities for a zebra crossing. The advice is not to construct an additional zebra crossing and the municipality agrees with this.
The Haagje is one of the busiest streets in Hoogeveen, many pedestrians cross the busy street to walk into the center. There are four pedestrian crossings for this purpose, two of which have a zebra crossing.
One of the crossings is located right in front of the Jannes van der Sleedenhuis, the nearest zebra crossing is 150 meters away. Residents of the residential care center indicated several times that they want a zebra crossing near the building. Residents are elderly and sometimes use a wheelchair or walker, which makes crossing a little slower, they feel more comfortable with a zebra crossing near the building.
But a zebra crossing is more than putting a few lines on the road, the advice states. According to the traffic bureau, the location is not suitable because it is close to a roundabout, cyclists should therefore be given priority and that is not in line with other roundabouts in Hoogeveen.
Installing a zebra crossing just after a roundabout makes the traffic situation more confusing. It is also not the busiest crossing point. Because motorists will notice that someone does not cross the road very often, they will be less alert. “There is a risk of accidents,” the advice states.
Another argument for not building another zebra crossing is that traffic on Het Haagje will become even more congested. Entrepreneurs also feared even more delays and previously stated in a letter that they were against an additional zebra crossing.
Residents of the Jannes van der Sleedenhuis have been informed. They still want a crossing near their building. For the time being, they have to settle for a few minor adjustments that combat other defects raised, such as lowering curbs and adjusting slopes.