Pedestrian crossing on Senču Street: safety or ill-considered decision?

A safety island has recently been installed at a pedestrian crossing on Senču Street in the center of Riga. Drivers now have to merge into a single lane in that section. Many residents and road users believe the island is unnecessary and only creates a bottleneck on the road. Additionally, the road markings are not yet fully in order.

The Riga City Council, however, explains that the island was built to improve pedestrian safety. This opinion was expressed on the LSM program "Let's Discuss in the Evening."