It had strips of "grippy" concrete in the road leading up to it, giving drivers a visual cue as they approached. Drivers always stopped when they saw her hesitating before she stepped out on it.
In a January 2 article published online by SCOOP, Dr Hood outlined the plight of pedestrians.
She said there were 348 pedestrians killed on New Zealand roads between 2006 and 2015, and only 90 cyclists killed during the same time. Government has more than $350 million invested in a Cycling Safety Action Plan. There is no pedestrian safety plan.
Of the pedestrians killed on roads, 30 per cent were aged 65 or older. That's 104 people, more than the total of cyclists killed.
There has been little response to her article, to her annoyance. But she also wrote to the Chief Coroner, who showed more interest.
Elderly people make up 13 per cent of New Zealand's population. That percentage is expected to double by 2036, which means the pedestrian death rate could also double.
Older people need to walk for exercise, Dr Hood said, and they have to cross roads. They are more unstable, move more slowly and are likely to have sight and hearing problems.
When crossing a road they have no protection, and they are generally poorer judges of speed and distance.
What's needed is some commitment by Government to pedestrian safety, she said.
"There are a lot of young traffic designers who would leap at the chance of tackling the challenge if Government put some money into it. We're not all petrolheads."
Footpaths also need attention, she said. They're used by scooters, skateboards, mobility scooters and Segways as well as walkers and there are no standards set for their width, smoothness or gradient.
"It's just awful, shoving everything that isn't a vehicle onto a footpath."
No city wants more cars, she said, and a re-think of walking would make cities more sustainable, healthy and liveable. Dr Hood experienced this in May on 2.5km of Paris expressway "pedestrianised" with seats, playgrounds and cafes.
"We were there on May Day, and half the population was promenading along the Seine."