Editor: Re: Traffic and road use bylaw by Dieter Remppel. At risk of joining Remppel Rants, I must write to agree with his letter of Feb. 26.
Sense and sensibility cannot be legislated for every interaction between road users, other road users, and pedestrians.
1. Bow River bridge. On my bike, I have constantly been passed by drivers on this bridge. I can only assume drivers visiting town do not see the signs “Do not pass cyclists on the bridge.” I now use the pedestrian bridge – sorry. I do think the speed warning light is useful, but it still does not draw attention to the “Do not pass cyclists on the bridge” notice.
2. The town encourages no idling and is ostensibly pro-environment. Meanwhile, we are subject to an impressive number of traffic lights. I am constantly stopping – and idling with other cars, as we wait for lights, often with one or no vehicles crossing or waiting. It seems as if the town has no imagination or town traffic planning ideas other than install lights.
Benchlands Trail crossing over the highway is an excellent example. The two places where there are lights on the bridge are in effect three-way crossings. Similar intersections in Banff and Lake Louise have no lights and have heavy use. Why oh why do we need them? This is not a big town.
Then there is the run along Railway Avenue – a street that should be renamed “Lights Galore Avenue.” I am counting the days when our engineer deems that we need another set. I am waiting with bated breath for the addition of lights at the entrance to Elevation Place, which is particularly difficult to turn left out of due to the Elevation Place sign placed exactly so as to obstruct view of traffic from the left.
Less developed countries and countries in Europe use roundabouts (traffic circles) and speed bumps to great effect to slow traffic or keep traffic moving at intersections without lights. Instead, Canmore has lights and radar. Traffic circles do not have to be large, many in Europe and the U.K. are simple bollards.
That is another annoyance and topic I could add to the rant; collecting speeding fines when the warning signs and a speed bump or two would work. And, I add, no plans on how to use this increasing fund of fine money.
So I conclude by adding my agreement to Dieter’s. This town thinks fines and lights cure all traffic problems. All I can see is an increasing speeder fund with no effectiveness. Since the fund is increasing, the conclusion is more people are speeding.
More fines are being collected, but can radar be effective? Speed bumps have an immediate effect as do roundabouts and are not an ongoing cost in maintenance and power.
I also wonder where the long-term planning is for an alternate through traffic route? A plan for an alternate bridge or road to divert traffic round the town centre or signage for through traffic would be helpful. The longer no alternate road is planned, then the harder it will be with all the town development to create such a route.
Walk the talk and be pro-environment. Please pick environmentally proactive solutions that have less cost and are instantly effective (for example, speed bumps near schools – instant feedback and effective).
Start using sense and creativity – and may we also ask for a well thought out traffic plan?
Sibylla Lane,
Canmore
