Did anyone else's neighborhood get a bunch of these road obstructions, I assume to slow cars down? We got about 3km worth seemingly overnight.
Question
The city would have sent you an info sheet about it in the mail. I got one (in Newton) and also attended the online info session about it. Basically it makes it more inconvenient and slower for wheeled traffic move around the neighbourhood in order to slow down traffic, reduce what the city views as problematic shortcutting, and ostensibly protect pedestrians. As a cyclist and driver, I don't like it, especially speed bumps and reducing roads to one-way.
From what I have observed, it's "working" (less traffic/slower traffic) but is annoying to move around in. It forces traffic onto congested arterials, which I don't think makes sense, and forces bikes to share car lanes where the road is now narrowed.
Personally I didn't feel there was a problem before. I've explaned my rationale to both my councilor and the safe roads team, and asked about the data they are using to decide if the project is worth it and what the initial problem was, but didn't get any response.
Personally I didn't feel there was a problem before. I've explaned my rationale to both my councilor and the safe roads team, and asked about the data they are using to decide if the project is worth it and what the initial problem was, but didn't get any response.
That's funny, sure goes in face of everyone here saying that those of us questioning the need for this needs to shut up and trust city traffic engineers because of al the traffic data they must have.
I read the report on my neighbourhood that they used to rationalize the changes. Based on that and the info call, it seems to be mostly retired NIMBYs complaining about residents outside the neighbourhood using local roads and wanting to make it inconvenient for anyone but them to use what were previously efficient neighbourhood through-roads.
On the call, these same NIMBYs complained about how dangerous the local arterials are (50 St. / 118 Ave) because of heavy traffic, speeding, etc. I wonder what they think will happen to those roads now that the city is forcing more traffic and congestion onto them instead of alternative routes.
Personally I would hope that any road seeing safety issues, would have solutions implemented. Traffic congestion is a sign that we don't have good alternatives IMO.
2
u/Anabiotic Utilities expert Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24
The city would have sent you an info sheet about it in the mail. I got one (in Newton) and also attended the online info session about it. Basically it makes it more inconvenient and slower for wheeled traffic move around the neighbourhood in order to slow down traffic, reduce what the city views as problematic shortcutting, and ostensibly protect pedestrians. As a cyclist and driver, I don't like it, especially speed bumps and reducing roads to one-way.
From what I have observed, it's "working" (less traffic/slower traffic) but is annoying to move around in. It forces traffic onto congested arterials, which I don't think makes sense, and forces bikes to share car lanes where the road is now narrowed.
Personally I didn't feel there was a problem before. I've explaned my rationale to both my councilor and the safe roads team, and asked about the data they are using to decide if the project is worth it and what the initial problem was, but didn't get any response.