Raise the Hammer

Just once I'd like both sides to cut the bull.

First off, we all know making your own crosswalks, bike lanes and imitation bump outs is mischief and civil disobedience. Perhaps well intentioned, but it is none the less, it shouldn't be romanticized and pretend it's ok, because it's not. As regrettable as it is (and it is overwhelmingly regrettable) the city is liable if they let these cones sit for too long and someone trips over them, or gets into an accident because of bogus signage. This is certainly not ok if the individuals didn't at least try to use the system in the first place to see these changes made. All's they've done is made it harder to push these changes and overcome the public works obstinate attitude, and given them a scapegoat for their own poor quality of work.

which brings us to the public works.

Calling all of these additions serious health and safety hazards is overblown. Starting a police investigation in regards to it (which I sincerely hope they must only do as a matter of policy) strikes me as likely a waste of time and police resources. However, to even bring up an initiative that has made little to no progress at all since 2006 to claim due diligence is pure absurdity.

A painted corner crosswalk (assuming they didn't paint a thick stop bar), at a non-signalized intersection, isn't a safety concern, it's a redundant guideline at best. A set of pylons is ridiculous to call a risk, given how much the city uses them during normal construction. As far as the sign, well it would depend on what the sign was, I don't think anyone would argue that putting up a 80kph speed limit sign on Upper James is cool or safe and the memo may have a point on this one, but I have my doubts given the other examples. The point is, this is pure hyperbole.

Had this memo said "This is a liability risk if we don't get rid of them quick as other civil cases have risen from this, it's an annoyance that we wish we didn't have to deal with, they might have a point but they are going about this in the completely wrong way, if you have people wanting to voice changes, here's how they can do so if any party is interested" I could respect the position and memo. However, instead it pretty much is huffing and puffing about little to nothing to make it seem like he's doing something behind his desk. To not even provide information to Councillors or other members of staff in regards to direction on how citizens could actually petition to make changes to the traffic system, serves only to compliment the arrogant tone of this memo. It regrettably furthers my belief that the city's bureaucracy is in desperate need of a clean out due to the overwhelming egotism and cronyism that plagues it.

I would also like to add, that it's funny that city staff are able go about "immediately repairing and/or removing the work" of some trivial mischief, and yet can't, over the course of several years and several reports as being rated by the CAA as one of the worst streets in the country, can't seem to find time or money to fix Burlington St, or...make ANY motion of this supposed North End traffic reorganization or one way street conversion, or anything else besides building new streets for new suburbs on the mountain.