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If it ain’t broke...

Beacon is a very successful example of a street that retains automobile traffic while giving pedestrians wide sidewalks and other amenities

I live in a condo in the middle of Sidney and I walk and shop on Beacon Avenue almost every day. I agree with other writers who want Beacon to remain exactly as it is. Nothing will be gained by changing to two-way traffic. In fact I think that it will make things worse for drivers and pedestrians alike.

I also disagree with those who want to turn the street into a pedestrian-only zone.

As an architect who has lived and worked in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, I’ve observed many pedestrian-zone experiments fail. I’m very familiar with the European experience because I travel there frequently.

Canada, however, is not Europe. Canadians are married to their cars and won’t take the time or expend the energy to walk a block or two to a pedestrian street. Furthermore, streets in this country that have no car traffic are generally poor for business and can become dangerous, especially after dark.

Beacon is a very successful example of a street that retains automobile traffic while giving pedestrians wide friendly sidewalks and other amenities. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

John Crowhurst

Sidney