OK, so who is thinking about reality of life and traffic here in Red Deer? It clearly is not council or the mayor or the Publics Works Department — come on, are you kidding me?
First you dismember 32nd Street, bring the speed limit down to 30km/h (keep in mind here that Ross and 55th and 30th are all pretty well full to capacity).
Then what you do as council and the mayor is because 200 citizens respond to a survey, you install bike lanes on 40th and 39th and 55th a month before snow flies. So now you have no out for the traffic, three schools getting out within about 10 minutes and believe that in your rose-coloured glasses that you have done the right thing and are helping the green movement.
A little thought and consultation would have been a good idea. What has happened is that these bike lanes have generated a major traffic jam on every major street on the east side of the city.
Council may have a good idea in providing better access for bikes but there are many ways to accomplish this and the timing and manner in which this has occurred is not based on good judgment. Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgment! Give all the residents who live on the east side a break and dissolve the bike lanes until some consultation and planning occur — use your minds and gain the experience!
Robert McCamus
Red Deer