Editor: It appears that any progress or change that takes place also raises negative reviews from all segments of our community, and all too often, the people that see change for the good never speak up.
I, for one, would like to make positive comments for the changes to the 203 Street roadway and give kudos to the City of Langley for its initiative to change the ways we move around our city and recognize that demographics are changing, whether we like them or not.
Our city has a responsibility to make changes that benefit the people at large that live in some of these areas.
At first, during construction of the roundabout I had fairly negative thoughts.
The poor vision line at the roundabout, which in my opinion never materialized, the narrowing of 203 Street from 53 Avenue to 56 Avenue, posed an issue for me because I drive an F350 Ford pickup and thought the narrowing of the road would limit the clearance for my truck as I went by parked cars, and that I would have to slow down as I went through this area.
Guess what — I could not go as fast as I did before, but had no problem maintaining the posted speed limit.
Also, the clearance between my vehicle and parked cars was no different than driving on other roads in the city.
Then when the construction was completed I saw what had been accomplished and how it benefited a highly urban area with lots of pedestrian traffic, I had to admit the city did it right, not only in that it looks good, but it also suggested to me that more thought should go into how we plan these re-developments that beautify our city and so benefit the community as a whole.
As for our cycling friends not being able to do 25 km/h close to pedestrian traffic — that may not be a bad thing. Think 15 km/h.
I have lived in Calgary and they require cyclists to carry some warning device, like a bell, to make pedestrians aware of their presence.
How many times have I had a near heart attack as a cyclist went by at speed when I was walking my dogs.
The moving of the bicycle close to the pedestrian walkway might make everyone aware of options and responsibilities we have as we create a more urbanized society.
I vote the city did a good job, recognizing it was for the common good.
Bob Gillies,
Langley