Nearby resident enjoys calmer atmosphere in park
Its been nearly eight months since the traffic pilot in Beacon Hill Park started.
Any initial grumblings from motorists who found they could no longer take the same routes through the park have since quieted down, said Marg Gardiner, president of James Bay Neighbourhood Association.
The traffic calming pilot project that started with some resistance last August has more recently been “getting accolades,” she said.
“It’s easier to walk through the park with mobility problems,” Gardiner said.
She recently had hip surgery and uses walking sticks on her tours through the park. The closed roads allow people using walkers, canes and other mobility aids to see more of the park without having to risk more challenging trails or be as wary of traffic, she said.
“Even with the partial road closures, there are still lots of cars in the park,” Gardiner noted. “The more we make the park pedestrian friendly, the more we’ll see people use it.”
The pilot, which was originally intended to last three months, has been extended to this August. The City of Victoria is still compiling public feedback on the changes in the park to determine if they will made permanent.
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