An Abbotsford woman says she will continue to be a thorn in the side of truck drivers until they stop parking illegally and endangering commuters.
Jennifer Rowse started a petition in late 2017, calling on the City of Abbotsford to crack down on drivers who park their trucks in the middle lane of Clearbrook Road near Highway 1, as they make a pit stop at Tim Hortons.
“It is completely unsafe and horrible that they value their coffee more than other drivers’ lives,” she wrote.
Rowse presented her petition, with more than 150 signatures, to the city’s transportation advisory committee on Monday, March 19. She asked that they ensure police continue ticketing drivers until the illegal parking stops entirely.
The trucks endanger commuters passing by, as well as the truck drivers themselves, Rowse said. She said she believes it’s only a matter of time until a five-year-old being driven to or from her child’s daycare is hurt.
“They want to live to see six,” she said.
She said she was glad to see signs reading “including centre lane” installed below existing no parking signage. A city spokesperson said the new signs were installed Feb. 16.
READ: Trucker responds to petition calling for crackdown on illegal parking
Rowse said she appreciates the vital work truck drivers do, but said her children’s safety must come before their comfort. She vowed to continue making noise about the issue and said she is willing to park her car and take pictures of trucks parked on Clearbrook Road and report drivers to their employers.
“I’m annoying,” she said. “I get things done and I don’t give up easily.”
The Abbotsford Police are taking a multi-pronged approach to addressing the parking issue, Sgt. Judy Bird said, including writing tickets and mounting a media campaign educating drivers about the parking rules and potential alternative places for them to stop.
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