I would like to clear up some misconceptions about the narrowing of 20th Street
And what some people have conceived as a complaint by residents as the lack of on-street parking
Well my friend there are many more issues than the lack of parking. There are homes on 20th Street who have lost their access points to their home because no one stopped to think. There are families who will no doubt have to rethink family traditions – Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving, family get togethers and barbecues because there is no parking – this is a loss of enjoyment of a home.
And what about the family with children still at home going to school who have a car and drive?
Then there is the issue of safety. Should an emergency arise and an emergency vehicle is parked on 20th Street this vehicle will park in the middle of the street, thus totally blocking the street off so no other vehicle would be able to pass by. Not even another fire truck nor a ambulance will be able to pass by. So if a police car beats a fire truck to the scene the response time to set up and respond to say a fire will be slowed because Murphy’s Law, the police car will be in the way parked on the street.
I wonder what the Insurance Bureau of Canada or the insurance company will have to say about this?
Paved shoulders and standard-width wide streets have benefits in three important areas: safety, capacity and maintenance.
George Serhan
Vernon
