I don’t think we’re there yet, but I can see a day when the Town of Okotoks decides to follow the lead of other jurisdictions and paint lines down the middle of our pathways to separate those on two wheels from those on two feet.
If you make use of the pathway system with any regularity, you’ll likely have had some close encounters between different modes of transportation, interactions that might well have left you shaking your head.
I’m on foot so I’m biased in favour of pedestrians, although I must say that most bike riders are good at ringing their bells or calling out to advise that they’re approaching. As far as those on e-scooters, well, in my experience at least, they’re typically not as quick to extend that courtesy, although I admit that’s generalizing.
I get that the pathways are for all kinds of active transportation, so everyone is entitled to use them, but when you mix an increasing volume of users with a variety of modes and speeds, to say nothing of those users with headphones, there’s an opportunity for things to go off the rails.
When users are sufficiently spaced out, there’s enough room for everyone, but when that’s not the case, having your own lane would provide a sense of security.
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While on the topic of the pathways, after a significant windstorm, who do you think is the first to tend to the fallen leaves and branches that dot the network?
The Town of Okotoks landscape crew will get there eventually, but they’re rarely the first on scene. I find that honour almost always goes to our mule deer population.
For all the grief they get for munching on foliage on private property, I get a kick out of the way they treat downed branches like a Vegas buffet, scarfing down as much as they can before they get picked up.
If only they didn’t leave the branches behind.
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I understand the reasoning behind those signs with flashing lights that alert drivers travelling at highway speeds that a traffic signal is ahead, but what I don’t understand is their locations, or lack thereof.
While driving east on Highway 7 at the south end of town, there aren’t any flashing lights as you approach the 32 Street intersection despite vehicles travelling at highway speeds and a set of flashing lights to warn drivers approaching the intersection from the other direction.
At the other end of town on southbound Highway 2A, there’s a set of flashing lights just before 338 Avenue that don’t appear to be necessary. Given the speed limit is 60 km/h by the time you get to the intersection, it would stand to reason drivers wouldn’t need a heads up that traffic lights are changing. It’s the same speed limit leaving town and there aren’t flashing lights on that side of the road.
Maybe we can move the flashing lights where we don't need them at the north end to where we do need them at the south end.
