Baa Baa Black Sheep

Early, in the term before last,I received a request  from a resident of Highland Green Conmdominiums. it was a small thing. The lady was in the habit of shopping at the Aurora Shopping Centre and trundling the goods home in a bundle buggy.

Could there be a cut in the curb on the south side of Gilf Links Drive that would allow the laden buggy to be rolled  off instead of lifted or bumped down onto the road surface.

I called the Director of Public Works to see what could be done.

I swear I heard a sigh at the other end of the line. The request had been made before and  he could not oblige. The road curved dangerously at that point . The town could not do something that would encourage a pedestrian to  believe it was safe to cross there.

Condo management was contacted. They did not support the request. Pedestrians  were encouraged to use the front entrance  of the building. It led directly to the Yonge Street sidewalk and  a
signalized intersection.

I could not  fault  the logic. I explained it  to the resident. The curb cut was no mu den to ask but in the circumstances it could not be done.

Her frustration I understood completely.

A second term passed I heard nothing. The Director of Public Works was first to abandon ship
In that term.

That's another story.

A third term arrived . A signalized  crossing at a cost of $85,000 was recommended  by The Director of Environment and Infrastructure. at the same curve in the road that was too dangerous for a cut in the curb.

Councillor Humfryes had received the same request I received seven years before.

Councillor Ballard lived on Golf links Drive .he confirmed  the location was absolutely the worst place for a  crossing, signalized or not.

It didn't happen.

A couple of years passed. Councillor Gallo requested a signalized crosswalk on John West Parkway.

Seniors living on the west side of the road  were taking their lives in their hands to cross the road to make their way  to shop  on Bayview or Civic Garden Park as it was then called .

It was provided at a cost of $85,000 or thereabouts and paid  for with development charge funds.

It brought back the question of  the lady who crosses Golf Links drive to shop with a bundle buggy.

The curve is no less dangerous. Now a  short stretch of sidewalk  is to be built at a cost of  $90,000.

It will be built across two double driveways ending at the  western edge of the second. A berm and a line of mature trees that screen the donut shop drive-thru with  microphone noise until the small hours of the morning is to be removed.

Residents if the five storey retirement building  opposite will have a new  but not improved  view from their windows.

I went to Tim Horton's to check things out.  I  parked and had a coffee. Saw a lady a with a shopping bag  walk down the existing sidewalk ,look from side to side and cross at the condo driveway.

All that was asked for was a cut in the curb.

A row of mature trees will be removed,  the berm levelled , removing a screen undoubtedly required by the town in a site plan approval.  The town ais spending $90,000 on. a short  weird stretch  of sidewalk literally  going nowhere while crossing two double driveways.

It may well be more dangerous to  compete with Tim Horton's drive-thru traffic than crossing Golf Links Drive.

I keep hearing how things have changed in fifty years since I first became involved in  the Town's affairs.

Yes sir?...Yes sir.....Three bags full sir!