Sidewalk thumbs down

Photo: Kate Bouey

Residents along 25th Street in Vernon are disappointed with city council's decision to go ahead with the construction this year of sidewalks on their street, between Pleasant Valley Road and 46th Avenue.

While the reaction may seem strange, residents on the street had written in and appeared before council asking for traffic-calming measures, rather than a sidewalk, to stop vehicles from using the street as a thoroughfare.

“I'm very disappointed,” said Kerry Carlson, spokesperson for the group. “This is a car culture.”

Carlson and her husband, Tom, had asked council to go back to an earlier proposal to install `right-in, right-outs' at three points along 25th, at 32nd, 39th and 45th avenues.

Vernon's 2008 transportation plan identified 25th as a future bike route with sidewalks to be installed on the west side.

“It was deemed by council the best scenario was a sidewalk right from down by Harwood school all the way across, eventually that will occur, but to have the sidewalk closer to Beairsto (elementary) now, get it done,” said Mayor Akbal Mund.

The mayor rejected “splitting a certain section of the road for certain residents, but (rather to) keep it continuous for the betterment of the community.”

“This is encouraging cars to use (the street),” countered Carlson. “We need neighbourhood corridors that are safe for walkers and children on bikes.”