Dear Editor,
After reviewing both recent letters, from Craig Little & Michael O’Hanlon, I offer these insights.
50th Avenue is the second busiest road in Sylvan Lake. We live on 50th and watch the speed demons pass by our home sometimes in excess of 100 kilometres per hour.
Most average around 45-50-60 kilometres day or night. I can provide a list of commercial vehicles including Town of Sylvan vehicles that speed excessively.
50th Avenue is not very well lit, in fact a pedestrian was accidentally killed by an RCMP vehicle because of poor lighting and the fact that the sidewalks had not been cleared. He was walking on the road.
Screeching tires, black tire marks, loud vehicle mufflers and bigger trucks are all safety issues. There is very little adherence to the posted speed.
As the north sidewalk across our street is not cleaned by the town, there is no safe walking across 50th Avenue to walk to the park.
It must also be noted that the town is not clearing the snow by Centennial Park and the lake. Not safe for people walking.
The raised bumps problem is not a problem if drivers drove the speed limit!
Adding more traffic in the way of cars, trucks, trailers, motorhomes and RV’s down 50th is not a solution.
Our council needs to be fiscally prudent. If adding additional asphalt to the roadway solves that problem — problem solved, and it can done in a very short time without much interruption — ready in time for tourism, at a much reduced costs to the taxpayers.
50th Avenue needs to have more traffic enforcement by Bylaws and RCMP. It is dangerous trying to walk across the road.
Maybe we should have speed bumps installed, or a traffic light, or lit pedestrian crosswalks with flashing yellow lights on 50th.
Either way, a quick review must be completed ASAP — and make the right choices for all.
Rene Jaspar,
Sylvan Lake