Did the designers of the traffic changes ever consult cyclists or pedestrians? The redesigned traffic patterns are all about moving cars in long straight lines. Guess what? Pedestrians and bikes don’t like to move that way – they flow like a stream, not a pipe. The Blowers/Grafton intersection is going to end up seeing a pedestrian run down. Try biking up to Spring Garden from the Ferry Terminal some time. You’re pretty much forced to go the wrong way up Blowers. What’s with the long one way cycle route on Lower Water? etc etc etc. It all needs adjustment, now. —Fed Up Foot and Bike Commuter

This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2011.

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35 Comments

  1. I don’t really understand your complaint. When I walk downtown, I find it easier to cross the streets when you only have on direction of cars to deal with. As for the biking thing, they’re supposed to be vehicles and share the road with cars and go with the flow of traffic, why would you get to drive wherever you want?

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  2. Get used to it. Changes are a part of life.

    Grab a hold of yourself and move forward with us.

    You are probably one of the backwards people holding up a building in our city from being built over 3 stories.
    It’s called progress.

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  3. Move over progress and change, the cyclists don’t like it. Maybe we can accommodate you with a system of elevated tubes so you won’t be exposed to the weather too. Nobody cares if you have to cycle a couple blocks out of your way to get where you’re going. Just thank the planning dept for the free exercise, at least you’re not paying for gas like all the actual “drivers” out there.

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  4. Do what I do everyday: bike up Prince Street. Or, if you’re going to Spring Garden Rd., why not go along Barrington TO Spring Garden Rd.?

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  5. or take duke to hollis to salter to barrington to springgarden…
    what’s so confusing about that?

    heaven forbid you obey traffic laws rather than have to backtrack a block or so….

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  7. Hmmmm, cyclists suspended high above city streets riding along a series of cables….yeah. Nope, don’t see any issues with that. Make it so.

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  8. You actually think it is a serious concept? You should run for mayor, or councilor at least. Maybe spend some money on a consultation to examine it a bit more clearly.

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  12. uh.. OP you’re sort of all over the place. First of all you talk about yourself as if you’re not a vehicle. But you are. EVERY vehicle has to obey one way laws as far as i know. Not just you and not just motorists. So you’re pissed that there are too many one way streets? Join the leagues of DRIVERS (because that’s what you are) that feel the same way.

    And “flow like a stream, not a pipe”? What does that even mean? Can you explain what sort of spacial concept you are trying to convey here because i can’t picture your physics very well. Are you really saying two way traffic is less dangerous than traffic that only goes one way? Because uh.. as a pedestrian i would tend to disagree.

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  13. whoever sid that halisux was sposed to be bike friendly o.p.? not kelly or the ones before him, that’s for sure. it is all about how much cash they can get for parking tickets, and anything motor vehicle related.

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  14. OB< if you are going to use a bike, obey the fucking rules. Otherwise, enjoy the taste of my front grill and bumper.

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  15. Cranky, I know it’s not a serious concept. (Jeez Louise, gimme some credit, man! lol) I was just TRYING to inject a bit o’ humour. I obviously missed. lol
    However, I WILL take your advice and I think I WILL run for mayor. If elected, first broad, sweeping change I would make, (in-camera, of course), is no modern bicycles permitted within HRM streets. Instead, I will have a city-owned, run and staffed factory constructed that only produces “Penny-Farthings”. This will be the only accepted and legal mode of cycling permitted in HRM because they are horribly impractical in a city built on a hill, expensive to repair, dangerous but look prettier. But riders still have to wear the modern cycling gear, (no peddle-pushers, tails or top hats here) cuz that would look hilarious!

    http://www.crank.co.za/wp-content/uploads/&hellip;

    So sayeth mayor avast, so it shall be!

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  16. OP, guess what? Streams only flow “One Way”! So your analogy kind of sucks. Well I guess the reversing river in Saint John goes both ways, but thats not my point.

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  17. lol m_kegg. Did it hurt? Shooting yourself in the foot, I mean. lol

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  20. The Good is onto something. No more buses either, just electric trams. All cars must be pre-war! Halifax is gonna be cool!

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  24. Armed sherpa’s? Felt green berrets? Nifty arm patches?

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  31. ooo ivan, you know i love those guys. i told you that my father-in-law fought alongside some gurkhas in italy/sicily?

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  32. Yes you did and I was very impressed. The British Gov’t is treating it’s Gurkha veterans with a mean spiritedness not unlike our own. Joanna Lumley of AbFab infamy has become their most visible spokesperson because her Dad commanded a Gurkha battalion.
    http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/

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  33. wow, she was in the avengers after ms peel. the bear’s dad rarely spoke at all about the war except for the incredible/crazy gurkhas

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  34. My Grandmother’s 2nd husband fought in Italy and later Holland with the Carleton & Yorks. He never spoke about it.

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