Remember the True Road Warriors

Today is a day of remembrance. " Lest We Forget" those that have sacrificed their lives for our rights and freedoms.  If it were not for them, people like us would not have the ability or access to voice our opinions in such an open manner.  Every once in a while it is good to look around and realize how petty our complaints must seem to the many who went freely into war to protect our freedoms.  Today however is their day and we salute them for their courage and bravery.  Now if only we would show them the respect they deserve every other day of the year.  Send your MP a note today and tell them to do right by our veterans.

I don't start til Nov. 1st

So after an early snow fall the major cities in this province and needless to say the Highways department are not cut off guard but just inept in thinking Mother Nature is going to wait until Nov. 1st before she delivers the first major snow fall of the autumn season.  What kind of bureaucracy do we put up with in this Province.  Even though the warnings were days in advance that the lovely white stuff was coming it appears our governments disregarded the need for swift action.  Didn't these folk get the sense from last years blizzard that the public as a whole want immediate action when these storms happen, not wait 4 days to hopefully have the sun melt the roadways back to good driving conditions.  Just the mere number of accidents that occurred in one day surely would pay for the additional expenditure on sanding crews.   Maybe they were just relying on the grime that has been left on the streets all summer to add some grit to the roads.  Time to put away the street cleaners and bring out the plows.

Let it Snow Let it Snow

Well on the first day of snow it was nice to see the city out with some preventative measures for easing us into the winter season. NOT!!! why is it that even though the warnings are there days before hand we were going to get hit with this snow fall.  City crews couldn't be ready to help.  Yes many of the major roadways are slush however it is the side streets in the neighborhoods that need assistance.  On many of these roads traffic is going to slow to help with heating it up enough to remove or melt the snow.  After last years screw-ups you would think that extra million bucks they took from us in taxes would go to being ready for the upcoming season.  Sure it is only a small storm that will last a couple of days but the number of fender benders that will be reported today and tomorrow would more than pay to have some precautionary measures. 

Heritage is not an Absolute

In yesterday's StarPhoenix  (Oct 18, 2010, A8) James D. Winkel attempts to expound the virtues of saving our heritage.  He beings his comments on the basis there are only two points of view regarding saving the bridge.  Keep it or Tear it down.  Then he enters into a lecture on how historical significance must be considered equal to the structural integrity of the bridge itself.  Yet another opinion that expresses an "at whatever the cost" attitude.  And today the Star publishes the results of an Insightrix poll with the slant that people are still divided on what should happen because only 43% want a new flat bridge while 40% want a steel bridge.  Why can't these people get the reporting right.  The way I add it up 43% want a concrete structure, 20% want a steel truss replica and 13% want a signature bridge.  This adds up to 76% respondents saying NO to keeping the original bridge. This is a huge majority that don't want to keep the existing structure and should be the catalyst in stopping all the nonsense of keeping a piece of garbage as a part of our road system.  As to the thought of turning it over to pedestrians and cyclists was overwhelming 80% against that notion.  I plead to the powers that be that they view the information correctly. 

As for the results of the open houses and the information the city receives at these staged events I wouldn't trust one iota of the comments as representing an overall view of the city.  But maybe the one number that should be trusted  is the percentage or residence that come out to these set-ups.  I would hesitate to think it would be less that 1% of the population of Saskatoon.  Not exactly an endorsement of the process.

The only answer now should be options as where the next "NEW" bridge should be placed.  Sorry Nutana your bridge may not be the most important to our ever expanding traffic system.

Making it thru the Long Weekend

Driving some of Saskatchewan's highways this weekend was again a joy.  It is interesting how traffic flows when their are huge numbers of vehicles on divided highways.  I like many others Saturday went from Saskatoon to Regina and back for the Rider game.  #%^!%$@%$# ok enough of that, back to my observations.  Leaving Saskatoon around 10:30am I was greeted by hundreds of others doing the same but what was amazing is for the most part the traffic was exceeding the posted speed limit by 15-20 km/hr.  Usually you might see a couple, but for this weekend it was almost every vehicle.  Sure there were still the "not 1 km over" people.  But those traveling 130-140 and even 155km/hr (I won't admit where I was in that) out numbered the legal limit.  Even the 120 crowd that is prevalent on this roadway, were few and far between. All this and the only sighting of a Mountie was around Craik (they are famous for speed control)   I'm curious as to why our Province continues to use an arbitrarily derived speed limit on this roadway.  I haven't heard of any major accidents being caused by the excessive speeds traveled this weekend on that highway.  And surely the number of vehicles per hr were dramatically increased over the norm.  Isn't it time that the traffic act catch up to the technology and construction of the vehicles using this highway.  I haven't checked but I think the 110 mark was brought in a couple of years ago because the norm had changed in driving habits which showed the 100 wasn't being obeyed by the majority of drivers.  If today's traffic is now at the 120k mark shouldn't the posted limit be adjusted to reflect the norm?  Getting from Saskatoon to Regina in 1:30 would make the trip more enjoyable and as was shown this weekend no more dangerous. 

Now a rant on those "your speeding and I'm going to stop you from doing it" folk that insist on driving in the left lane blocking traffic.  I witnessed at least 5 of these people each and everyone of them flexing their muscles and increasing the potential of an accident.  I always thought that one should be aware of their surroundings and adjust as a good defensive driver.  Driving in the left lane without any regard to what is happening around you is just stupid and dangerous.  I will drive in the left lane many times given the condition of parts of this road but I am continually checking my mirrors for traffic behind.  Even if I decide to exceed the limit by a km or 2 I am aware there maybe someone moving faster.  If the Mounties want to make our roads safer they should get out and ticket these people as their actions are far more dangerous then the person traveling a mere 10 or 20 kms over the limit. 

Riding the Rails or is it Reeling about the ride?

I have watched for days now the amount of road work that is getting done around the city with this great weather.  It truly is a blessing, however I am not sure why eighth street continues to have it's problems.  Yet again this major roadway is down to two lanes heading east.  Here it is a long weekend and one that many of us will be wanting to enjoy by getting out in the warm weather.  I wonder how many of the construction zones will be empty of workers but still have lanes blocked off or detours around them?  Ah and the "traffic division" is going to be out in full force this weekend.  What do they just work part time the rest of the week? I went through a school zone on Clarence Ave. today (one where it abuts a school that over 90% of the students ride the school bus .  Here the cops sit waiting for unsuspecting drivers to ticket.  Now I don't see a problem with enforcement but really I think it is all about the money.  Pick a school where there is an actual threat of a child getting hit.  I could name many. There is an upside though, with already the highest number of speeding/cellphone infractions we have ever seen the city coppers should be flush oops I mean coffers when it comes time to build that ivory tower of a new station they are looking for.

Have a great weekend and as always get home safe.

Road Work Now Screws-up UofS

So today I had the opportunity to drive into the University of Saskatchewan and if people have a problem getting out of Nutana with all the road work going on they should try to navigate the Uof S.  Apparently one should not want to drive from one end of the university to the other without needing to make a u-turn.  I came across a totally blocked road in front of the Diefenbaker Center after traveling across the Uof S and wondered why wasn't I warned of this impassable roadway .  Upon asking about signage from those standing around (saying they were working would be a stretch) I was told they have it up.  So making my way back to the start of my trek I found a small white sign (approx 1'x2') indicating the road closure.  WTF I thought road closure signs should be bright orange with big black letters??? I guess not on the Uof S.  What amazes me is that this is the only road you can travel to get from one side to the other inside the grounds.  I now know what to do with the Traffic Bridge!!!

The Path Less Taken

I continue to be perplexed by drivers in Saskatoon and their attitude to moving over to the next open spot on the road.  It must be that we come from a farming community or our ancestry that we line up just like cattle when approaching a construction zone or being requested to squeeze into one lane.  Once again 8th Street East of Preston Ave is closed to 1 lane traffic East bound.  Apparently everyone should be getting in line 4 blocks back to make the trek through the construction zone.  Why hasn't the city repaired this roadway once and for all instead of inconveniencing drivers for the fifth or is it fifteenth time this summer.  But we as drivers can help out the situation make your way to the front of the line in your lane and when you get to the barricade do as the sign says squeeze left and hopefully that kind driver next to you will allow you in.   If not well lets hope your vehicle is worth less than theirs.  Have fun fighting through the next 2 months of increased road work as now is the time the  City will be closing many streets to get all the work they didn't complete this summer.

Is it possible to "BRIDGE" the gap

I read David Huton's story (Heritage Backers Fight Myths SP Sat Sept 25) with an every increasing disgust for those that continue to expound an affinity for the Traffic Bridge as if it holds the key to our existence.  Lenore Swystun is quoted as saying " In today's world, (bridge restoration) is not that difficult...", but Dave Denny puts it like it is when he says "Right now people are talking an old bridge that will be fixed, but really, all of the options are new bridges."  So what are Lenore Swystun and the Heritage people really trying to save a couple of girders??  If they want to fight the myths then the should be honest about the fact it is impossible to provide an accurate budget for a restoration, just ask Ken Achs and the attempt he made to save the KG. I heard it cost him a shit load to keep the little there is of the old building, just to call it a restoration. At $27 million there would be no wiggle room for all the "hidden" costs associated with a restoration of this magnitude. If it is heritage these people are trying to preserve then maybe a total removal of the bridge and returning the river bank back to its original state would be better suited.  And to answer Lenore's comment that "People are saying, Maybe this is just the way we are.  We're headed in the way that we just knock things down here and wondering why do we keep doing this?"  Well Lenore it's because you and your Heritage group want to save everything as long as you're not the one paying the bill.  There is a reason you are a "failed" Mayoralty candidate.  But given the state the bridge is in we can probably thank mother nature for bringing it down, as I suspect a collapse once we get a good snow storm and add more dead weight than it can handle. 

And with a new bridge in place our great grandchildren will be able to point and say "wow am I glad they didn't keep that old piece of junk around."  And no they won't be pointing at the bridge!!

Am I Capable of Keeping it Between the Lines The CIty doesn't Think So!

When I was just a young'n my mother gave me a coloring book and over the next little while with some help I was able to learn to color without going over the line... Fast forward some years and I started driver training and once again I was instructed on how to keep my vehicle between the lines while driving.  This apparently was to be very valuable to one's safety, as crossing the line could cause a head on collision.  Also if you get to close to the guardrail the damage can be extensive.  So why you ask would this be an issue.... well just the other day I drove around circle drive from downtown and came across the construction zone where the speed has been reduced to 40km's and I had to ask myself what good does this do.  All the workers are entirely on the other side of the guardrail out of harms way and yes I understand there is now two way traffic.  But seriously does the City believe I am somehow unable to navigate this lane at 50-60 or even 70 to 90kph But no I must travel at a speed less than what happens on every other street in the city.  This again is just another control that these idiots want to perpetrate on drivers in the city.  When traffic is already having a problem with moving out of the downtown area, here they go and force everyone to stay well below what any reasonable driver should be able to handle.  This isn't a safety issue as traffic has no where to go but straight. No lane changing/ No off-ramps/ No bumps oops well none that aren't any worse than a typical street sorry to say.  So why then do we travel a snail's pace!!!  The only reason I can figure is they believe me or should I say all drivers to be unable to stay between the lines.  BTW the same type of traffic in Europe travels 140kph. 

Well back to my shell I have some coloring to do.

Lucky to be Good or Just Good to be Lucky

I was driving back from Regina just the other day and I was amazed at all the intersections and approaches that were signalized.  "What the Hell are you talking about, that would be ridiculous!" my passenger expounded. Well I said the Province must believe I am either a very good driver or that I am just lucky that I don't get hit every time I make a left turn across the two lane highway with traffic zooming by at 110-140kph. Why should this come to mind well... I was driving West bound on College Dr coming from Sutherland and wanted to head south on Circle Dr.  What do I come upon but a signal light for left turns that is red and what is it protecting me from????  Is it the empty roadway in front of me? Is it the one or two vehicles that pass by in the next minute?? or is it the 30-40 vehicles that come SCREAMING by at 80-90kph?  (50% slower than on the highway)

It appears the City believes me to be a very unlucky or an inept driver.  These lights, and they exist in other areas of the City as well, do only one thing and that is frustrate drivers in the city that are just trying to get from point A to B without lining up behind 20 cars at a red light that does nothing.  I have come to the realization that our Traffic Engineers are a bunch of control freaks.  All I ask is they follow the same guidelines that obviously the Highways department follows.  Judging distance isn't that difficult we have to do it every day and if you can't do it you shouldn't be driving in the first place. Traffic flow should be paramount in their minds but it obviously isn't. 

So what's the resolve???? Well I would like to see the light removed but if they don't want to just do that then maybe they could look at slowing the traffic on College to 60K surely I could make a safe turn then??? 

BTW this interchange was is the worst designed piece of roadwork I have seen anywhere in my travels and adding a couple of red lights did nothing to enhance traffic flow. 

Only Fitting to Have So Many Opitions for a Bridge with so Many Names

Thank You City Council!  For once I saw a Council do its job and make a decision that makes sense and isn't influenced by the Tree Hugging, New Age, Idealistic Hippy (THNAIH) crowd with their "pie in the sky" attitude. When I first heard there were 10 options for the river crossing (many of which didn't include vehicular traffic) I was scared we would soon be on the roll to banning the automobile from our city altogether.  Council's decision put the focus squarely where it should be, replacement of this bridge for the reason it currently exists. This bridge crossing is not only important to the residence of the city but especially for those living west of Broadway on the East side of the city.   I decided to head out to the open house at Victoria school last night to see and hear what was being discussed.  It amazed me although it shouldn't have, that the THNAIH group was out in full force catching people as they entered the gymnasium to expound on the treachery of the 6 Councilors that robbed them of their precious "GREEN" alternatives they had so eagerly and magically come up with.  Henry Ford had it right "you can have any colour of car you want as long as it is black".  That is the type of choice the citizens of Saskatoon need.  There was even one individual trying to tell people what we needed was a "Market" bridge similar to those in Europe.  Get real people the farmers market is empty most days.  And for the "save our History" group maybe they should all head down and take a look at what they are trying to save.  I run under and over this bridge 4-5 times a week.  Yes I wear a helmet just in case.  THE BRIDGE IS FINISHED!!!!! the consultant that was hired to give the estimates is doing us all a disservice in insinuating it would only be approx. $27 million to refurbish.  With all the environmental regulations a rehabilitation would more than double the cost as you would need to build a support structure just to work off while doing the remediation.

What is interesting is which Councilors voted to save the vehicle traffic, other than Penner, the others where all from the West side of Saskatoon (Wyant, Heidt, Neault, Lorje).  The East side Councilors (Pringle,Clarke, Dube, Paulsen) voted to keep us spinning our wheels (as long as they are on a bicycle, roller blades or a stroller).

So what does the Road Warrior believe to be the best solution.  I like the idea of creating a new bridge to the new standards for road widths and if even possible 4 lanes and sure make it looks like the old bridge if you like, but never forget that the link over the river is more important than the link to the past.

And as Larry the Cable Guy says "GIT-R-DONNNNNNNNNE!"

Fighting thru the Traffic

I must apologize for the inactivity the last couple of days, however the Road Warrior was on the road or should a I say pathway.  I had the opportunity to run the Queen City Marathon over the weekend and be a real road warrior.  Yes I finished the whole 42.2 km. although the legs may be aching the fingers are still working.  But now it is time to get back to the traffic.

Is the CIty of Saskatoon Responsible for every Accident!

We probably all heard yesterday about the tragic accident in the Eastview neighborhood that resulted in the death of a 22 year old man.  What I can't understand is how the people living there are complaining that the "City" needs to do something about that part of the roadway in order to get people to slow down.  Reports I've heard is that there have been 10 accidents over the last 11 years there, although I am not sure the severity of each, this averages out to less that 1 a year.  I am sure there are other areas of the city that have a much higher incident rate and could use revamping before this road.  It is not the design of the road or the posted speed that is causing these accidents it is the drivers themselves.  I drive this road often and I don't need the city installing some kind of  "traffic calming" device such as speed bumps, concrete pillars and/or a round-about like the useless one installed on Boychuk (after 2 young offenders slammed a stolen vehicle into a house).  Maybe what needs to be done is to evaluate the way Drive's Ed is taught in this Province.  I saw in today's SP that the Saskatoon Public School Division is celebrating the 50 yr anniversary of teaching driver's ed.  So maybe its the way new drivers are taught that leads to these regrettable decisions, many involving drivers of the younger age.  Driving around Saskatoon I often wonder, as I am sure you do, where many of these people get their license.  It would appear to be harder to get a fishing license.  Maybe it is time our Government began a system of monitoring the teachers/testers, thus finding out if there are problems in those areas.  I would also be in favor of mandatory re-testing every 5 years for all drivers.  This is done in many US states.  Yes this has a cost but SGI makes millions from licensing fees every year and what do we get, a couple of ads on the radio and in print to tell us to drive safe.  We need a proactive approach to what is happening on our streets and putting up obstacle courses for safe drivers is not one I would be in favor of.

Is this the City's Response??

Road Warrior's Suggestion

Today I was driving down one of the busier streets on the East side and came across this little item.  Could it be a response by the City to the Road Warrior's post from yesterday??  Well not really, it appears the Police Service or at least one person down there also wants better awareness of school zones and has come up with these little portable signs.  I believe they are in the testing phase, but it appears to be working to some degree.  I noticed a visible difference when this sign was out compared to the days before with nothing.  Not sure if it was just the fact it was in the middle of the road and people didn't want to hit it or they saw it because of the location and colour.  I applaud those taking the initiative but is it a particle solution for every school zone?  So I have set up a little poll to see what you Joe Q. Public want to see.

Tired of getting those Nasty Speeding Tickets in a School Zone

It was just yesterday that the Star Phoenix reported on the number of tickets handed out on the very first day of the "School Zones" taking effect (37).  What amazes me is that apparently City Officials believe the best way to get compliance is to set up speed traps in front of a couple of schools and hand out tickets to many motorists that were most likely unaware they entered a school zone.  I have over the last number of years driven by these schools and for the most part, the signs are so inconspicuous one really must be "ON GUARD"  every weekday from Sept 1 to June 30.  Why hasn't the City of Saskatoon taken a proactive approach to informing motorists they are entering or nearing a school zone.  There are numerous signs and radar devices, such as the example here, that would be more than adequate to advise motorists the need to slow down.  Handing out fines does nothing for the safety of the children across the city.  Even where the police are set up, one must first break the law and potentially hit a child, before a ticket is handed out.  This shouldn't be the situation the city is employing.

Ever since the School Zone speed limit has been introduced the Police have handed out tickets, yet every fall the same issue is again in the spotlight.  Why is it we don't hear anything about Regina's Police handing out Thousands of dollars in fines the first day their schools are in.  If we are going to continue with this ridiculous system of on/off speed zones the City should at least spend some of that revenue on making them more visible.

These signs won't stop everyone from speeding, but at least they will be a reminder and warning to motorists that slowing down is not only the law but also the best way to keep the points on your license from going up.

Drive safe and remember we don't all need to be Road Warriors.