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LETTERS: Close section of Marine Drive to traffic

Editor:
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Editor:

There is an understandable concern on Marine Drive about losing business without the pier acting as an attraction for visitors this summer. I think it is a chance to take steps to ensure people are visiting White Rock’s seafront all year round, by establishing a no-traffic zone between Oxford and Martin.

Optimize the use of the new parking garage, for less congestion, less noise and less idling.

Allow the restaurants between Oxford and Martin to expand their service areas, welcome street vendors and make a couple of busker corners. Beautify the area with flowers and trees and have the White Rock Sunday Market make its home there.

Allow room for less established initiatives, and do not buy into the idea that greater diversity and competition damages business. Competing by being better not just cheaper, and the increased frequency of visitors will be good for business.

Music could be played by the museum Fridays and Saturdays, and an area of recreation created, less noise, cleaner air and no stress, room to walk, sit and bring a picnic basket. There could be playgrounds for kids, an outside gym and a bocce rink, perhaps even a skating rink in the winter.

With a pedestrian zone, White Rock could live up to its promoted image as The City by The Sea.

Patrons at restaurants would not have to sit at a roadside table with traffic congestion and excessive noise from recreational vehicles three metres away.

I know air pollution is not a big worry in North America, but if citizens exercised the same concern about exhaust fumes as they do about cigarette smoke, sidewalk tables would not be allowed to mix with high volumes of traffic.

Small communities around the world have well-functioning pedestrian zones. Where cities are on rivers, lakes or seafronts, investments are made in the recreational value. Similar plans to develop a piece of land at the seafront would benefit people and businesses in White Rock.

The idea that it is a human right to be able to park close to a destination needs to be reviewed. A couple hundred metres with no cars or motorcycles would be unique to the area, and my prediction is that it would increase the number of guests.

People are looking for recreational values, and a section of Marine Drive with a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere without traffic would be just that. Imagine the novelty, combined with the pier when it reopens.

Ole Nygaard, White Rock