Editor:
Re: Nature trails already on riverside, Sept. 19 letters.
I am writing to offer a different opinion to letter-writer Sherry Jaehrlich, who suggests we have enough Nicomekl riverfront trails and don’t need to expand them.
I say we do need to expand them, and the riverfronts offer us natural opportunities to do so.
We already pay to shore up and maintain the dykes along the rivers, so why not provide public access along these corridors? It would ultimately be great to create a complete network of trails throughout the city, away from car traffic, that allows for both recreational and even possible commuter travel.
While walking along the waterfront trail near Crescent Road, I often look across the river at the multi-million-dollar homes along the waterfront “farmland” and dream of one day the public being able to walk, run or bike along those dykes and connect in to the Mud Bay trails.
Yes, please expand our trails!
Another comment I wish to make is on the relatively new pedestrian improvements along Crescent Road near 144 Street. Having used those trails extensively both before the improvements and since, I must give the city credit for making these improvements. There never was a good place to cross Crescent Road before the pedestrian light went in, but now at least you can activate the pedestrian lights and wait for the cars to stop and then cross. The key here being to wait for the cars to stop as not all do so. A pedestrian will never win against 3,000 pounds of metal flying down the street.
Actually, when the pedestrian light was put in, the roadway was also modified slightly, which also improved the sight lines for both pedestrians and drivers. The path along Crescent Road to 144 Street also was improved and one no longer has to walk in puddles beside the road. The crosswalk at 144 Street is also better and safer now to cross at.
What we don’t need money being spent on is things like the recent repaving of 148 Street and changing the street from two lanes to four lanes for a block and a half. The result of this has been nothing but more cars passing on the right, increased speeding and reducing the space available for bikes.
Jim Prokop, Surrey