Lukewarm concern about speeding on Rockcliffe Road has prompted the Town of Oliver not to act on a traffic opinion survey in that neighbourhood.
“The concern level is not overly high,” said Councillor Jack Bennest during a council meeting last week, when members discussed survey results.
The survey was sent out to 164 property owners, and a total of 71 forms were returned. Twenty-seven per cent agreed there was a real problem with speeding adjacent to their property, while 41 per cent indicated there was occasional speeding. Thirty-two per cent stated there was no problem.
When asked if the Town should consider traffic calming measures in the neighbourhood, 30 per cent agreed, while 38 per cent didn’t support this approach.
Twenty-two per cent indicated they would support speed control ramps, while 15 per cent said they would opt for traffic circles. Eight per cent indicated they would support full or part-time road closures. However, nearly 30 per cent said they would not support any of these measures.
Survey respondents expressed the following viewpoints:
– Police should do more enforcement
– Use radar speed reader signs
– Speeding is done by a few local residents who cause problems for others
– Calming measures would annoy the majority of residents.
– Build sidewalks instead
– Cut trees back on corners to improve visibility
– Close Rockcliffe Road at the cemetery corner
– Reduce the speed limit
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay said there are several instances in the survey where adjacent neighbours are completely opposed in their opinion of speeding.
Szalay noted that 65 per cent of respondents indicated they would not support traffic calming measures if they had to pay a portion of the costs.
Szalay said excessive speeds may be isolated behaviour by a few local residents.
But resident Jeremy Cook said it’s a constant frustration for him to see vehicles speeding on the straightaway near the schools. He noted that one car sped by his son with only 12 inches to spare.
Cook said Rockcliffe Road is a major route that children take to walk to school. Because there are no sidewalks, the kids have to walk on the street.
Cook requested that the Town install some speed bumps, which may be an inconvenience but a small price to pay for safety.
Sergeant Ken Harrington from the Oliver RCMP said they make every effort to respond to public complaints regarding speeding. He noted that members will conduct focused patrols in the Rockcliffe neighbourhood when time permits.
Bennest said it appears that speeding on Rockcliffe only occurs at certain times of the day. “I think the police should be concerned about it.”
Mayor Ron Hovanes said residents should report incidents of speeding to the police. As for the survey, there is not enough response to compel the Town to spend significant money on a traffic calming measure.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
