I just tuned into Halifax Transportation Standing Committee and heard Councillor Purdy arguing the importance of accessibility by transit to HRMs beaches, trails, and recreation for non-drivers. Yes, that Councillor Purdy.
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I think I've seen all the beaches that are actually within Halifax by this point, but none of the ones in the suburbs or beyond. So yes, this strikes me as a "stopped clock, once a day" sort of thing.
I mean she doesn’t have a lot of imagination about just how many people this could benefit, but she was still fully in support of it, which was good. She’s actually really good so far today (even if her motivations are not the same as mine or yours would be).
To her credit, Councillor Purdy is supportive of a potential multi-use path connecting Rainbow Haven Beach to the Salt Marsh Trail/Cole Harbour Heritage Park trailhead. I did mention to her that it would also benefit drivers by potentially alleviating congestion in the Rainbow Haven parking lot.
Not today, but maybe possibly someday we’ll be able to take a bus to Crystal Crescent or Rainbow Haven to spend a day at the beach. The inaccessibility of Halifax beaches is the ONLY reason my across the street neighbours bought a vehicle.
Ahh! I have figured out what she means. And she’s pushing a motion that if it passes will actually potentially be a net very good thing for how Halifax responds to the need for traffic calming.
Basically the traffic calming they installed there in 2017 didn’t have a measurable effect on vehicle speeds so if her motion passes they may be able to replace old traffic calming installations with ones that are more evidence supported without waiting 10 or more years for the road to need a recap
I drive along that road regularly and I can tell you that if the traffic calming installed doesn't have a measurable effect, they're measuring wrong. You can consistently *see* drivers slow down when they enter the islands stretch.
There used to be a bus to Rainbow Haven Beach (Purdy’s District) it’s long gone, and currently at least a 2 hour walk to the nearest bus stop. Most of it without sidewalks.
I've bicycled out to Rainbow Haven a few times. Passable ride to the Shearwater Flyer trail (if you keep to the sidewalk), lovely ride along the trail, then a death-defying couple of km along Bisset Road - no paved shoulder and speeding drivers.
I bike to Crystal Crescent a couple times from my place every summer. I understand why my neighbours across the street don’t though, despite them being bike commuters. 20km of highway shoulders with bicycles painted on them is not remotely safe enough infrastructure for their kids to ride on.
Great she has raised this. Yes I can access Susie Lake via the 28/21 then Kent Building Supplies timber yard but I would like to have more and better options.
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But actually, that's great.