Editor:
I am compelled to respond to the letter “supportive of a Banff downtown pedestrian zone” from Ms.Tweddell in the June 27 issue of the Outlook, with a few questions. I shall be fascinated with responses, if any.
How many of the over 1,000 signatories on the petition have you actually spoken to with respect to the deleterious impact on their lives?
How many long-term Banff seniors, and other citizens living along Beaver, Muskrat and Lynx streets have you spoken to with respect to the inability to open windows, or now sit outside, due to noise and fumes? For example, Cascade House senior facility? This is their home.
How many residents that live on the south side of the bridge, impacted daily by congestion and delays, have you spoken to? Oh, none?
The national park is allegedly for our visitors. How many visitors have you actually spoken to while they are trapped in their vehicles, simply waiting to just get parked, or trapped across the bridge, trying to simply escape? Oh, none?
How many EMS response personnel have you spoken to who now, daily, are frustrated in their responses to real-time emergencies? Let me guess! None?
Please, Ms. Tweddell, go to 201 Beaver Street, Banff Fire Hall, and envision a fire response to Trans-Canada Highway west. Can’t use Caribou Street, good luck with Wolf Street, Moose Street is currently one-way the wrong way. Might as well carry on to the Minnewanka overpass. Please estimate the lifesaving cost in minutes and let us know.
Ms. Tweddell, glad you have enjoyed observing Banff school students using the Banff Avenue shopping mall, during school days that the mall is open. Further, I hereby promise not to submit my uninformed and arbitrary commentary to any town policies in your town – Canmore – ever.
Jim Abelseth,
Banff
