Editor:
Regarding the proposed changes to Railway Avenue, there is no denying the fact walking beside a busy four-lane street like Railway Avenue is not particularly enjoyable.
In addition to all the cars and trucks entering and leaving downtown Canmore, it is a busy pedestrian thoroughfare. All the visitors and residents who are staying in accommodation on the highway side of the railway tracks and want to walk or cycle downtown are going along that street.
The town planners are on the right track in trying to enhance the visitor and resident experience, but I don’t believe that the proposal to dumb down the traffic to make walking and biking more enjoyable is the best solution. I also don’t want to just complain about this plan without offering a solution.
I think it would be best to separate pedestrians and cyclists entirely from vehicles, by offering them their own route. If the walkway behind Elevation Place was made more attractive – concrete under foot, planters, lighting, and an improved fence separating the CP railway – it would be easy to induce people to use this as the fastest and best way to get to the grocery stores and shopping. In the same way on the other side of the street, an improved walkway behind Wolfe Canmore along Policeman’s Creek would be the nicest way to Main Street.
We already have many trails in town that are separated from the streets – along the river, the Spur Line Trail to the Engine Bridge, beside Cougar Creek, the Legacy Trail, and many others – this is one of the things that givea our town its charming character.
Let’s continue this and build more walking and cycling routes that make sense for users and keep them away from cars.
Rick Pow,
Canmore
