Planner A: Hey, I have a bunch of two-way lane signs I need to put up in Bells Corners.
Planner B: Why?
Planner A: Well, even though the centre lane is well marked, and painted with two-way signs, we have to consider the drivers who can't see the road.
Planner B? What? Who would that be?
Planner A: You know, the blind, children, small dogs, anyone who can't see over the dashboard.
Planner B: Riiiight. [Sarcastically] I've got a bunch of giant old metal light posts you could use. You know, put one one either side of the road, and connect them in a grotesque arch with two more poles welded together.
Planner A: Fantastic!
Planner B: I was just kidding...
Planner A: They'll blend in nicely with the rest of the poles, lightstands and wires I've put up!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Big poles, little signs
Planner A: Hey, I have a bunch of two-way lane signs I need to put up in Bells Corners.
Planner B: Why?
Planner A: Well, even though the centre lane is well marked, and painted with two-way signs, we have to consider the drivers who can't see the road.
Planner B? What? Who would that be?
Planner A: You know, the blind, children, small dogs, anyone who can't see over the dashboard.
Planner B: Riiiight. [Sarcastically] I've got a bunch of giant old metal light posts you could use. You know, put one one either side of the road, and connect them in a grotesque arch with two more poles welded together.
Planner A: Fantastic!
Planner B: I was just kidding...
Planner A: They'll blend in nicely with the rest of the poles, lightstands and wires I've put up!
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3 comments:
Amazing photo!
That sure looks like the main drag of Bells Corners. I wonder how many there were? When did they get rid of these monstrosities? How long were they up for? How much did this eyesore cost?
It reminds me of the way they covered the sidewalks in front of the Rideau Centre and then took it all down shortly after when they realized what a blunder it was.
Hi Hibou, guess what, they're still there! I'd never noticed them driving down the strip, but going on a photo-walk the other day, I saw this one (and a couple of other). This one is in front of the Harvey's parking lot.
Incredible, eh?
Sherlock Holmes I'm not! My only excuse is that I'm usually on the strip on my bike (one of the ten most dangerous places in Ottawa to cycle) and I'm too busy concentrating on not getting crushed by a speeding SUV to notice the beautiful surroundings.
In the future the strip might be very different place indeed- a pedestrian/cyclist-friendly community hub where the car is no longer king. Many of the strip malls and vacant parking lots will have been converted to high-density housing. The mobile home park will be a green European-inspired cooperative with ample affordable housing and self-sufficient in energy needs. The existing rail line that traverses Bells Corners will be used for rapid transit, with stations on Moodie and Richmond.
Another possible outcome: the strip becomes even more congested and ugly as suburban sprawl continues apace and desperate Kanata and Stittsville SUV commuters look for a route downtown that's slightly less congested than the Queensway. Some of them may stop at one of the numerous big box stores that the councillor has helped to bring in. The BIA will still be stringing up Christmas lights in winter and flower baskets in summer in an unsuccessful attempt to mitigate the ugliness of the strip. The trailer park will have been converted to a luxury gated community thanks to the developers and their friends on City Council. Barbed wire will keep out the rabble who are crammed into their Westcliffe hovels.
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