Iqaluit should do more to protect pedestrians

Should City of Iqaluit work crews use more safety flaggers? (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Now that another storm season has passed (one hopes) are you sure it’s not time for Iqaluit City Council to admit to a glaring failure and finally remove the broken cedar posts that blight the city and force people, more often than not, to walk directly into the roadways.

Because you can’t possibly keep all the sidewalks clear during blizzards. There are cedar posts and boulders everywhere blocking the way of the snow removal crews.

Nobody could blame you for trying to improve pedestrian safety, but taking the decision to install them permanently to facilitate the “Easy as 1-2-3” back-in parking in the first place was probably not your brightest moment, in the eyes of urban planners, police and traffic control experts at least.)

Since the gang that brought us this ill-conceived and unworkable idea has moved on and likely won’t be offended anyway, isn’t it time to reconsider these eyesores?

On a related matter, why do your full-size loaders continue snow clearing in the city’s busiest areas during peak pedestrian periods without using safety flaggers, as pictured in this photo?

What, too expensive a proposition?

It’s good enough for private contractors, but not necessary for city crews?

Okay, fine, but tell that to all the family members of the victims of the accidental deaths here, due directly to the utter disregard of this, otherwise common, safety protocol

In support of these contentions or not, just watch how fast the city would fix these persistent issues if the WSCC Workers Safety and Compensation Commission represented pedestrians and if the unions representing the police or municipal maintenance crews were asked their opinion about pedestrian safety — if police officers or any senior city workers here walked the beat or streets, which they don’t, ever.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit

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