Presently there are 7 trails that intersect or run on top of the Trans Canada trail through and just north of the village of Inglewood on McLaughlin road. Objectively North of the Hospice & Community Centre the road is rapidly deteriorating. The expanded shoulder of the road that is in theory, the designated area to accommodate equestrians, walkers and cyclists are snow covered for at least 4 months of the year. Normally, it is at best a rather tenuous walk or ride the other 8 months of the year, simply due to the inadequacy of the provided shoulder width & general poor road maintenance.
The town is faced with a real conundrum. Logically the number of hikers, cyclists & riders will continue to increase not only on this stretch of trail but across Caledon, if for no other reason than simple demographics. Which is excellent for the local economy. Keep in mind that cycling alone in France is a 2 Billion dollar annual industry. Caledon is apparently the greenest town in Ontario. Why are we not doing much more in regards to making things safer & easier for people to visit our fair shire?
The vocalized desire to preserve our cultural & architectural heritage is flaunted constantly by town council. Here is a simple affordable means that affirmatively allows local business to expand their financial horizons. The 20 year plus of Politically Shunting the importance of this critical trail conduit is simply a derision of your elected mandate, it must stop now! Thinking proactively versus retroactively should be the new mantra of Council.
Here are a few simple & frugal suggestions that would immediately make this stretch of road far safer:
Move the posted 40 km sign north by approx. 200 yards to the proper edge of the settlement area along with the other pre 40 km sign being adjusted a similar distance forward. This would deter the countless drivers that crest that introductory knoll to the village settlement area, as if they are partaking in the Steve McQueen Classic Movie Bullitt.
Calming the traffic along this stretch of road has to be a Town imperative, from a facile liability standpoint. This small sign adjustment is an ultra affordable means of slowing traffic as they enter an area of notable increased pedestrian traffic, which is between the Hospice & Community Centre. Installing a couple of additional share the road signs would also be a small bonus along with a max. 60 km sign or two along the last 1 km stretch running towards the Grange Sideroad.
Last but not least, it is a real quandary that at the intersection of Old Base Line & McLaughlin Road, you have 3 different posted speed limits. Moving North/South you have a 40 km North of Old Base Line and 80 km posted on a very steep hill on the south side, in which the signs are not 100 yards apart.
The town has spent thousands of our tax payer dollars retrofitting the hill with crush barriers, the result of innumerable accidents & rollovers. Perhaps as requested last summer, changing the sign to a 60 km would be more in keeping with an 18 degree plus hill that has been the recipient of countless near fatalities.
Please keep in mind that Council has repeatedly pledged their support over the years to eventually & properly fix this approx. 2km stretch of McLaughlin road. The 1800 plus individuals that signed the original petition are still waiting for some tangible evidence of Council’s most recent, now 8 year old pledge.
Harry Truman’s most famous quote was”the Buck stops Here!” If the lives & welfare of visitors & your constituents truly counts. Make our dollars count by doing something that will encourage tourism, lift local home values and make our community a safer place to live!