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June, 2002
COLUMN
Barriers are just plain ugly
Keith Morgan
The Province
Monday, June 17, 2002
Metre-high concrete barricades near Science World are in place to protect the False Creek streetcar from errant motorists.
Street design engineers practice over-caution rather than risk a lawsuit from road users without an ounce of common sense.
"Yes, I know it sounds stupid but you wouldn't believe what drivers do out there on city streets," says the refreshingly frank Vancouver transportation engineer Ian Adam.
He was commenting on my questioning of the suitability and necessity for the ugly, nearly metre-high grey concrete barriers that currently separate the streetcar track from Quebec Street road traffic near Science World.
"We were concerned that some [southbound] drivers might find it disconcerting to see a train approaching to their right and might try to swing across the track to pass to its right."
I wasn't buying it.
"Well, try this for size . . . a man drove through cones to get to a lane we had blocked off then lost control as he reached our road equipment."
And then there are the numbskulls who sue, claiming they have tripped over painted lines. Or a motorcyclist who lost control when he skidded on wet lines that were signposted "wet."
Our increasingly litigious society is forcing the likes of Adam to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, putting up signs and barriers that insult the intelligence of most road users.
Nevertheless, when the current tourist-friendly street car line around False Creek is expanded into a fully-fledged transportation system around the downtown core the routes will be barrier-free unless absolutely necessary.
"And be assured that after the Indy is over we will be erecting a more attractive fence along Quebec," Adam said.
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