“Road Diet” Photo Challenge

Could we learn from the snow about where we can put some of ours roads on a diet?

Have you ever noticed in the first hours after a snowfall, that certain patterns of traffic flow become visible in the snow? Sometimes, before the plows have hit the streets, or before fresh snow has melted or compacted, we have an opportunity to see exactly where and how our vehicles are interacting with our street.

In some cases, we can see what the width, curves, and configurations of the road do not reflect how cars and truck are actually using it, or what they actually need.

I believe there may be opportunities here to learn from these moments, and think about whether we need that much road, or if there are better, safer, and more productive uses we could find for that space?

As an example, I’d like to put a picture taken earlier this winter on my walk home from City Hall, at the corner of King St and Smith Street in the north portage area of downtown. You can clearly see that a large section of concrete is surplus to the needs of traffic on these parallel one way streets at the point they split.

If for example, at this location, we were to put this road “on a diet”, and cut the snowy area from vehicles, what else could we do with it?

Some thoughts I have:

1) A narrower, tighter street could reduce vehicle speeds and the risk of collision

2) This space is notorious for dangerous pedestrian crossings due to the absence of the controlled crossing. Could this space make a good staging ground for safer crossings?

3) What if it was public space? Used for a bench or a pocket park?

4) Could we save on snow clearing budget?

5) Some other use?

If you notice over the course of this winter, any other examples of snowed on, surplus roadway that the traffic doesn’t use and doesn’t need, post them as a comment below, along with a description of the location and what you think of the spot!

Thanks!

Matt Allard

City Councillor

St Boniface