Sidney - The town with a split personality.: Pedestrians beware!
Sunday July 17, 2016
Here is the infamous Beacon Avenue. The street of no return - oh wait. That's not right. It's the street with no end or is it two ends? Maybe it's several ends all forming a vortex to end up where you started. Town Planners 30 years ago started arguing over the future of this little town. It had one main street - Beacon Avenue that dead ends at the ocean. The mayor at the time was a crusty old witch that regardless of what the people wanted, she was going to have her ONE WAY STREET! Half the town was in favour of this change & the other half was against it. For 8 years the deliberations of council & countless studies by 'Experts' debated this monumental decision of what to do with the one & only main street in town. Those business owners in favour of the change wouldn't do business with those business owners against making the change. The town was at a stallmate. You can't make this stuff up! In the end, a compromise was reached that saw the street 2 ways for the first third in from the Highway. #17. One way towards the Ocean for the next third & then they installed a roundabout to bring the traffic back towards the Highway facing the oncoming traffic. On my visit, posted in a storefront window was a sign asking people to submit their opinion on how to make Sidney more welcoming to it's residents & visitors. They have Post It type notes for your suggestions. You'll never guess what the comments were.......honestly. 30 years on & they are still fighting over what should be done with the street. Sounds like good material for Coronation Street!
Here is the infamous Beacon Avenue. The street of no return - oh wait. That's not right. It's the street with no end or is it two ends? Maybe it's several ends all forming a vortex to end up where you started. Town Planners 30 years ago started arguing over the future of this little town. It had one main street - Beacon Avenue that dead ends at the ocean. The mayor at the time was a crusty old witch that regardless of what the people wanted, she was going to have her ONE WAY STREET! Half the town was in favour of this change & the other half was against it. For 8 years the deliberations of council & countless studies by 'Experts' debated this monumental decision of what to do with the one & only main street in town. Those business owners in favour of the change wouldn't do business with those business owners against making the change. The town was at a stallmate. You can't make this stuff up! In the end, a compromise was reached that saw the street 2 ways for the first third in from the Highway. #17. One way towards the Ocean for the next third & then they installed a roundabout to bring the traffic back towards the Highway facing the oncoming traffic. On my visit, posted in a storefront window was a sign asking people to submit their opinion on how to make Sidney more welcoming to it's residents & visitors. They have Post It type notes for your suggestions. You'll never guess what the comments were.......honestly. 30 years on & they are still fighting over what should be done with the street. Sounds like good material for Coronation Street!