By Beacon Staff

The city of Victoria prides itself on the walkability of its sidewalks. James Bay residents likely see their sidewalks as friendly for walkers, baby strollers, and scooters.

Nonetheless, clearly some trouble spots do exist. We set out to find the worst. The most significant obstructions are foliage and utility poles. Secondarily, trash receptacles, street signs, bus shelters, and some fire hydrants compete for space with pedestrians. From a safety point of view, uneven and non-existent sidewalks present the greatest difficulties for the elderly, whether they walk or drive scooters.

Literally dozens of residents make no obvious attempt to keep their hedges, flowers, and trees free from the edge of sidewalks, or to keep branches out of the faces of people walking in front of their homes.

A city official informed us that they generally overlook encroachments that leave two feet (about 60 cm) of clearance. They do nothing unless they receive a complaint, which they pass on to the parks department for enforcement.

Except where boulevards separate sidewalks from the street, utility poles often occupy sidewalk space, at times being placed right in the middle, allowing less than the minimum space on either side.

From one end to the other, Niagara Street has the most problems. No sidewalks exist on several blocks on the west end. People attending the Edelweiss Club or the White Eagle hall have to venture out into the street. Is it too much to expect that there ought to be sidewalks around MacDonald Park, the playground and the community garden? There are none along Niagara or Montreal. First place for the worst spot goes to the bus stop at Niagara and Government, where the bus shelter, a garbage collector, a mail drop, a bus stop sign, and foliage block easy passage. Farther east along Niagara, we found quite a number of encroachments of foliage of one kind or another, including a nasty holly hedge. We could mention that huge pine tree blocking the view of drivers at the corner of South Turner and Niagara. Across the corner, plantings creep across more than half the sidewalk on both sides.

Government Street comes second with obstructive poles and foliage at both ends of its James Bay stretch. Often enough the other side is clear, but that would involve crossing the street several times.

Tripping hazards, due to uneven settling, imperil the elderly. The city relies on its citizens to report these places. City crews will come and mark them in preparation for repairs. Call 361-0406 or 361-0416.

Solutions? The city has extended the width of sidewalks around some utility poles and could possibly do the same for others. Maybe they could also trim trees that block drivers and pedestrians from reading some of the street signs.

Because streets are smoother and because they want to avoid obstacles and the slanted grades of driveways, scooters often leave the sidewalks.

If residents would take a good look at their shrubbery and trim off all the stuff that occupies any space over the edge of the sidewalk, including overhanging tree branches, our sidewalks would be enormously more friendly.

The city could move bus shelters and garbage receptacles off the sidewalks.

And what about the utility poles? What in the world were they thinking when they plunked them down in the middle of the sidewalk in the first place? And could they not have used a level or a plumb bob to put them in straight? Straight up these poles are unsightly, but being crooked make them a lot worse.

All in all, James Bay sidewalks are not in bad shape, especially with some of the improvements we suggest. Although safety is most important, the aesthetic aspects should not be overlooked.