Report Recommends Removing Playground Zones - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

GrrlGoalie33 · 10-05-2006, 12:15 PM

Can you believe this? People can't follow the posted speed limits, so let's just remove the playground zone all together. Let's not worry about protecting our children.

This doesn't make sense to me at all.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...56172-sun.html

someguy51 · 10-05-2006, 12:30 PM

Yeah, it pretty dumb. Although, I can see their point because at times if feels like I'm the only person in Calgary who obeys the playground zone speed limit.

TurnedTheCorner · 10-05-2006, 12:36 PM

I know I go through several "playground" zones on a regular basis where I have never, ever seen one person using the equipment. Ever. So if people aren't using the facilities and they want to increase the speed limit in the area, the facilities should simply be removed. That won't increase the risk to anyone.

But enforcing the speeds is better than simply giving up because people ignore the signaage IMO.

droopydrew19 · 10-05-2006, 12:38 PM

Let's just remove all signs... Wow

I once saw a woman pushing a baby carriage have to dive out of the way in a marked crosswalk. Drivers are just plain stupid.

I hate it when people just throw their hands up and GIVE UP in the face of adversity. I am sure fines of $500+ for a playground zone speeder would change some minds.

Think of the lawsuits that would ensue if kids were killed after Playground zones were eliminated. That alone would deter and legislation change from ever happening.

JohnnyFlame · 10-05-2006, 12:39 PM

Nothing do with not protecting our children. Some of the playground zones are just beyond stupid. They are located on the far side of a field away from the road and the entire area is fenced. The probability of kid running into traffic tracking down an errant soccer pass for instance ---ZERO.

There are so many of those it's not funny. Pointless overkill. Some of them even on main transportation streets and inevitable the playground is empty as it's not enough a neighborhood with kids to begin with nor would any kid at that playground be at risk anyway.

There is one just around the corner from my house. Two steps and the kid would be right into traffic. Heck in those cases I would say put up speed bumps as big as the airport ones and I wouldn't complain but geez use common sense when deciding what's a playground zone.

ken0042 · 10-05-2006, 12:41 PM

From what I have been told is that some playground zones were set up as a way of slowing down drivers; ie instead of putting in a stop sign. IIRC they are talking about getting rid of some of those, as well as getting rid of some where there are no longer kids in the area.

Besides, in my mind it enforces a behavoir in kids that says "cars will always be watching out for you" rather than the safer attitude of "cars often won't see you; it's up to you to watch out for them."

Jayems · 10-05-2006, 12:47 PM

Drivers in this city don't care about anything but themselves.. (well, most).

No one lets you merge anymore.. thank-you waves are extinct, people barge into your lane with out signaling...

I get that feeling that i'm the only one who slows down for playground zones too.. (the ones that aren't poorly marked.. you know.. when they have the sign that is covered by 5 years of tree branch growth?)

Bobblehead · 10-05-2006, 01:18 PM

I heard teh criteria for a playground zone has been the number of pieces of equipment, but now they would look at the amount of use the playground gets.

If statistics show that the playground zones aren't doing anything for safety then why have them?

Frank the Tank · 10-05-2006, 01:21 PM

One thing I noticed almost right away when we moved from Calgary to London many many years ago, is that there are no "playground zones" here. Not sure if it is an Ontario wide thing, but I've never seen one in all the years I've lived (and driven) here.

Looger · 10-05-2006, 01:21 PM

used to live in country hills, and would never go above around 40 kph because of children EVERYWHERE regardless of signs.

ironically enough it's the soccer mom in the minivan going 80 and right on my ass every day!

sometimes i thought that the signs made them go faster.

who knows. taking them down strikes me as very strange.

Bobblehead · 10-05-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Drivers in this city don't care about anything but themselves.. (well, most).

I know when I moved here the pedestrian rights were one of the biggest changes from London On.

Back there, there were cross walks and everything but the ownus was on the pedestrian to make sure the car was stopping. When I moved here pedestrians would just start crossing - it seemed like "stop and look both ways" was an alien concept to Calgarians.

I'm sure with all the new people in the city there is a clash of driving styles/learning occurring.

sclitheroe · 10-05-2006, 01:29 PM

Speed where you want...this is the stupidest arguement back and forth that I've seen on calgarypuck..face it, slowing down in kid zones is going to knock maybe, maybe 20 seconds off of your drive, unless you wanna run your ricer up the avenue or whatever.

Seriously, you guys need to relax, I love all the self-rightous posters, I'll see you on the 401,, trying to merge onto it, or the 407...have fun, and when we run you over, think twice about slowing things down

SpitFire40 · 10-05-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I know when I moved here the pedestrian rights were one of the biggest changes from London On.

Back there, there were cross walks and everything but the ownus was on the pedestrian to make sure the car was stopping. When I moved here pedestrians would just start crossing - it seemed like "stop and look both ways" was an alien concept to Calgarians.

I'm sure with all the new people in the city there is a clash of driving styles/learning occurring.

I think more ownus should be on pedestrians... Like in Ontario. It's alot easier as a pedestrian to see or hear cars then the drive of a car.

With that said, playground zones have a place and removing them would be stupid.

Bobblehead · 10-05-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Speed where you want...this is the stupidest arguement back and forth that I've seen on calgarypuck..face it, slowing down in kid zones is going to knock maybe, maybe 20 seconds off of your drive, unless you wanna run your ricer up the avenue or whatever.

Seriously, you guys need to relax, I love all the self-rightous posters, I'll see you on the 401,, trying to merge onto it, or the 407...have fun, and when we run you over, think twice about slowing things down

I really have no idea what this is trying to say?

4X4 · 10-05-2006, 01:57 PM

Y'know, prior to moving to Rome, I would have been a big 'playground zones are necessary, thou shalt not lane split whilt on motorcycle, drivers are always at fault, pedestrians are helpless beings that just need to cross the street' guy.....

But now, I see just exactly how life has managed to evolve to the point where european countries can colonize new continents.

Seriously, Calgary... We are so far behind the times it's funny. There are so many rules for our roads that are only there to protect ourselves from ourselves. I laugh everyday when I see children crossing big roads here in Rome, harmfree.

Get rid of playground zones? Well, sounds drastic. Especially considering the way most people are so used to them. I'm in favour, but not just because I'm a right winged redneck that figures that everyone just needs to fend for themselves. More because it is so stupid that a forkin pedestrain can just bolt into a calgary crosswalk while a car is approaching, and the driver can get fined. Pure bullcrap. And playround zones are just a precursor to crosswalks. Try looking both ways before crossing the street. Of course, that takes away from the real purpose of the playground zone. Kids playing here. Drivers, go slow and be attentive.
Try that crosswalk garbage here. You'll end up horizontal. And the cops will simply tell you that you're an idiot.

From what I hear, in NZ there is a system that has a large diamond before the crosswalk. If the car has breached the diamond, he has right of way. If the pedestrian is in the crosswalk before the car is in the diamond, pedestrian has right of way. Sounds like a hell of a system. It is definitely better than the Roman 'start crossing the street and hope for the best' system, or the Calgarian 'walk into the street without looking, anytime, and know full well that if you get hit, the driver is so far up **** creek he'll be sucking your nutsack for 15 years' system.

4X4 · 10-05-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I really have no idea what this is trying to say?

I think he's trying to say that slowing down in playground zones isn't going to affect your day. And that people who start going testosterone-man with the 'I-can-go-as-fast-as-I-want' are a bunch of losers.

Hemi-Cuda · 10-05-2006, 02:58 PM

good. i live in Inglewood right near a playground zone that i've NEVER seen anyone use and it's fenced in to boot. there is absolutly no reason for the speed to be reduced by 20km/h in that area

Red · 10-05-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

From what I have been told is that some playground zones were set up as a way of slowing down drivers; ie instead of putting in a stop sign. IIRC they are talking about getting rid of some of those, as well as getting rid of some where there are no longer kids in the area.

Besides, in my mind it enforces a behavoir in kids that says "cars will always be watching out for you" rather than the safer attitude of "cars often won't see you; it's up to you to watch out for them."

Quoted for truth.

Playground zones give kids a false sense of security because the drivers are too busy looking at the speedometer instead of the road.

ricosuave · 10-05-2006, 05:32 PM

it has nothing to do with the 'safety' of the kids and more to do with the fact that, like a poster said above, that NO ONE ever uses the playgrounds within the friggin things - I've never seen a kid in one outside of school hours in almost 20 years of driving...

browna · 10-05-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I noticed in Vancouver there seems to be very few of them. Is that true.

The crack needles strewn about the grass is usually a much bigger concern.

But seriously, the worst playground zone in the city meant to slow people down has to be the 15 block one on Elbow Dr., just before 5th St. It runs along the river, with a swingset shoe-horned in there. Never a kid playing there.

First, the citizens of Elbow Park have already convinced the City to put in the median to narrow the lanes, and a 40km limit. These are also the same residents who painted illegally, crosswalks on some streets to try and slow people down even further.