Many times, I’ve thought about how busy St. John’s Sideroad is—not just for vehicles, but also for parents with children, walkers, dog owners, runners, and bikers. With so much activity, it’s no surprise that accidents happen all the time.
In the past 15 years, St. John’s Sideroad has undergone significant changes, including residential developments, schools, a major supermarket, a water treatment facility, road widening, a Community Arboretum, and a new boardwalk. These updates, spanning from Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue, were essential to support population growth and enhance the driving experience.
Going down memory lane, I recall a small dead-end street across from St. Andrew’s Valley Golf Club where we used to watch the Canada Day fireworks. The area was often used as a dumping ground and was just bare land back then.
The best part of my neighbourhood is how easily parks, playgrounds, schools, and shopping are accessible without a car. When the weather is nice, I enjoy taking Matthew on long walks to these nearby playgrounds, boardwalk, Arboretum, and Superstore.
I’ve noticed I’m not the only one; with more caregivers in the neighbourhood, many walk or push strollers to playgrounds and schools since they can’t drive—or likely aren’t allowed to. There’s really no need to drive when everything is so close.
So, I went off on a tangent—back to St. John’s Sideroad, which has a history of accidents. While we might not witness the accidents themselves, we often see the aftermath—damaged curbs, guardrails, speed signs, posts, grass, or broken car parts. Over the years, I’ve seen it all. Walking along this busy road, do I watch my back? Of course. It’s hard not to, knowing accidents have happened there.
Last weekend, there was an accident on St. John’s Sideroad. A Honda car veered toward the boardwalk, knocking over a couple of guard posts. It was likely a mix of black ice, a sloped road, and speeding. The accident occurred near the entrance to the Nokiida Trail boardwalk, close to the second observation deck on the north side of the road.
So, I mentioned earlier the need to “accommodate the increased population, and preferably the drivers.” Well, when Superstore was built, the driving customers were definitely given preferential treatment.
I had requested that the Town install a sidewalk on Earl Stewart Drive so parents pushing strollers wouldn’t have to use the road to access or leave the property. Many months have passed, and I haven’t seen any action from the Town. I would have thought that if there were a safety concern, it would have been addressed immediately—but I guess not. I’ll check with them in the spring.
Perhaps I’ll share my two cents on safety. Drivers need to be more responsible and obey the rules. We need to stop designing roads with safety as an afterthought. Pedestrians and moving vehicles should be kept as far apart as possible. Cost-effective band-aid solutions like more safety signs no longer work. I believe in more law enforcement presence. Yet, even with police speed traps, drivers continue to speed along St. John’s Sideroad. Ultimately, it comes down to the responsibility of the driver – Be Responsible, Be Aware of Your Surroundings.
COMMENTS
Marvin said: February 27, 2012 at 21:10
“They need continuous guardrails, not just posts. And if it’s a post, it needs to be an immovable object in the ground, not just something that pops off when someone hits it. Otherwise it’s no kind of obstacle.”
Anna Lozyk Romeo said: February 29, 2012 at 22:17
“Thanks Marvin, hope someone will read your comment.”
Butterfly said: March 13, 2012 at 22:30
“I back onto the intersection of St. John’s SDRD and Industrial PKWY. You wouldn’t believe the screeching cars racing by night. Foolishness. I believe that the police have stepped up their presence in that area as I have noticed a massive improvement and constantly see speed traps.”
Anna Lozyk Romeo said: March 21, 2012 at 19:08
“Valerie, I can believe, things happen sometimes on our street too. Dangerous act for sure to cause an accident.”
