healthetank

joined 2 years ago
[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Bigger problem is people are bad judges of risk while driving. People's perception of how fast they can safely travel doesnt line up with their actual abilities.

Roads are built with a design speed 20kph higher than the posted limit because that's the margin left for safety. That covers things like balding tires, like a distracted driver not paying attention, or bad weather.

There can be some changes (ie the number of municipalities that insist on a 4m wide lane is RIDICULOUS for residential roads), but the vast majority of the factors that make it "safe" to drive that speed are there for a reason.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago

The problem is that people are AWFUL at evaluating their own risk when driving, and drive at speeds that ARENT safe. Look at how few people leave appropruate stopping distances between vehicles, which is the #1 factor in preventing accidents.

The methods you proposed would likely decrease the speed vehicles travel at (ie from 80 to 60) because drivers feel like they can't travel at that speed, but the road likely still isn't safe for vehicles to travel at 60 when its that narrow.

Speed cameras catch everyone speeding, 24/7, and are the single best, economical, way to eliminate speeding from a road. Cop can't pull over every vehicle going 80 on a 4 lane road rated for 60, but the camera can ticket them all.

For sure, promote a narrower road, encourage MUP over sidewalks, and encourage safer driving when you talk to your councilors, but road reconstruction happens, generally, once every 25-50yrs. We can't wait for that timeframe to fix these problems.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 12 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Ah yes, the urban hotspots of.....Scotland?

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 week ago

There's something poetic about climate change (caused in no small part due to farming and particularly cattle farming) allowing a tick that causes red meat allergies (thus reducing red meat consumption) to expand its territory.

My wife was bit by one when she was a teen, and its pretty nasty. Hers hits when she eats a lot of red meat, or eats slow-cooked red meat, but its hives, scratchy throat, and nasty stomach cramps.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

I'd guess grift. The pic shows gravel beneath the asphalt in those potholes. For any major road, you should be having more asphalt than that. Ontario major series highways have large amounts - 200-350mm is standard, 400 I've seen in areas with constraints. From the pic, I'd guess youre at 1-2 lifts, so maybe 100mm, at most? Given the speed of deterioration, likely only 1 60mm lift.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

and drivers have been allowed to creep the average speed to 15-20 over the limit, it can literally feel like you’re the one doing wrong when doing the limit as most other cars fly past you.

I agree. Other vehicles speed is a major factor in your comfort and safety when driving. Which is why this ticketing is soooo effective. Thousands of tickets, with 24/7 coverage, applied without needing a cop standing there and literally ticketing each one individually?

I'd lay good money that those areas will see a drastic speed reduction within the next month or two, once drivers receive their fines.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

For sure! One of those changes requires money and time, and one requires people to pay attention. Should be an easy choice which should get implemented now vs in 5-10yrs.

I dislike the infantalization of the public, and the idea that people can't be trusted, so we should make the roads such that they NEED to follow the limit feels stupid.

now just rely on getting tickets to keep us in line, I mean if thats our system and there isn't enough push to retest us regularly, then yeah, I'm not opposed to getting tickets. My city has installed them throughout our community safety zones, and I got dinged once at 8km.hr over. Sure, it sucks, but I was the one in the wrong. The idea of removing them, or me saying its the fault of the road design is ridiculous. I chose to go that speed, largely because we've been able to speed at 5-10km/hr over the speed limit with no consequences for my entire adult life. Now I see a community safety zone and I go the speed limit, regardless of where I am or what the road 'feels' like I can drive.

The 10 speed automatic transmission can let you creep from 100 to 115/120 pretty easily and relatively unnoticeably on an empty road.

If he's on a highway, then learn what 100 feels like in your new car. It's an adjustment. I work in road design, and the safety standards that are required when designing highways trump concerns over speeding. People are bad judges of what is a 'safe' speed, and building highways around how fast people feel comfortable going leads to more accidents and more dangerous accidents.

That being said, I'm all for narrowing lanes, adding MUPs or widening sidewalks, all of which can occur at the same time. But the transportation master plan and/or asset management queue is built up for the next ~10 years (minimum), and updating or changing that is a very expensive process most places dont have the money for.

From the article, New Westminster Drive was the highest (9,000+ tickets). The road was redone in 2015 (with no changes to the alignment or width). That means they're likely looking at a minimum of 15+ years before they'll rebuild the road, which is whats required to adjust curblines, narrow the road, or otherwise change the alignment. Likewise Ansley Grove Road was redone in 2010, and won't be rebuilt for 10+years.

Those roads are all four lane urban roads with few intersecting streets and long stretches for motorists to get up to speed. Speed enforcement is the simplest and fastest method to address the problem now. Sure, petition your local council to change what their standard road cross section is, but that won't change anything for 15+ years. ___

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

People always say that, and while yes it is true that wider lanes, less intersections, and less roadside hazards do make the road feel like you can speed, use your goddamn speedometer.

People are thinking breathing creatures. Idgaf if the road feels like I could go 100km/hr, if the sign says 50, I'm not flying at 100 down the road because I can think and be aware. At the end of the day, speeding is a CHOICE. Road design can make it feel slow or painful to do the speed limit, but if you can't override that feeling and pay attention while driving, you don't deserve a license.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 29 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Something like 80% of the prices you pay at a grocery store go to middle men. Farmer is only about 11%, IIRC.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 23 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

If anyone is interested in sending an email detailing your thoughts, they have a general email address here:

bellhs@ocdsb.ca

The school is part of the Ottawa-Carleton district school board with Amanda Presley as the trustee for the Zone. Her email is amanda.presley@ocdsb.ca

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 weeks ago

Last time I checked, Pierre Poilievre never came out in our election. As a matter of fact, him, or one of his lieutenants, told every one of his members, don't you dare go out and help the PCs. Isn't that ironic?" said Ford.

Can't say I'm surprised. AFAIK, Ontario's party and the Federal party is ALMOST always elected the opposite. Doug won provincially before the federal election, with bad tidings for the party federally.

[–] healthetank@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Interesting. There must be some serious differences between there and here (Canada). I have no doubt companies fail here too, but even for companies that have soon gone out of business, they always finish their jobs.

We often only hire companies who can show past experience on similar sized projects, our bonds cover the full contract amount (every municipality around here has that requirement), and the contracts are generally pretty stringent on things like working days with severe liquidated damages for projects that go over the deadline (I've seen $500/day up to $3,000/day).

 

Not really a fan of how they've portrayed Ford, avoiding talking about his significant backlashes, or the record low voter turnout to all his elections, but I suppose Ontario has given our approval to him, one way or another.

 

I've been biking for a number of years, primarily single track XC or gravel riding. I do adventure racing, which is incredibly tough on the bikes, but am hoping to improve my bike life.

What are some of the important bike maintenance things that you all do?

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