Description

The black line represents the new trail put in between the new developments between Finch and Weaver. The red line represents the pedestrian and cycling shoulder. The blue line represents the narrower pedestrian and cycling shoulder.

The issues:
a/ Finch between Wyatt and Sportsman is a major north-south thoroughfare, so:
i/ Vehicles – many of them heavy - travel up and down it a lot more now as the island is developing.
ii/ Drivers are potentially commuting, working, and stressed - and many are speeding.

b/ There is more pedestrian and cyclist traffic now.
i/ New properties have been developed off Finch (NE Reserve Way, with the protester)
ii/ There is now a trail leading from Weaver to Finch through the new development (the black line). This means more pedestrians and cyclists using Finch to get to the new trail.

c/ Properties off Finch have access to an excellent trail network – and folks have to get through Finch to get to it
to walk a short distance and visit friends,
get to Barnabas or Bethany churches,
go to Strawberry Hill or Strawberry Park,
walk the dog, or to
go into Winslow.

d/ The shoulder is around 8 feet wide in the northern parts of Finch: and around 4 feet wide in the area marked in blue. A relatively small section, but it means that people travelling any distance have that extra risk. The shoulder on Wyatt is a decent width: this narrower shoulder is the weakest link.

It would be an easy fix to simply widen the shoulder marked in blue to improve safety.