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Mayor Not Concerned About Kal Road Pathway Criticisms

Sep 7, 2017 | 5:39 AM

Vernon’s mayor is down playing criticism about the new multi use pathway along Kalamalka Lake Road.

One of the beefs is that the traffic lanes have gone from four…to two in that area.

However, Akbal Mund says it only amounts to about 200 metres less.

“I don’t understand how people could be upset about that. It dumbfounds me that they are upset about 200 metres of the roadway. Does it really make that much difference that you can pass ten vehicles in that time to move ahead?”

There have also been questions about why the new pathway is so wide.

“One of the reasons is that bikes will be using it in both directions as well as people walking. That’s why you have to separate the bikes going in each direction, because if you don’t, you know there will be accidents,” Mund tells Kiss FM.

Meantime, a Vernon councillor would like to see special lighting considered for the new pathway along Kal Lake Road.

Scott Anderson says he’s heard anecdotally that a golf ball was thrown through a passing car’s window by a vandal on the new part late one night, shaking up a male driver.

“He could see somebody running in the dark but he couldn’t identify them. My thought is, and his thought was, had there been lighting there, somebody wouldn’t have done that in the first place,” says Anderson.

“It seems to be necessary. It’s a very wide pathway with no lighting at night, so since there already has been an incident on it apparently, I think it has to be addressed,” adds Anderson.

City staff say there are plans to improve the street lighting once the project is done, but specialized lights are not in the budget.

Mayor Akbal Mund says there will be street lights, so he’s not sure extra lighting is needed.

“How many people are riding their bike at midnight? Vandalism occurs everywhere, and who knows where it (the ball) came from. It could have come from someone shooting off the golf course.”