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Vol. 7
No. 9
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE
SEPTEMBER 2020
Local cyclists say Dalgity's motion is a major step backwards
Photo credit: Submitted.
Photo credit: Brian Turner.
Almonte - Brian turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca A motion that hit the floor of Mississippi Mills council Committee of the Whole on Aug 11 has some local cyclists ringing their alarm bells in a move they say is a major step backwards in cycling safety. The motion, proposed by councilor John Dalgity, requests that the municipality’s Public Works Advisory Committee complete a general review of Almonte’s cycling infrastructure to identify safe cycling routes without the use of designated cycling lanes or loss of on-street parking. At the end of the com-
mittee discussion it was decided to put off any decisions or staff directions until later this fall when the strategic and transportation plans are up for review, Dalgity told Hometown News. Jeff Mills, a local cycling advocate and creator of the Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month (MMBM) group as well as the past chair of the now defunct Mississippi Mills Active Transportation Advisory committee calls the idea a “disturbing move” and “colossal waste of time and money.” He tells Hometown News that “cyclists are being relegated to the back streets with this motion.” The MMBM Facebook page lit up with a mod-
erate number of comments (most in opposition to removing bike lanes) after the wording of the motion was published in the municipal website under the committee of the whole agenda. Dalgity states that the overall speed mixed with the density of regular and commercial traffic on Ottawa & Martin streets make them a poor choice for designated cycling lanes in terms of safety. He is asking the committee to explore alternative safer routes that not only avoid these thoroughfares but continue on past where the bike lanes end to also accommodate safe passage to the OVRT, schools, or other areas in town in-
cluding to Highway 29, but without removing parking spaces on these residential streets. He also notes that during his election campaign and since taking office he has knocked on 95% of the doors of Ottawa and Martin Street residences that saw on-street parking removed when cycling lanes were installed, and 99% of the people he spoke with were not in favour of bike lanes installed in their residential neighbourhood. He states there are many residents that feel that Ottawa and Martin Streets are just too busy for bicycles, that alternative routes can address this issue and that most providing the feedback recently are parents or
recreation bike users that are not loud on social media. The motion also included that the committee explore traffic calming measures from the top of Almonte St. at Highway 29 to the roundabout on Ottawa St. The MMBM cycling group FB posts on this topic had more than 1 contributor urging cyclists and residents alike to contact their councilors to let them know how they feel about designated cycling lanes and other safety measures. As it currently stands, this issue will be back on the agenda for council sometime after September.
Marks’ Cobbler saves their last sole Perth - Brian turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca
This month the friendly folks at Marks’ Cobbler on Gore Street in Perth will close their doors. For 47 years, Dennis Marks (who retired from regular hours last year) was the shoe and boot repair expert that customers from all over the region turned to when they needed either some new quality footwear or something fixed on their favourite pair. His employees continued running the very popular store and recently announced they too were packing it in and closing up shop. Originally they had planned on running things for another year or two. One might think a downward
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demand for shoe repair was the cause and that certainly contributed to things. When Perth area factories closed, there was a noticeable drop in sales and service at Marks'. Factory floor workers know better than anyone the value of a well-made and well-cared-for pair of shoes. Competition from off-shore shoe suppliers didn’t help either as well as a disposal versus repair philosophy that seems to have invaded almost every facet of our lives. A sideline of Marks', skate sharpening has also experienced a decline as hockey has become a pastime with ever-increasing costs. But the biggest reason, Dennis told Hometown News, is the lack
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of interest from younger people in working in the trades. “No one seems to want to work with their hands anymore, they’d rather sit in front of a computer screen,” bemoaned Dennis. Even though the shop remains busy with several days' worth of backlogged shoes needing attention, the long term success of the shop was doomed because of this worker shortage. He added he knows of only 2 relatively good shoe repair shops in Kingston, but going east he said you’d have to travel to Cornwall to find one closer. Almost every trades employer will tell you the same story leaving consumers in a sorry state. It’s a vicious cycle that drives most
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shoppers to replace rather than repair because they either can’t find the right professional or the cost of new is more attractive than the cost of restoring almost anything. Eventually, however, we all find the benefits in selecting quality over something less. Marks’
motto says it best, “we sell the best and fix the rest.” In his golden age, Dennis can look back with pride on his career and the countless loyal customers and friends he’s made over a journey on well-made and well treated shoes.
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