This flashing light is symbolic of the identity crisis my town is having. It has a vision of itself as historic, yet progressive, small town yet growing. It can't seem to make up it's mind. This light hangs over a major intersection in town and directs hundreds of cars a day, maybe more. People start and stop, unsure who is next as eight lanes come to face each other. If a train comes at rush hour, cars wait in long lines for a chance at this dance. In an age of computers and sensors, you'd think they'd find a way to use a modern traffic light to allow traffic to clear. But, the town has had this flashing light hanging there since I've lived here and probably will long after I'm gone.
Once passing the historic district, where PITA will tell you that you must get a permit to fart, all bets are off. The main drag could be any small town USA and though large signs are not permitted, we have all the requisite fast food joints that have caused the expanding US waistline, gas stations, StuffMart and strip malls.
Grow? Stay the same? Grow seems to be the word over the past decade, where it has been said that a new school would need to be built every two years to keep up with incoming. And guess who gets to pay for it? This homeschooler that doesn't use the schools.
8 comments:
A. Why don't they make that a regular light intersection? Eight lanes seems like a bit much.
B. I'd never thought about homeschoolers having to pay school tax. I have lots of homeschooling friends. It just never came up.
Great post!
Don't feel singled out on the tax issue... how 'bout those of us that don't have children (human ones that is)? We're still paying school taxes.
We are having the same issues in our town. Some are seeing development as 'the devil'. I remain unsure!
My kids attend private school so i know what you mean.
My bet is there will NEVER be a stop light in the intersection you described because simply it would increase the speed limit though town. With a four way stop, it "requires" a stop. The top speed you can reach from the railroad track to the next stop sign is about 20 mph. This mandates a slow speed through the main street area. Can you tell I have sat at the intersection list TOO often?!!
Eight lanes at a four way stop are not too many, it is the train that is throwing off the natural rhythm of the intersection. Unfortunately a traffic light wouldn't help a whole lot.
That seems like madness, us poor tourists wouldn't have a chance!!
Although it's a four way stop, perhaps lane signs set up 100 feet before approaching the intersection would help with the drivers focusing in the proper direction.
Every tax payer in Toronto pays school district taxes, even if you don't have children.
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