Editor:
More than one week after the pedestrian zone vote and whether to keep it or not, I think we all have to reflect and look back at what led us to this point and why we are divided on something that never should have happened in the first place.
Back in 2020-22, I think we all can agree that the pedestrian zone was a great idea. We welcomed Canadians to our town to make it as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic during what I would call the ugliest two years of our lives.
I was happy to see our businesses doing well and making the most of the opportunity.
Now that this has passed, so should the pedestrian zone. It got so politicized, in my opinion, that our leaders had to make us choose a side and forced many to sign a petition, which I was one of the more than 1,000 people to tell our council enough is enough.
The Aug. 12 vote showed how divided the pedestrian zone made the citizens of Banff and it's unfortunate it had to turn out this way. Even though I voted no, I am glad we won but I am also sad because the pedestrian zone was a good thing during the pandemic and never should divide us.
But what I do not understand from the yes side is how it’s OK to say no traffic and fumes around business in the downtown, but it’s OK to allow traffic to be on Muskrat, Otter, Buffalo, and Beaver streets where people live. It's backward thinking.
Citizens of Banff should never take a back seat to businesses and tourism instead of safety and well-being. This is one of many reasons I believe 1,300 plus people voted no, along with traffic congestion and over-tourism.
I do believe council and Town staff thought this was the best for everyone, but I believe it led us down a path of division and an apology to many residents who had to deal with all that traffic.
I encourage everyone from the yes and no sides to shake hands, hug and come together as a community to quit pointing fingers at one another and encourage our leaders and Parks Canada to come together and work out what we have in front of us.
This isn't a step back, in my opinion, it's a pause to work things out so if a pedestrian zone becomes a thing again, it will be better set up.
The pedestrian zone will soon be gone. I want to reach out to the Banff engineering department to please make the traffic lights longer and more in sync that would help the traffic congestion problem.
Landan Semenok,
Banff
