Bob Ormerod
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Controversial Terry Fox Circle improvement project set for fall
OrilliaMatters
13Parks are for people; not cars. If residents with mobility issues want to see the water, there are loads of other places where they can park the car and sit on benches along the boardwalk. Paving the Circle will just encourage more poseurs to "strut their stuff"
25- Bob Ormerod
Ice storm: City of Orillia ends state of emergency
OrilliaMatters 5Firing a person before they assume the position is indeed a serious move; but have you considered that there's something here that the mayor cannot disclose?McIsaac has "been around the horn" more than once in his working life. He no doubt wrestled with this decision many times before flipping the switch.Hold off on your negative comments until the facts are disclosed; and they will be.
21- Bob Ormerod
Campbell says councillors will have blood on their hands if someone gets hurt at Orillia park
OrilliaMatters 6The petition was organised by a small group of vocal objectors who cannot handle change and no doubt signed by many "out of towners" who were never made aware of the issues. Terry Fox Circle is in the wrong place; very difficult to walk freely in the area, let alone negotiate the trail on a bike. Quite simply, PARKS ARE FOR PEOPLE, NOT CARS. Keep the cars on the road, leave the park to pedestrians. If you want to look at the water, go to Line 13 near Big Cedar, or Carthew Bay. Most people who drive the Circle do it out of curiosity, 30 seconds of "oh, that's nice" and then move on.
19- Bob Ormerod
City to explore extending King and Colborne streets to waterfront
OrilliaMatters 17Spend the money on upgrading existing roads. There are several that can easily be classified as atrocious Dunlop St by the hospital, North between West and Laclie, Neywash to name few.Fix what needs fixing first!
6- Bob Ormerod
All-way stops coming to three busy Orillia intersections
OrilliaMatters 12Roundabouts are not, as you say "dumb". They have been shown to reduce accidents, and the severity of them, improve traffic flow and reduce idling. They are far safer than traffic lights; witness the amount of severe accidents caused by drivers trying to "beat the lights"
7- Bob Ormerod
COLUMN: Design of buffer will make or break Laclie Street bike lanes
OrilliaMatters 14You say "Nonsense". Why? Where's the nonsense in having the city adopt Active Transportation modes wherever possible? The current council should be congratulated for at least starting to discuss Active Transportation modes instead of being subjected to so much moaning and groaning.Just think how refreshing it would be if children could ride to school, and adults could ride to the mall, but that will never happen when the city builds bike lanes to nowhere. There is therefore a glimmer of hope that children will be encouraged to ride to school along Laclie Street with the appropriate infrastructure. Perhaps the city can liaise with school boards to see what it would take to reduce car traffic around schools.Maybe council members should get on THEIR BIKES to get some first-hand knowledge of what they are recommending. Also, contact Severn Township and ask them what the catalyst was for them to build such a simple, effective bike lane along Brodie and Carlyon.
4- Bob Ormerod
Over 4,000 tickets issued in Orillia as speed cameras nab fast drivers
OrilliaMatters 12We all acknowledge that the roads in Orillia need serious attention; too many times previous councils just passed the problem to the next, so how about the City putting this speed camera cash into road upkeep."User pay"
1- Bob Ormerod
City looks to tackle local poverty with new action plan, new staffer
OrilliaMatters 11Shouldn't this position be a County responsibility through their SMDHU? I assume they have the counselors, the dieticians, the facilitators to educate in financial management matters, etc.
2- Bob Ormerod
Mayor outlines updates on speed cameras, train station, housing
OrilliaMatters 9Please get your facts straight!Champlain monument is a Parks Canada issue, suggest you ask our MPWhen you say " American" are you referring to the mayor? I believe he was born here, went to school here so again, whether you like him or not, it's important to get your facts straight before you post
3- Bob Ormerod
City Hall shakeup aims to save money, improve service: CAO
OrilliaMatters 10The CAO says this is "a clear customer service promise"That sounds encouraging, and time will tell - give Mr Singh some time - but, IMHO, what has been missing at City Hall is clearly defined RESPONSIBILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY.My pet peeve has been upkeep of parks and flower beds. Every year I've had to contact City Hall to complain about the weeds in the beds on Front Street; not to mention the pathetic looking trees that seem to be dying on the vine. I should not have to contact City Hall to ask them to do BASIC maintenance - do City employees not see the weeds and the spindly trees; or do they not care.
2- Bob Ormerod
'Nature’s sponge': Oro-Medonte couple transforms useless swath of land into vital oasis
OrilliaMatters 11Finally; a good news story!
- Bob Ormerod
Council slams the brakes on Laclie Street bike lanes ... for now
OrilliaMatters 8Yes Joan, there are indeed two trails in the area, but how does that help the occasional cyclist, who is perhaps intimidated by motor traffic, travel from Metro to, for instance, CIBC or Guardian Pharmacy at the head of Laclie.If you thought about it, that would the rider to ride up North or Fittons.. Not good! Those trails, in this instance, do nothing to enhance Active Transportation.
3- Bob Ormerod
Over-budget project, Terry Fox Circle upgrades on council agenda
OrilliaMatters 9Orion and Monarch, and similar intersections, would be an ideal location for a roundabout. Traffic will be FORCED to slow down, pedestrians have to deal with traffic travelling in one direction, and any accidents will be less severe. Four-way stops just encourage tire-squealing and increased pollution.
1- Bob Ormerod
Head's up! New traffic circle coming to busy Orillia intersection
OrilliaMatters 10Neither a roundabout or "a traffic circle" should have a STOP sign, yielding at a roundabout is the whole point.
- Bob Ormerod
'An incredible day for Orillia': New hospital is on the horizon
OrilliaMatters 2HRC makes so much more sense. Imagine getting to the Lakehead location if you did not have a car and outside bus times !Tha HRC location would also go a long way in addressing Urban Sprawl
8- Bob Ormerod
Province moving to restrict bike lanes, increase speed limits
OrilliaMatters 6Bike lanes are not the panacea that some folks believe. To be used, they have to lead somewhere, and not just peter out. Case in point would be Coldwater Rd. The lane ends by Scott's Nursery, and then amazingly leads onto a 4-lane dragstrip. No wonder folks have to get in their car/SUV/pu truck to go to Home Depot, just adding to congestion; certainly not solving it.Then there's the bike lane on Highway 12. Fine while it lasts for 1-2 k, but then again, it leads onto a fast-trafficked road with no/crumbling shoulder. Reducing EFFECTIVE bike lanes will do nothing to improve traffic flow. It will just encourage /force people to use motor vehicles, and then the problem just repeats itself. As a side note; if the province really wanted to improve traffic flow, they would have installed roundabouts when they "upgraded" Highway 12!
1- Bob Ormerod
Local union rep calls Canada Post's latest offer 'a slap in the face'
OrilliaMatters 7I remember when we had daily milk delivery and doctors made house calls.Time has changed
- Bob Ormerod
BREAKING: Mayor granted special mayor powers amid storm recovery
OrilliaMatters 3Ok "Happy Guy". Please itemize some instances where you would have done a better job!
3- Bob Ormerod
Township eyes safety improvements after another crash on Division Rd.
OrilliaMatters 2Driver's impatience is the issue here. If you're on Division and see a gravel truck on Burnside, cool your jets, count to 10 (or even 20, or more) and let the truck clear the intersection. The heavy gravel truck will always win!
1- Bob Ormerod
'Safety first': City OKs automated speed enforcement program
OrilliaMatters 2I believe they are only in Community Safety Zones because the province does not want to them "at large" for reasons known only to them.
1- Bob Ormerod
