Discussions

I see they have had install temporary speed calming device a while back on durum drive. It will definitely help slow traffic down with minimal disruption to traffic flow. They have also just installed one at princess ave east and Douglas. This one to me will effect people who used Douglas to access princess with trailers as it’s the only street without a stop sign from Victoria ave east as well as one of the least steep roads north south in the area. With trailers no longer able to take lefts tighter side streets may get used more for larger vehicles and trailers. This may cause issues with vehicles getting stuck in the winter trying to climb the slippery side streets. Wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on these.

What is that?

I added a picture of a permanent one this is very similar style to the temporary one added on princess ave east. They also have dividers on each street so you can not turn left without going around the Center like a traffic circle.

The one in the photo looks more like a hazard than anything. I could see people getting initially confused on where to go if turning left… interesting …. I’m not sure why our taxes are being spent on such frivolous things!!

The amount of pot holes in this city is “speed calming” already!!!! Why are we paying for more?? Fix the pot holes first, then maybe people will be able to drive fast enough to warrant a speed calming device…

Pot holes don't kill people, speed kills.

Yes speed kills people, thus my point was that Brandon has such bad potholes that no one can even speed!! so this speed calming devise is unnecessary as each street already has multiple “speed calming” devices - just here in Brandon we call them “pot holes” lol

Here’s a current picture of the one on princess from this morning.

Treated exactly like a round about then? If I wanted to cross princess I have to abide by that circle to the right then continue on the 2nd exit ? Confusing to me as well. I haven't driven there yet so have no clue as of yet  
 
Edited by nolivy, 2023-11-17 09:00:56

Most people can't even navigate a roundabout properly! Why not just put one of those in instead of these poles and signs? Makes no sense to me.  
 
And I totally agree with there being enough potholes in town to curb speeders that they don't need to focus on these types of things. Fix the potholes and then worry about speeding cars.

The one on Durum looks very different and actually forces both lanes to near the centre of the street. And such pretty white poles on a snowy background? It has already been hit.  
Just waiting for the head on collisions once the streets get slippery. SMH.

So I can't turn left unto Douglas from Princess Ave East? That's not really a Traffic Circle then...

Those are both abominations, and the signage being used is inconsistent and inappropriate in both cases.  
 
I wish there were stricter provincial rules about what cities are allowed to do. This type of thing is simply dangerous. That's absolutely not how you implement traffic calming measures.  
 
Case in point - the second sign is a standard hazard marker used to denote a hazard that may be passed on either side, but they have flipped it so it is horizontal. Just to make it more confusing, there's a one-way sign on top of that.  
 
The first example is a Chevron alignment sign, and the transportation association of Canada recommends they not be used to denote obstructions in the roadway. They are typically used to identify curves in a roadway.  
 
This is terrible design.  
 
Edited by JosephC, 2023-11-17 14:09:24

At the risk of being rude I must say the City of Brandon has a habit of being all over the place with traffic control. From inconsistency in left turn lane assignment, speed limits, and now this.  
Assuming that this is about pedestrian safety, my observations are that in a lot of cases pedestrians (and cyclists) take very little responsibility for their own safety. More attention should be given to correcting the cause of the problem instead of implementing hairbrained Band-Aid solutions. Will we regress to having someone walk ahead of automobiles waving flags as a warning to pedestrians.  
I don't want to see anyone hurt but maybe we are actually making things worse.

Calming give me a break! Have seen kids use this like they are in a Formula 1 race! There’s gotta be better things to spend money on than these white posts that have already been hit and will have to have a city worker come a fix it! This is a complete joke

Are speed calmers something new? I don’t remember ever hearing anything about them??  
 
From looking at the pics, I’m confused. Maybe it’s more clear in person but is it just meant to make you yield and go around the pylons but keep going straight? It’s not really a traffic circle is it? Or maybe it is? Idk lol

Same thing in Winnipeg a few years ago with poor public reception and no improvement in traffic control.

Brandon drivers are already so bad, and now we’ve put up a vehicle obstacle course! Haha goodness smh

You’re suggesting that one day there might be a flag person walking in front of every vehicle in the city? Limiting all traffic to 5km/h? Or would we make them jog?  
 
You believe that speed calming devices could eventually lead to this. Really.  
 
Would this be a 24/7 service? A city employed flag person, for every vehicle walking in front every car all the time. Would we be able to fill all those jobs though?  
 
And all because of those pesky, careless pedestrians!  
 
Seriously, when was the last time you walked more than block on our city streets? If your answer is “the 1970s”, excuse yourself from discussions about traffic safety.

why didn't they just put a 4 way stop sign instead? I understand the flow of traffic, but if people are speeding. Just change it to stop signs and it will force people to drive slow.

It’s just a mini roundabout. We have them all over the U.K. and throughout Europe. Ours are just permanently placed in the road though and don’t have the pylons or signage. Maybe the city are trialling it out to see if it’s worth putting in a permanent one.

I believe that Old Lady was being sarcastic. It’s implied that the world is encouraging pedestrians to take less responsibility for their actions, which they are.  
 
Last week, I came far too close to hitting a child in a crosswalk!  
I’m one of those drivers that ALWAYS stops for pedestrians that are trying to cross at corners. That night, I was driving East on Victoria. As I passed through the crosswalk by Tim Horton’s, (crossing lights not flashing) a small child in a pink jacket seemed to appear out of nowhere. My passenger didn’t see her either. At the last second, the child was pulled back. I couldn’t see who pulled the child back as they were dressed in all black, I assume.  
 
I believe that I didn’t see them because it was dark out, and the child was hidden behind the larger person. I only saw the little pink jacket emerge from the darkness. I’m sure she would have been killed. Why?  
 
Because the adult acted irresponsibly. Pay attention pedestrians. You may save your own life.

I know vehicles in the uk are smaller in general but could you get something like a city bus or larger truck and trailer to make lefts. Most this city can’t figure out a well marked well designed traffic circle, and from the couple days watching this one only about 50% of the vehicles going down princess slow down at all and about half that do slow to 25-30 and are back to 45-50 within half a block.

Thank You for getting my point. Unlike some people that go out of their way to misunderstand.

so does stupidity but here we are ..this is not only in the most ridiculous spot with a blind always icy east bound hill just before it but the fact that douglas on the 100 block is up hill so barely anyone stopped at the stop sign so now some just fly through regardless if there is a vehicle in the "calming circle" or not. Nothing calming about this and hopefully no accidents and people hurt once the roads are the normal winter garbage. Dumbest idea ever for that road. PS if the police traffic section would actually do their part and policed princess east and handed out tickets for speeding and then reinforced it at 40 km perhaps some would have learned their lesson as its the same handful of people abusing the straight away to use it like the audobon in Germany lol

City just put out a notice on these:  
https://www.brandon.ca/public-notices-details?var=6625  
 
Have seen them elsewhere and experience has been that its appreciated to have ability to pass through the intersections without having to stop and go. First couple times through are an adjustment and then it just works.