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Friday, August 18, 1995

On raised walkways, crosswalks and rumble strips

A few people on campus have raised concerns about the proposed raised walkways on the ring road. Some have wondered if these walkways -- envisioned as "traffic calmers" and expected to be constructed in the next three weeks -- will impede snow plows, or worse, rushing fire engines.

David Churchill of plant operations says the two-and-a-half-inch high walkways will have 24-inch long ramps on either side. That translates into a minimum of obstruction, he says, adding that clearance tests have been conducted with low-slung Kitchener Transit buses and Corvettes on the test walkway on the service road by Village 11.

In response to the UW community's wishes, walkways will be constructed about a foot away from curbs, so that bicyclists can easily pass, and the walkways (four are planned) will be built near catch basins to avoid ponding and freezing, he says.

"We certainly invite everyone to try out the test walkway. We'd like to incorporate as much input as possible," says Churchill, who invites anyone with questions, suggestions and concerns to contact him at djchurch@mc1adm.

Construction will begin as soon as a paving contractor with a free schedule can be found. Rumple strips, which will serve to warn drivers of newly installed stop signs at major ring road intersections, are expected to be built next week.

In other campus traffic news: A budding poet with a gripe about the removal of crosswalks on campus has papered his verse on poles of the now-obsolete traffic calmers. Here's a snippet of the work, titled "On the Passing of UW's Non-Standard Crosswalks":

The car is King, The Car is King, And we its willing servant. We're glad now we don't have to be of traffic laws observant. We can careen at speeds obscene, so swaying and so swervant. And hear the screams of those we deem pedestrians deservant.
How's that for poetic licence. Do you think we might also have a driver's licence? I'm thinking maybe no.

Village II's buzzing; Grad House's closing

Two groups are staying this weekend at Village II: A meeting for about 75 members of the Empire Financial Group begins today and continues to Sunday. Tomorrow and Sunday, about 250 people who are participating in a bike tour for Multiple Sclerosis will also make use of Village II. The two-day, 150 km tour begins at UW and travels the paved back roads of the Mennonite countryside to Guelph. The tour then returns to UW on Sunday.

The Grad House is closing tomorrow for maintenance reasons and will reopen September 5. Today is also the last day of summer operation for the Bombshelter. It too will reopen in early September. Federation Hall has been closed for a few weeks now, and, you guessed it, will reopen around Labour day.

Cymbeline continues this weekend

The King Rudolph Players' production of Shakespeare's Cymbeline continues this weekend in the Waterloo Park bandshell. Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 7 p.m., while matinees are presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, though donations to the King Rudolph Players would be greatly appreciated.

Remebering the King and the goldrush

Wednesday was the 18th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. About 40,000 fans gathered this week in Memphis to pay their respects and to celebrate in a heightened state of Elvisness -- you know, stolen black soul, southern charm and nouveau riche glitz.

Speaking of ill-gotten gold, today's the beginning of Dawson City's Discovery Days, a commemoration of the Klondike gold discovery in 1896. The festival features a parade, raft and canoe races, dances and more.

Horacio Oliveira
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 5719
hmolivei@nh3adm.uwaterloo.ca

Editor: Chris Redmond, credmond@uwaterloo.ca