Comments Received from Windsor Police Service

It is difficult to answer because the procedure for selecting the roadways has not be explained in detail. Obviously, it is important to have the input of the residents/businesses that may be affected by this partial closure. The restricted lane will also cause congestion in the main thoroughfare as well. There may be a potential increase in vehicular traffic to the off chutes of the partial closures that may pose a risk to area near the partial closure. There may be an increase in traffic near the detour which may pose a risk to local neighborhood.

In regards to above, there must be considerations for Emergency Response calls for service i.e. a means for Emergency Services to enter/exit the roadway.

There is also a concern as to the amount of Police resources you would be looking of having toward this initiative.

The biggest concern for us is Public Safety. For the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who would be utilizing the designated area, concern would be on the type of barriers (plastic or cement) being used, sufficient lighting/reflective tape for the barriers themselves and proper lighting upon approach of the vehicle coming upon the lane restriction. Road markings or portable speed bumps should also be considered in addition to signage for approaching vehicles. Good sight lines are important so drivers' attention can be focused.

First and foremost before any roadway or selected/designated section of a roadway gets modified to accommodate increased pedestrian and other non-vehicular traffic, there needs to be a clear set of criteria that determines the appropriateness of its selection. Criteria could include, but not be limited to, such things as:

 Current vehicle volumes per hour

 The presence of nearby roadways that run in the same direction that could absorb traffic diverted from the partially closed roadway

 The uninhibited ability for emergency police response capability to be properly maintained throughout the entirety of the partially closed section of roadway, regardless of which mode of response is used (vehicle, bicycle, foot patrol, etc.)

 The amount of gross land area currently available between the edge of the roadway (curb) to the edge of abutting building façades and entry points – the less of this non-vehicular space is available, the better the candidate that roadway would be for "road diet" consideration

 Any modifications made would need to ensure optimized maintenance of public safety for both daytime and night time usage – this would include ensuring open sight lines are maintained, proper lighting, clear directional signage, etc.

We do not feel Riverside Drive between Caron Avenue and Devonshire Road is a good candidate for the lane restrictions because it does not qualify according to many of the aforementioned qualifying criteria. Most notably of these, there is considerable buffer space throughout the entire north side of the roadway in the form of riverfront parks which would easily accommodate social distancing, plus the traffic impact onto nearby