I was somewhat disappointed with the recent editorial by John on the Cabot Head Road. As a reporter, I would expect him to provide some exposure to the other side of the issue – albeit he does seem to get abnormally excited at the mere mention of bicycles and sidewalks.
Suggestions have been put forth to limit the traffic during tourist season via a gated entrance and a summer student to count cars and close the gate as required. Or to close the road completely during the tourist season. Some such solution would solve the problem and everyone would be reasonably happy, or should be, as a community is basically all about sharing isn’t it?
Be that as it may the elderly must be accommodated in a civilized society as I’m sure you’d agree. And the elderly make up a huge percentage of the tax base here – far far larger than the meager consortium of bicycle riders. A 7 km walk is simply impossible for the majority of these people.
As I mentioned once before – is this what we have become in Tobermory – have we started the march to gated communities as it were? Big Tub Harbour Lighthouse is infested with tourists so let’s gate it off and give keys to the chosen few. Dunk’s Bay is plagued with tourists so by all means let’s do the same with it. What about Singing Sands on the long weekends in the summer when you can’t get to your house due to flocks of tourists – since they put the parking lot across “our” Municipal Road. The tourists are more plentiful than Canada geese. And so on.
So let’s all work together and try to stop all this bickering that our community is sadly becoming known for.
Regards,
Kevin Doyle
Dorcas Bay
