Save our sidwalks
Has anyone else noticed the safety orange paint marks on the sidewalks, roads, and trails of Oakville? These are not marks placed to identify gas lines or other significant underground hazards. These arrows (and sometimes instructions!) have been sprayed by an unidentified group or groups to mark training routes for their runners and walkers.
For at least a year now I've been grumbling to fellow walkers about this defacement of our walking landscape. Today I make my grumbling official.
I do not know what group or groups is doing this spray painting, but I wonder at the astonishing sense of entitlement that would allow anyone to feel they have the right to leave these marks in public space.
The marks appear to be made with landscape paint which should, theoretically, wash away. Late last summer several bright orange arrows appeared on some corners near my home. They were finally scraped away after a winter of heavy snowfall and snowplough action. A few weeks ago bright new arrows appeared and at least a dozen heavy thundershowers have not washed them away. Last Sunday I walked over these graffiti marks (see pics) on the sidewalk on Lakeshore Road near Appleby College.
Every one of us, who like to get outside for our exercise, should be offended. We have a responsibility to our environment and to our neighbours to leave our community attractive and pleasant for anyone who cares to enjoy it. If every walking and running group took the liberty of drawing their routes on our roads, trails, and sidewalks, the place would be a mess.
What about posting a map on a website before a walk? What about installing and removing, within the few hours of a training run, small landscape flags that can be removed by a designated person?
Leave nothing but footprints, I say.
posted by Wow Power Walking Founder @ 1:26 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Absolutely right on! There are numerous markers painted along the waterfront trails, making it not only an eyesore, but it can indeed become confusing.
I also agree, however, we could look at these markings and be inspired by those who chose to participate and maybe for some it will inspire them to do it the next time??? Just a thought....
Great post. I have noticed this type of marking on all kinds of trails and walkwayss and really question what makes the people that do this think this kind of graffitti can be thought of as acceptable
Karl
I admit I'm not clear on what inspirational purpose the markings could be serving - inspiration to deface public property? It seems entirely unlikely that spray painted arrows marked full and half are going to inspire anyone to train for a full or half marathon. I'd lay bets on the more likely scenario that regular pedestrians, dog walkers, and others just out to enjoy the day on the sidewalks and trails think that it's a bunch of self-satisifed wannabe athletes who would feel entitled to mark training routes in such a way that public space is visually scarred.
I understand the defacing public property and do agree...
I guess I should have said... when I see those markings, I feel inspired, feel like maybee I missed out, wish I would have been there, think oh maybe next year I should do that to and, in it all, hope that maybe someone else feels the same.
It is messy and doesn't look nice.
Being a positive type person it would be nice if it could serve as inspiration for others....
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