LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rockcliffe is city’s architectural gem Re: City council votes against demolition of Rockcliffe Park building by slim margin, May 25

It is promising that a house in Rockcliffe has been saved from demolition. Too many Rockcliffe houses have fallen.

Many may think that Rockcliffe (or “Richcliffe” as some wags call it) is simply full of rich elitist snobs, but Rockcliffe is an architectural gem, unique within the city.

No gas stations, no restaurants, no burger joints within its parameters. It’s like going back a century: pastoral, quiet and peaceful.

There have been, though, disastrous mistakes in Rockcliffe where an older home gets torn down, only replaced by a modern-looking monolith not in the “Rockcliffe” architectural style or elegance. Rockcliffe is slowly changing, and not always for the better.

Let’s hope people pay more attention to the history and wonderful architectural English village atmosphere. Hopefully Rockcliffe doesn’t turn into an eventual architectural eyesore. It’s the best-looking neighbourhood in the city.

It’s our Westmount, our Outremont, our little bit of Old World elegance within the city. Douglas Cornish, Ottawa

Find out what drives the young to drugs Re: Medical journal blasts Liberals over pot age limit, May 30

Of course the Canadian Medical Association is right in its editorial.

Young people are at risk when using marijuana. But the young have access to pot now and a legal product would, at least, not carry the additional risk of uncertain strength and impurities.

A better approach for the CMA might be to concentrate on the demand rather than the supply side for pot (this might well apply to all illegal drugs).

Perhaps they might better effect change with editorials on education and efforts to understand what drives the young to take drugs in the first place. Garry Bowes, Ottawa

Get off phones while biking

For goodness’ sake, people, tell your kids to stay off the phone while riding their bikes.

As I was going to get my mail with my dog I was almost run over by a young man on a bike.

He had his head down, looking at his phone, and only looked up when I screamed at him to watch out. I had to let go of the dog’s leash. He was darn lucky that it was not an oncoming car. Oh, by the way he was not wearing a helmet. Harriet Barnes, Ottawa

Roads changing for the worse

Ottawa is undergoing intended urban intensification and enhancement of neighbourhoods. However, for some streets being modified, we see dangerous designs that reduce vehicle lanes in favour of widened footpaths, clay and grass strips and bicycle paths.

On Ottawa East Main Street, we are reduced to two vehicle lanes from four in an area of relatively few cyclists and fewer pedestrians (especially in winter). This in an area of a planned population explosion at the Greystone Village development that has poor bus service and no planned Light Rail Transport.

Some of these recent designs have sharp corners instead of more sweeping turns, which are easier for long buses and traffic to navigate, especially in winter snow and ice. While traffic calming and bicycle-friendly features are commendable, safety considerations should be paramount.

Apparently, similar designs are being considered for Elgin Street. Please do not repeat design mistakes of Main Street. Padraig Finlay, Ottawa