Leaning sign post a real head-bumping obstacle
Huron Street pole slowly bent until it extended well across the sidewalk
A wayward signpost that’s bent across a Huron Street sidewalk could be a painful bump ahead for pedestrians.
Lots of things are trouble for pedestrians on Toronto’s sidewalks, but most are near the ground —tripping hazards or holes that are easy to step into, particularly for people too preoccupied with their phones to pay attention.
And then there is the rare obstacle that’s perfectly positioned to make contact with the heads of those whose nose is buried in their device, like the Leaning Sign Post of Huron Street.
Barbara Gough sent me a photo of it, along with a note that said “this pole on Huron, south of Bloor, east side, (next to the Galleria) looks quite dangerous and has been there over a year. Can you help?”
It looked as if the pole was leaning a long way over the sidewalk, so I went there to take a look. If anything, it was bent even further across the sidewalk than it was in Gough’s photo.
The sidewalk is really busy along that stretch of Huron, which is within the University of Toronto campus and includes student housing.
Pedestrians had to detour off the sidewalk when two or more met up near the pole at the same time. It’s clear that someone not paying attention could walk face-first into it, especially after dark.
Judging by Google Street View images dating to 2014, it’s no accident that the pole is bent. Back in 2014 it was not leaning at all, but more recent images show it slowly extending across the sidewalk.
And in all of the images, which date back seven years, there is no sign of any sign attached to it. The pole had clearly outlived its usefulness.
So how did it happen? Did vehicles keep backing into it until it was pushed into the path of pedestrians? Or is their another explanation?
My theory is that mischievous knuckleheads have been swinging on it when they walk past, unable to resist the challenge of bending it further across the sidewalk.
STATUS: I sent a note to the city and got the following reply from Mahan Nassery, a supervisor of claims and investigations: “City staff are aware of the 311 service request for this bent sign post (which is within the public laneway) and are making arrangements to investigate the location with an aim to have the post corrected (expected to either be straightened or removed entirely) by the City.”
Looks like removal is the way to go.
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