‘Not good enough’: Mother demands stronger action after crashes near SW Calgary dayhome

After more than two years of urging the city to address what she calls a dangerous stretch of road beside a southwest Calgary daycare, a mother says she’s disappointed to learn that speed bumps are the only measure currently being recommended.

Christine Sinclair, who began pushing for changes nearly 700 days ago, says the proposed traffic‑calming measures fall far short of what’s needed to protect children attending Rainbow Blooms Daycare on Bridlecrest Boulevard SW.

“Why speed bumps? Close it,” Sinclair said. “There was just another accident there yesterday. Just because there are speed bumps doesn’t mean people will slow down. Close the road.”

Sinclair, whose son attends the daycare, says the area has seen a troubling pattern of traffic‑related incidents.

In one case, a vehicle sped through a centre median, knocked down two traffic signs, crossed a crosswalk and came to rest on the sidewalk beside the licensed dayhome. In another, a driver plowed through the daycare’s fence.

She says vehicles exiting Stoney Trail onto 162 Avenue often fail to reduce their speed from the posted 60 km/h limit before entering the residential street.

Despite repeated attempts to reach her councillor, the mayor and city officials, Sinclair says she has received few updates on progress.

That changed Friday afternoon, when she received an email from Ward 13 Coun. Dan MacLean’s office informing her that speed bumps are now being recommended following a traffic study near 162 Avenue and Bridlecrest Boulevard.

The study concluded the road should remain open, with speed bumps considered to reduce speeds and deter cut‑through traffic. Sinclair argues that the recommendation doesn’t address the core issue.

“The problem is high‑speed vehicles exiting Stoney Trail onto 162 Avenue SW and entering a residential street that terminates directly beside a licensed dayhome,” she said in an email back to MacLean’s office. “Speed humps installed further down Bridlecrest Boulevard would do nothing to address that fundamental hazard.”

Sinclair says more than 100 signatures were collected from residents concerned about ongoing incidents, which she believes pose a serious threat to pedestrians and children at the daycare.

She notes that when the city temporarily restricted access from 162 Avenue, making Bridlecrest a one‑way street, there were no incidents. But the city later reopened the access.

The city has not indicated when, or if, the recommended speed bumps will be installed.