Jonathan Ahl and WCBU news are reporting that the Sears block is going to be used as a temporary parking lot while Caterpillar does some maintenance work on its parking deck.
I’m aghast at Caterpillar’s callous disregard for employee safety. In case you’ve forgotten how dangerous this situation is, I’ll remind you that Cat said we couldn’t change Adams and Jefferson streets from one-way to two-way because their employees would be unable to adapt to changing traffic patterns:
The safety of Caterpillar employees is of the utmost importance. A key concern of our workers in downtown Peoria is pedestrian safety…. Changing streets from one-way to two-way would create more vehicle/pedestrian conflicts at intersections…. Our employees are familiar with the traffic patterns as they exist today and know what to expect.
Well, this new parking scheme is a cinch to lead to widespread disorientation and employee injury. Traffic patterns will be seriously altered since all those cars will be going into and out of the Sears block instead of the parking deck. Unable to scamper across their gerbil tube from the deck to the World Headquarters building, unsuspecting employees will be forced onto the mean streets of Peoria at rush hour and expected to navigate a crosswalk spanning a dreaded unfamiliar two-way street. I shudder to think of the carnage as hundreds of employees, conditioned to only look one direction before jaywalking, end up hit from behind by motorists. Oh, the humanity!
Bloggers are often accused of just complaining but doing nothing to help the situation. Well, today, I’m going to do something to help. As a pedestrian experienced in crossing complicated intersections, I hereby offer to provide training to Caterpillar’s employees before this new parking plan takes effect. I charge reasonable fees and boast a mortality rate of six sigma quality. In addition to my personal experience crossing intersections, I have also helped the elderly across the street during my participation in Cub Scouts and Webelos, and I’ve taught children as young as 6 and 7 years old how to safely cross the road on their own.
Give me a jingle. I’m always happy to be of service.
NOW THIS IS WHAT BLOGGING IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!
Diane Vespa, don’t you EVEN chime in on this one!
I bought a Ouija Board for the sole purpose of squeezing some winning Big Lotto numbers out of a few spirits, etc.
With a 120 million in my pocket, I can buy the Sears property right out from under CAT and Museum Group. My evil genius even scares me!
I will put a huge crane on the property. I will charge TOURISTS from all over the world $55.00 for a 20 story bungee jump!
[$60.00 for CAT & Lakeview employees]
I will be rich, all-powerful and start my own school district.
Nicely played, New Voice.
I heard this on WMBD last week and was kind of surprised no one had commented on it.
I was a crossing guard in grade school… can I help?
At least the empty space will be used for something.
Classic post.
Does this make it the most valuable parking lot in downstate Illinois now? I wouldn’t park my car next to those plywood walls as every time the wind blows sections fall down.
This is like Peoria’s own Ground Zero.
I think that block actually looked
better when the Sears store and parking lot were still there.
What an embarrassment to our downtown. Do you realize that the Sears store closed 10 years ago and that block has been sitting there unused all this time.
Riverfront business’s have come and gone just waiting for something to happen. I could go on and on about it but it just gets me worked up and mad!
I personally believe a better use for all that asphalt would be repaving Water Street (among many others), but hey, what Cat says goes, I suppose.