The city’s transportation committee approved a new roadside memorial policy Wednesday that will limit the duration of roadside memorials to six months.
Roadside memorials include ghost bikes, crosses and other markers for spots where someone was killed in an incident on a roadway.
When the policy was initially proposed, there was a three-month time limit on memorials. Opposition from those who have lost loved ones in accidents saw the number move up to six months.
Opponents of the longer memorial policy say the memorials are unsightly and disruptive to the flow of pedestrian traffic on sidewalks.
The new policy also states that memorials must take up as little space on the sidewalk as possible and all elements must be securely attached to each other and to a fixed object, like a pole or fence.
Of the 11 members of the transportation committee, Somerset Ward councillor Catherine McKenney was the only one to vote against the new policy. She also serves as the vice-chair for the committee. Centretown News is currently awaiting a response from the councillor explaining her opposition.