Slow the crap down!

Biggings Avenue resident Steve Olsen is not impressed with the closure of Queen Street.

But it has nothing to do with the construction.

The local paramedic posted the above words of wisdom in his front yard after he became frustrated with the erratic driving practices of those attempting to bypass the congested main streets by using Biggings as a short cut.

"Residents of this street - my neighbours - all know how to drive carefully up and down Biggings without hurting anyone or damaging their yard," he wrote to us. "However, now that there has been an influx of drivers that do not normally travel on Biggings, things are getting pretty scary."

For those who aren't aware, Biggings is basically a one-lane street.

In order to pass an oncoming vehicle, both cars must proceed slowly and drive partially on the sidewalk or on a resident's driveway.

"Every day now cars are travelling on Biggings upwards of 60km/h (or more), with complete disregard for the pedestrians, pets, and properties along my street," Olsen said.

"I was doing some spring yard work last week and got so frustrated with the blatant disregard drivers had towards my street, myself, and my neighbours that I painted up an admittedly rudamentary and ugly sign and hammered it into my lawn."

Olsen admitted to SooToday.com that "crap" was not his first choice of words, but didn't want to offend any of the neighbourhood children.

He told us he's spoken with a number of his neighbours and says he has their approval to keep the sign up.

One of his neighbours even went as far as to call him the Hero of Biggings Street.

Unfortunately, Olsen says few drivers heed his warning.

"I don't want to have to use my paramedic skills on my own street this year, simply because people are trying to evade the already traffic-jammed main routes," he said. "To be honest, I do think it's only a matter of time."

He hopes the construction company will mark the entrance to Biggings Avenue as "Closed - Local traffic only" sooner than later.

It may just save someone's life.

"If they don't, I suppose I do have another piece of wood and some paint," Olsen told us. "How does 'Keep the crap out' sound?"