Calgarian dodges cars near Christmas lights display

Thepopular Calgary Christmas tradition of walking through theLions Festival of Lights is making the pathway along 14th Street N.W. dangerous, say some nearby residents.

Drivers are pulling their cars up over the curband parkingon the path meant for pedestrians and cyclists.

"I was a bit cheesed off at these self-entitled people who seem to think because they have a ton of metal behind them they should drive down the sidewalk," said Mike Spear, who lives near Confederation Park.

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He was recently walking his two dogs when several cars manoeuvred to get to the best viewpoint, narrowly missing hittingthem.

Spear is frustrated most of the drivers don't seem to care.

"Some people would either shrug, they didn't seem to realize it was a sidewalk, even though they had to get over a curb to get onto it," said Spear.

"Some people just basically looked at me and seemed to think that I was a problem."

Calgary police hearabout these kinds of problems every year.

Drivers who park on a pathway could wind up with a $50 ticket under city bylaw.

However, police say reminding drivers to stay where they're supposed to, is the top priority.

"The last thing you want is some kind of a conflict with a pedestrian or a pedestrian with a motorist, but the onus is on the motorist especially if the pedestrian is walking where they'resupposed to," saidStaff Sgt. Paul Stacey with the traffic unit.

Stacey says crews will keep an eye on the parking and traffic congestion around the parkthrough to the end of the festival on Jan.8.