A local advocacy group is launching a unique competition to crown the most frustrating and potentially dangerous intersection in Saskatoon. Strong Towns YXE is initiating a tournament-style selection process, inviting public nominations to determine which city junction causes the most driver grumbling, hair-pulling, and expletives.
The March Madness of Malfunctioning Junctions
Modeled after a March Madness bracket, the competition will feature 16 intersections nominated by both the public and local organizations. The goal is to fuel a city-wide conversation about street safety and design. The tournament will be updated weekly, systematically narrowing the field down to a final winner and runner-up.
Some intersections have already been flagged as early contenders. These include the busy crossings at Idylwyld Drive and 23rd Street, Confederation Drive and 22nd Street, Lorne Avenue and Jasper Avenue, and Eighth Street and Acadia Drive. Organizations such as Saskatoon Cycles, Walking Saskatoon, and Bus Riders of Saskatoon are contributing their perspectives to the project.
Community Response and Safety Focus
Derek Cameron, president of Strong Towns YXE, explained that the project originated from the group's core focus areas, which include advocating for safe streets. "We thought that starting a discussion about what streets don’t work well and maybe how they can be improved is a good conversation to start," Cameron stated.
The public response was immediate and vigorous. After being shared in a Reddit post, the initiative garnered hundreds of comments within the first day. Cameron was not surprised by the strong engagement, noting that how people navigate the city is a deeply personal issue for residents. "It’s good to see that people are interested in what makes a street function well or poorly, and we’re happy to facilitate that conversation," he added.
The competition has specific guidelines to ensure a meaningful discussion. "We tried to stay away from highway interchanges and spaces that are not used by a diversity of road users," Cameron said. This approach ensures the conversation remains relevant to pedestrians and cyclists, whose experiences can differ drastically from those of drivers. Including major highway exchanges could overshadow concerns about commonly used urban roadways.
Highlighting Pedestrian Dangers
A key intersection already in the spotlight is Confederation Drive and 22nd Street. It was nominated specifically to highlight pedestrian safety concerns and to draw attention to issues on Saskatoon's west side. "There’s been a lot of discussion about 22nd Street, which is a dangerous place for pedestrians," Cameron emphasized, underscoring the urgent need for design improvements in that corridor.
Looking ahead, Strong Towns YXE aims to translate this community-driven data into actionable policy. Cameron hopes to eventually bring the competition's findings and the compiled public suggestions for improvements to Saskatoon city hall for council consideration. The ultimate objective is to channel the collective frustration into constructive changes that make the city's streets safer and more efficient for everyone.
