Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 14/05) - There is a secret code governing the streets of Iqaluit. A stick with a point means stop, one with a flat top means it is safe to cross the road and one with notches could earn you a fine.

This is against the law. Stu Kennedy was caught parking his truck the wrong way in the new back-in parking spots on Queen Elizabeth Way in Iqaluit. Busted red-handed, Kennedy said, "It's going to take a little while for people to catch on." - Kent Driscoll/NNSl photo

The three types of wooden posts have been springing up all around Iqaluit over the last month, jutting out of the ground next to streets in the heart of the city. If you don't know what they mean, your life could be in danger.

The entire project has a price tag of $300,000.

The first two posts, one for sidewalks and the other for crosswalks, have been appearing around the city during the last month.

In the last week, a third and final kind of post has been added.

This third post points to a new concept in Iqaluit: back-in angle parking. Along Queen Elizabeth Way, backing in will soon be the law.

Wooden flat-top posts - with notches and no reflective tape - are placed on an angle to force people to park back first.

The city is looking at implementing fines for parking the wrong way. This could result in the first parking fines in city history.

With people parking the old way, everyone was forced to back out into traffic. Now, they will back in to a parking space, making escape easier and safer.

Michelle Bertol, the director of planning and lands for Iqaluit, said with the increase of traffic in the city, something had to be done.

"When we went through the consultation process, we knew we couldn't build traditional sidewalks. The alternative was a vertical element," she said.

Bertol has been fielding some of the calls the city has been getting concerning these new poles.

"Someone asked me why they just couldn't cross the middle of the road and park (front first) on the other side. We have also had some complaints that the stalls are too small," said Bertol.

The stalls are 3.3 metres wide. Bertol explained they tested them by, "getting the biggest king cab we could find and parking it there."

Former city councillor Stu Kennedy was caught red-handed parking the wrong way in front of his own building, Tumiit Plaza.

"It is going to take some time for people to get used to it," said Kennedy with a self-deprecating laugh.

Jennifer Craft pulled in front of the CIBC driving a government of Nunavut van. She parked the wrong way, too.

"It's easy. It is just going to take some getting used to," said Craft.

Steve Birrell parked the right way, backing into his spot next to the Iqaluit post office. "I've never seen any city in the world that has back-in parking on the main street. I'm a little skeptical," said Birrell.

Pedestrians have been ignoring the sidewalk posts, especially around the Northmart area. Bertol says that will end once the snow falls in earnest.

"It isn't going to become a part of the culture overnight. The key moment will be the first big snowfall. The sidewalk plow will plow the sidewalks," said Bertol.

Mary Ineak was spotted using the crosswalk - with her daughter Emily - but had no idea that the flat-top posts were for that purpose. "Now that i know, I'll use them," said Ineak.

Snowmobilers will have their movements curtailed by the posts this winter, a part of the overall plan.

"That is a part of the design. One of the main concerns was that people feel threatened by snowmobiles, so we did it to provide a safe environment," said Bertol.