There's another important issue that hasn't talked about when dealing with roadside businesses, and that's one of safety.
Last week Deer Lake council, upon receiving a letter from the Deer Lake Chamber of Commerce, said it was time to crack down on roadside vendors who were not displaying a temporary vendor's permit.
It makes sense that all businesses operating in Deer Lake follow the same rules as any other; that goes for any town. But parking on the side of the road, and enticing people to stop, is more dangerous than people think.
Business operates on the obvious principle that the more patrons they have the more successful that business will be. The average roadside vendor's goal is to get as many cars to stop as possible, and on any roadway that could, and eventually will, lead to an accident.
All it takes is someone not shoulder checking as they drive away, or someone paying more attention to the French fries they just purchased than the traffic, before someone gets seriously hurt.
Especially on Commerce Street in Deer Lake, which boasts such a confusing intersection with Nicholsville Road that they will have to install barriers for traffic control in the coming weeks.
That area, especially in summer, sees numerous visitors that pull off for lunch at one of the local food servers, only to become confused about how to get back onto the highway.
Having all those cars parked on the side of the road can only make it more confusing.
Maybe the answer is not to force vending permits, but rather keep roadside business away from the highly congested areas to begin with.
Why make a confusing area even worse for the sake of a few alternative business offerings? Get them out of the highly trafficked areas and into a safe area where they can thrive.
