Car Free Day

DC83 · #1 Posted: **Sep 22, 2008, 10:09 PM**

Did anybody else know today was the world 'Car Free Day'?

I see Montréal blocked off their core to cars between 9:30am-3:30pm today.
Toronto closed Yonge St/Dundas Sq to vehicles between 10-2.
And in Mississauga, Mayor Hazel rode her bike to work.

My favourite quote came from Mayor Hazel herself, "I'm looking to set an example" as she had two police motorcycles, two police trucks (SUVs) and however many media vehicles following her. WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IS THAT!?!
'If you ride your bike, make sure you triple your carbon footprint in other ways'

Is it to anyone's surprise that Hamilton is NOT one of the 1,400+ cities worldwide that take part in this annual event? Or is that shocking that we haven't heard one bit of this innitiative through City Officials or our major Media Outlet?

How can we change this for September 2009?

go_leafs_go02 · #2 Posted: **Sep 22, 2008, 10:38 PM**

well i took the bus.

oh wait

that's everyday.

adam · #3 Posted: **Sep 22, 2008, 11:04 PM**

According to Councillor Whitehead, slower traffic makes for an "unpleasant experience" for mountain residents. More cyclists and pedestrians would undoubtedly slow down traffic and increase this unpleasantness!

matt602 · #4 Posted: **Sep 22, 2008, 11:23 PM**

All of those examples disgusted me in varying degrees.

harryc · #5 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 1:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

well i took the bus.

oh wait

that's everyday.

I took my bicycle to the El (subway) - as I do everyday.

SteelTown · #6 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 2:16 AM**

Would have been smart to use that pilot project to provide free transit (Merulla) today, perhaps next year.

Jon Dalton · #7 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 2:32 AM**

Quote:

How can we change this for September 2009?

I'm so glad you asked!

Anyone can get involved with Transportation for Livable Communities which organizes the car free day in Hamilton. I was involved last year and this year.

Basically, we have to get organized sooner (before the end of the year) for the necessary permits if we really want to cause shit as per the examples you mentioned.

The city has been approached in the past and shrugged it off, but with Eiseneberger at the wheel, I feel that has potential to change in coming years. Larger cities the world over have made car free day an official event.

I think we have a shot at it for next year. In the meantime, here's what's going on in Hamilton this week:

Jon Dalton · #8 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 2:43 AM**

Oh, I agree that Hazel thing is F'ed. I normally respect her, but this is ridiculous. In a bad way. It's bad publicity for the movement.

Toronto and Montreal events are gold. Matt, why don't you support this? Do you deny that mass motorization was the primary driving force in the decimation of North American cities? Or do you just think it's a bad idea?

Millstone · #9 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 4:21 AM**

This made me want to buy a Ford Excursion.

Jon Dalton · #10 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 4:23 PM**

What? Why????? Is this stupid in New York? Is it stupid in Bogota? They close down streets for all kinds of useless things, why not this important international event to celebrate the potential of cities?

For craps sakes last year we got all kinds of friendly honks from DRIVERS. It's mind blowing that someone who lives in the core and supports friendly streets would react that way.

Jon Dalton · #11 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 4:30 PM**

Anyone with a bike (or skateboard, or rollerblades) don't miss the critical mass ride on Friday. It happens every month but the car free day ride is always huge. It's not dangerous or illegal like you might think judging by the arrests in New York (totally unprovoked) or the recent Gardiner Expressway ride. I've seen parents with kids in bike trailers doing it. It's super fun.

highwater · #12 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 4:40 PM**

It's hard to make out from the poster you posted. Does the ride start in Hess Village at 5:30? Where does it go? Better still, is there a website? I'd like to participate but I'm new at this and will have kids in tow, so I'm a little leery.

Jon Dalton · #13 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwater

It's hard to make out from the poster you posted. Does the ride start in Hess Village at 5:30? Where does it go? Better still, is there a website? I'd like to participate but I'm new at this and will have kids in tow, so I'm a little leery.

Better?

Also, this: www.tlchamilton.org

Meet at 5:30 at Hess and George. The ride can go anywhere around downtown. Last car free ride went to Westdale. Because we expect a great turnout, it will be extra safe this friday.

highwater · #14 Posted: **Sep 23, 2008, 5:41 PM**

Thanks! Will definitely try to make it.

highwater · #15 Posted: **Sep 24, 2008, 12:58 AM**

Oops. Can't. Bummer. I was getting all psyched. Ever since I saw this vid:

http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/...eets-2008-nyc/

coalminecanary · #16 Posted: **Sep 24, 2008, 1:41 PM**

Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE advocate for cycling. Cycling to work, to play - cycling everywhere. On road and off, basically anywhere except sidewalks. But I have very mixed feelings about critical mass. First of all I think it creates attitudes in many cyclists that cause them to get aggressive sometimes. It can provoke motorists to act badly, and then peaceful cyclists retaliate. I hate seeing that.

But more importantly, it pisses off motorists. While part of me thinks this is pretty fun - and I think that roads ruled by cyclists is truly the way of the future (and could very well be the reality during our lifetimes), I think that actively angering motorists today is not the best approach. Many motorists already hate cyclists and think they should not be on the road. CM does nothing to convince these motorists otherwise - it just strengthens their hatred. Meanwhile, many motorists happily share the road with cyclists - and for some of them, CM is seen as just a fun ride - almost like a parade. But for others, it could convert them to the "dark side". This is the danger in my mind - CM potentially causes more harm than good in terms of the individual motorist.

On the other hand, people who participate may be more likely to ride more after doing CM - because they are warmed up to the idea of riding on the roads. CM also has the potential to get cycling initiatives into the spotlight.

But I wonder whether the net effect is good or bad - it's a tough call.

I wonder if there is a better way to do CM - maybe have a scheduled closing of a certain section of road for the start and end point - a street party so to speak. And still have a group ride but do it in a way that is more friendly to motorists. I think the goals of something like CM should be:
-To engage the drivers who already play well with cyclists - but try to get them onto their bikes to join us.
-To convince the motorists who dislike cyclists that, even in large groups, cyclists are not a threat, and should be treated with respect just as cyclists in most cases treat vehicles with respect (because our lives depend on it).

Jon Dalton · #17 Posted: **Sep 24, 2008, 4:08 PM**

Why worry about pissing off motorists? Some motorists will be pissed off at one cyclist riding to the extreme right of the lane if it makes them slow down, I see it every day.

I look at it this way: If a traffic jam is caused by alot of cars on the road, some drivers will accept it as a consequence of traffic volume. A select few will be angry at the other drivers for basically having the same sense of entitlement as they do. As ridiculous as that sounds, we've all seen it. If a traffic jam is caused by too many bikes on the road, some drivers will accept it and others will be angry all the same.

If everyone rode a bike whenever it made more sense than driving, which is ultimately our goal as promoters of cycling, every day would be critical mass.

highwater · #18 Posted: **Sep 24, 2008, 5:12 PM**

Coalmine's certainly got a point. I didn't realize that the streets weren't officially closed off. I still think it would be fun though, and am sorry I can't make it. Next year, wouldn't it be great to make it official and have Mayor Fred out there saying "Yeah, some people are going to be inconvenienced, but so what?" the way Bloomberg did in NY.

DC83 · #19 Posted: **Sep 24, 2008, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwater

Next year, wouldn't it be great to make it official and have Mayor Fred out there saying "Yeah, some people are going to be inconvenienced, but so what?" the way Bloomberg did in NY.

Or the way Miller does in Toronto. Or the way Tremblay did in Montréal. Or the way any real political leader does.

miketoronto · #20 Posted: **Sep 25, 2008, 12:36 AM**

I am sorry, but the GTA-Hamilton could have done way way better for car free day.

First: The mayor of Mississauga biking to work one day out of the year is not a good example. She would be using alternatives everyday. Not just one day of the year.
Of course I believe Hazel was caught once on TV saying she has to drive to work because Mississauga Transit does not provide good enough service to get to the city hall from her area of Mississauga.

Second: Toronto's Car Free event was not that great. Closing off Yonge for one block(Dundas to Shuter) and having it filled with three booths, is not that great. The concert and stuff in Dundas Square was a little better. But I feel Toronto could have done better and made the car free area larger like Montreal does, and hold a wider number of events.