These Canadian cities are making it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to get around this summer | CBC News
These Canadian cities are making it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to get around this summer | CBC News
I really wish smaller municipalities would do this!
Some downtown areas in places like Oshawa, Whitby, Port Perry, or Port Hope would absolutely benefit from allowing more pedestrian/cyclist traffic and less car traffic, even if just for the weekend.
> "They also create a sense of community for the people that live in the area," Plante said earlier this year. "They also become destinations for tourists, visitors and students."
I couldn't agree more! Closing a street off from car traffic gives you the same feeling as when streets are closed off for community events.
You get to actually smile and chat with people, while enjoying access to local businesses without the noise and car exhaust that normally causes someone to avoid those places.
The missing sense of community is a huge problem in Canadian cities. It feels people don't even want to know their neighbours anymore. Improving walkability and reducing cars will make our cities more social and increase our social capital and sense of local community.
I love the pedestrian streets in Montreal! My friend and I just walked along Ave Mont Royal last week on a warm evening. We saw and ice cream place and stopped by for a cone. It's a nice environment to be in and way better than what that street is like when the cars are there
A shame that Toronto seems to be scaling things back because of driver complaints. Streets should be for the people who live near them, not for suburbanites who just pass through them on their way to the Jays game
Pedestrian streets are also really good at attracting tourism. It's crazy.
I'm sad Victoria didn't make it in there, but I guess their infrastructure is more mature. And they're lucky to have the E&N right of way there already.
I would not say Edmonton is making it easier. They used to have more summer streets (maybe covid related), and pretty much all attempts into new bike lanes were soon converted into parking / car lanes.
Even if the sidewalks were not so narrow and close to a busy street, things are so far away from each other and extremely car centric. For example, Hawrelak Park is a straight line by car, but a zigzag if you are walking from north of the river.
You can check the "walkability" of most cities and districts here https://www.walkscore.com/