Backgrounder

Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition: Backgrounder

OXTON AVE “FREEWAY” DRIVES LOCAL RESIDENTS CRAZY WHILE PEDESTRIANS RUN FOR THERE LIVES

Toronto (February 3rd, 2005) – The pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada College, is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars.

The pedestrian crossing issues dates back to road reconstruction that took place in 2002, creating a free-flowing traffic artery the along Avenue-Oxton-Oriole corridor. Heavy, traffic, speeding vehicles, impatient drivers and constant hooking have gotten out of hand ever since, ruining the quality of near-by residential and pedestrian life.

What caused this situation? The result of the City of Toronto’s desire to appease near-by property owners complaints of excessive traffic on their streets. The removal of Oxton’s Stop and Yield signs has caused a free-flowing traffic conduit designed to draw the offending traffic away from property owner streets.

This has left the people living in the buildings on the south side of the Oxton-Oriole corridor facing a high-risk situation every time they cross on their way to the subway. Although a cross walk was installed on Oxton, the route is rarely used as it is not on the natural pedestrian path to the subway and shops of Yonge and Davisville.

In June 2005, local resident, Mark Rees, recently decided enough is enough and set up a meeting with area Councillor Michael Walker to press for immediate action before the worst case scenario, a pedestrian fatality, occurred. As a result Councillor Walker requested two traffic studies by Transportation Services (which thus far has steadfastly refused to make any significant changes to meet local concerns).

A few weeks later Mr. Rees launched the Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition and received an overwhelming response which was subsequently presented to Councillor Walker. Mr Rees also meet with local Community Policing Office of 53 Division who promised six days of Oxton Enforcement in order to obtain statistics and to size the traffic problem.

In the fall of 2005 Mr. Rees launched the Oxton @ Oriole Pedestrian Safety web blog (http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/) to present the issues, rally the neighbourhood and demonstrate to elected officials and the City’s Transportation Services that the residents boarding the Oxton and Oriole corridor have been heavily and adversely affected by the road configuration changes.
The site lays out that something needs to be done to reclaim peace of mind and streets save for local residents and pedestrians.

To date Councillor Walker has secured approval for the Oxton Avenue speed limit to be reduced to 40km’s (consistent with average speed findings) and post a “Quiet Residential Neighbourhood (largely, if not totally ignored). A public meeting was also promised late last year, but no date has been set (a Feb-Mar timeframe has been offered). As for any substantive changes to address the very real issue of pedestrian safety at this corner, the Toronto and east York Community Council has deferred action on the issue indefinitely. Mr. Rees has now brought this issue to the TORONTO Pedestrian Committee and is awaiting an invitation to meet with the committee.

Not to be deterred by progress thus far, Mr. Rees will continue to pressure elected city officials until they get the message and take action.

For more information:

http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/