This page contains copies of official, City and Petition letters and emails including a backgrounder.
You can comment on any of the letters below by clicking on the "comment" link found at the end of each post. To view archived posts please click on the archive links on page (gray) side-bar.
Your emails and posted comments are very, very important. Please take a few moments to send us an email or comment on an existing post!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Depositions To T&EYCC Community Council Meeting
September 4th, 2006
Toronto & East York Community Council
RE: Installation of a Stop Sign at the traffic intersection of Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue
Dear Committee Members:
Let me begin by thanking the T&EYCC committee for agreeing to consider the proposal to re-install a stop sign at the traffic intersection of Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue. Unfortunately, I cannot take part in these proceedings today as I am overseas [at the moment] and have therefore asked Council Walker’s team to read aloud my comments found below.
Clearly, this proposal is solely about pedestrian safety and the very real dangers posed by an intersection which now “boasts” a “lethal” mix of crossing pedestrians, unfriendly pedestrian signage and a continuous free-flowing “wall of steel.” I hope and trust that your support of this proposal will reflect recognition that the residents of our neighbourhood, like many others elsewhere, have a right to cross their streets in relative safety. As water flows downhill the undisputable fact remains, pedestrians will cross at this intersection regardless of its highway designation or lack of signage as they make their way to the subway and to Yonge Street.
What this issue is not about is disrupting traffic, banning cars or radical NIMBY’ism. Indeed, I have asked and urged Transportation Services on numerous occasions (even putting forward suggestions) to try and find creative ways in which the city’s traffic flow and our safety goals (the affected residents) can both, however difficult, be achieved. In the spirit of Toronto’s Pedestrian Charter you have an opportunity today to take reasonable action to protect the daily safety of local pedestrians in our residential neighbourhood. I hope and urge you to use this opportunity to good effect on our behalf.
Recently, I read some alarming statistics (Toronto Star, January 4th, 2006) that indicated that some 200 pedestrians on average are hit by cars each month, of which last year 29 were killed. It is precisely for this reason that last June I launched a local website (http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/) to highlight the dangers faced by pedestrians at this intersection.
As a ten year Oriole Parkway resident I have seen this intersection go from manageable several years ago to down-right dangerous today. A direct result stemming from the removal of the corner’s stop sign which has created a non-stopping 20,000 car a day artery through the middle of a residential neighbourhood, “topped off” with what I believe is driver desensitizing “Pedestrian Wait For The Gap” signage. This is clearly a tragic accident is waiting to happen.
Fearful and uneasy at the thought of crossing Oxton-Oriole.
Forced into challenging traffic in order to cross.
Forced to out of their way to avoid the Oxton-Oriole intersection on the natural route to the subway.
Encouraged to use the Oxton Avenue crosswalk which is poorly located, out-of-the-way and seldom used (and I now understand that Mayor Millers has suggested that Toronto’s crosswalks could be unsafe).
Local pedestrians face real risks to their personal safety…
As drivers are now conditioned to be believe pedestrians are waiting a traffic gap are therefore often totally surprised to find a pedestrian crossing the road (at a walking speed of 3km’s verse a cars 60km; it’s no contest)
As many drivers now feel compelled to either (1) honk at you, (2) be belligerent to you or worse (3) try to pass dangerously close in front of or behind you to get by while continuing at unabated speed.
Should any driver attempt to stop for a pedestrian (out of thoughtfulness) or out of fear (since many drivers find this corner intimidating), a chorus of honking results that has made the lives of the residents of 130 Oriole Parkway (the corner building) totally miserable.
As nearly every local resident I’ve talked to has had a very “close encounter” with a car (one car even ran over a ladies suitcase she was pulling behind her).
As poor intersection lighting makes it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians crossing at night.
Bottom line…
You have to stop, wait, then run across or dodge traffic. No elderly, ill person or child, let alone healthy adult can do it safety! It is only a matter of time before some is killed.
I have now met with Councillor Michael Walker on several occasions and have presented to him a
successful petition calling for the return at the very minimum of our former stop sign. Councillor Walker and his team has obtained a 10km speed reduction on Oxton Avenue, installed “Quiet, Residential Neighbourhood” signs and held a public meeting, and now, represents our interests before you today. I and many of my like-minded local supporters appreciate his help thus far in the interests of pedestrian safety at Oxton Avenue and Oriole Parkway.
I am told the single over ridding reason for making the present corner configurations was to accommodate the wishes of near-by homeowners who wanted to stop non local cars short-cutting cars through their streets. As a result those of us living at Oxton and Oriole are now inconvenienced by even more non local traffic, the lives of the residents of 130 Oriole Parkway are made miserable and more importantly all our safety as pedestrians is imperilled. I asked you to judge whether or not this indeed right or fair?
In short:
If 20,000 cars a day are to be funnelled onto Oxton Avenue, then at a minimum the city should find a way to make it safe for local residents and pedestrians to cross their own streets. The proposal for the re-installation of a stop sign at the intersection of Oxton-Oriole is one small step in this direction.
I would like to thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter. I look forward to outcome of your deliberations.
Sincerely,
Mark Rees
Toronto
Email: orioleatoxton@hotmail.com
Website: www.oxton.blogspot.com
Toronto & East York Community Council
RE: Installation of a Stop Sign at the traffic intersection of Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue
Dear Committee Members:
Let me begin by thanking the T&EYCC committee for agreeing to consider the proposal to re-install a stop sign at the traffic intersection of Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue. Unfortunately, I cannot take part in these proceedings today as I am overseas [at the moment] and have therefore asked Council Walker’s team to read aloud my comments found below.
Clearly, this proposal is solely about pedestrian safety and the very real dangers posed by an intersection which now “boasts” a “lethal” mix of crossing pedestrians, unfriendly pedestrian signage and a continuous free-flowing “wall of steel.” I hope and trust that your support of this proposal will reflect recognition that the residents of our neighbourhood, like many others elsewhere, have a right to cross their streets in relative safety. As water flows downhill the undisputable fact remains, pedestrians will cross at this intersection regardless of its highway designation or lack of signage as they make their way to the subway and to Yonge Street.
What this issue is not about is disrupting traffic, banning cars or radical NIMBY’ism. Indeed, I have asked and urged Transportation Services on numerous occasions (even putting forward suggestions) to try and find creative ways in which the city’s traffic flow and our safety goals (the affected residents) can both, however difficult, be achieved. In the spirit of Toronto’s Pedestrian Charter you have an opportunity today to take reasonable action to protect the daily safety of local pedestrians in our residential neighbourhood. I hope and urge you to use this opportunity to good effect on our behalf.
Recently, I read some alarming statistics (Toronto Star, January 4th, 2006) that indicated that some 200 pedestrians on average are hit by cars each month, of which last year 29 were killed. It is precisely for this reason that last June I launched a local website (http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/) to highlight the dangers faced by pedestrians at this intersection.
As a ten year Oriole Parkway resident I have seen this intersection go from manageable several years ago to down-right dangerous today. A direct result stemming from the removal of the corner’s stop sign which has created a non-stopping 20,000 car a day artery through the middle of a residential neighbourhood, “topped off” with what I believe is driver desensitizing “Pedestrian Wait For The Gap” signage. This is clearly a tragic accident is waiting to happen.
Local residents and pedestrians have been adversely affected such that they are…:
Local pedestrians face real risks to their personal safety…
Bottom line…
You have to stop, wait, then run across or dodge traffic. No elderly, ill person or child, let alone healthy adult can do it safety! It is only a matter of time before some is killed.
I have now met with Councillor Michael Walker on several occasions and have presented to him a
successful petition calling for the return at the very minimum of our former stop sign. Councillor Walker and his team has obtained a 10km speed reduction on Oxton Avenue, installed “Quiet, Residential Neighbourhood” signs and held a public meeting, and now, represents our interests before you today. I and many of my like-minded local supporters appreciate his help thus far in the interests of pedestrian safety at Oxton Avenue and Oriole Parkway.
I am told the single over ridding reason for making the present corner configurations was to accommodate the wishes of near-by homeowners who wanted to stop non local cars short-cutting cars through their streets. As a result those of us living at Oxton and Oriole are now inconvenienced by even more non local traffic, the lives of the residents of 130 Oriole Parkway are made miserable and more importantly all our safety as pedestrians is imperilled. I asked you to judge whether or not this indeed right or fair?
In short:
If 20,000 cars a day are to be funnelled onto Oxton Avenue, then at a minimum the city should find a way to make it safe for local residents and pedestrians to cross their own streets. The proposal for the re-installation of a stop sign at the intersection of Oxton-Oriole is one small step in this direction.
I would like to thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter. I look forward to outcome of your deliberations.
Sincerely,
Mark Rees
Toronto
Email: orioleatoxton@hotmail.com
Website: www.oxton.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Letter To Star: Re: Article - "These Streets Aren't Made For Walking"
Dear Mr. Hume:
Last year you wrote an article called “These streets aren’t made for walking” in which you outlined the sorry plight of pedestrians in the city or as you put it “pedestrians aren’t welcome [in Toronto].” No where could this be more true then the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada College. Presently, the pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars.
I have been trying since June of last year to raise the “red flag” as to the dangers faced by pedestrians at this corner which is now a free-flowing traffic corridor cut through a residential neighbourhood. Heavy traffic (20,000 cars a day), speeding vehicles, impatient drivers and constant hooking have gotten out of hand ever since, ruining the quality of near-by residential and pedestrian life.
Although action by the local councillor has helped the Toronto and East York Community Council has deferred action on the issue indefinitely. For my part I have meet with our local councillor, the local police division, written recently to the Toronto Pedestrian Committee (verdict still out) and local community paper and launched a web site (http://www.oxton.b;logspot.com/) to highlight the pedestrian safety issues.
Sadly, as you point out, Toronto doesn’t get it. People spaces make great cities; not traffic corridors and car centric thinking. I don’t know if you plan to re-visit your article soon and write on the city’s pedestrian progress since, but our little corner and neighbourhood is overwhelmed by cars! Perhaps, we might be a good starting point.
Regards,
Mark Rees
Email: orioleatoxton@hotmail.com
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
Last year you wrote an article called “These streets aren’t made for walking” in which you outlined the sorry plight of pedestrians in the city or as you put it “pedestrians aren’t welcome [in Toronto].” No where could this be more true then the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada College. Presently, the pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars.
I have been trying since June of last year to raise the “red flag” as to the dangers faced by pedestrians at this corner which is now a free-flowing traffic corridor cut through a residential neighbourhood. Heavy traffic (20,000 cars a day), speeding vehicles, impatient drivers and constant hooking have gotten out of hand ever since, ruining the quality of near-by residential and pedestrian life.
Although action by the local councillor has helped the Toronto and East York Community Council has deferred action on the issue indefinitely. For my part I have meet with our local councillor, the local police division, written recently to the Toronto Pedestrian Committee (verdict still out) and local community paper and launched a web site (http://www.oxton.b;logspot.com/) to highlight the pedestrian safety issues.
Sadly, as you point out, Toronto doesn’t get it. People spaces make great cities; not traffic corridors and car centric thinking. I don’t know if you plan to re-visit your article soon and write on the city’s pedestrian progress since, but our little corner and neighbourhood is overwhelmed by cars! Perhaps, we might be a good starting point.
Regards,
Mark Rees
Email: orioleatoxton@hotmail.com
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
Letter To the Editor: Towncrier - Forest Hill
OXTON AVE “FREEWAY” DRIVES LOCAL RESIDENTS CRAZY WHILE PEDESTRIANS RUN FOR THERE LIVES
Dear Editor:
I would like to bring to your attention neighbourhood efforts return pedestrian safety to the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada. Presently, the pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars. This corner strikes at the very heart of Toronto’s Pedestrian Charter!
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, I decided enough is enough (after another close call with a car) and met with area Councillor Michael Walker to press for immediate action before the worst case scenario, a pedestrian fatality, occurred. A few weeks later I launched the Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition and received an overwhelming response that was subsequently presented to Councillor Walker. I also meet with local Community Policing Office of 53 Division to request traffic enforcement. In the fall I launched the Oxton @ Oriole Pedestrian Safety web blog (www.oxton.blogspot.com) to present the issues, rally the neighbourhood and demonstrate to elected and city officials residents boarding the Oxton and Oriole corridor have been heavily and adversely affected by the road configuration changes. In January I brought this issue to the Toronto Pedestrian Committee and am awaiting an invitation to meet with the committee.
To date Councillor Walker has requested two traffic studies by Transportation Services (which thus far has steadfastly refused to make any significant changes to meet local concerns), secured approval for the Oxton Avenue speed limit to be reduced to 40km’s (consistent with average speed findings) and had posted a “Quiet Residential Neighbourhood (largely, if not totally ignored). A public meeting was also promised late last year (a Feb-Mar timeframe was mentioned), but as yet no date has been set. 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.
In light of recent developments I feel the time has now come to increase awareness of the issues pertaining to the intersection of Oxton Avenue at Oriole Parkway in order to prevent a the inevitable serious injury that is sure to happen. I intend to continue to pressure elected city officials until they get the message and take action.
Mark Rees
Toronto
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
Dear Editor:
I would like to bring to your attention neighbourhood efforts return pedestrian safety to the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada. Presently, the pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars. This corner strikes at the very heart of Toronto’s Pedestrian Charter!
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, I decided enough is enough (after another close call with a car) and met with area Councillor Michael Walker to press for immediate action before the worst case scenario, a pedestrian fatality, occurred. A few weeks later I launched the Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition and received an overwhelming response that was subsequently presented to Councillor Walker. I also meet with local Community Policing Office of 53 Division to request traffic enforcement. In the fall I launched the Oxton @ Oriole Pedestrian Safety web blog (www.oxton.blogspot.com) to present the issues, rally the neighbourhood and demonstrate to elected and city officials residents boarding the Oxton and Oriole corridor have been heavily and adversely affected by the road configuration changes. In January I brought this issue to the Toronto Pedestrian Committee and am awaiting an invitation to meet with the committee.
To date Councillor Walker has requested two traffic studies by Transportation Services (which thus far has steadfastly refused to make any significant changes to meet local concerns), secured approval for the Oxton Avenue speed limit to be reduced to 40km’s (consistent with average speed findings) and had posted a “Quiet Residential Neighbourhood (largely, if not totally ignored). A public meeting was also promised late last year (a Feb-Mar timeframe was mentioned), but as yet no date has been set. 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.
In light of recent developments I feel the time has now come to increase awareness of the issues pertaining to the intersection of Oxton Avenue at Oriole Parkway in order to prevent a the inevitable serious injury that is sure to happen. I intend to continue to pressure elected city officials until they get the message and take action.
Mark Rees
Toronto
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Riley To Rees (Pedestrian Committee)
From: Helen Riley
To: Mark ReesSubject: Dangers Faced By Pedestrians At Traffic Intersection of Oxton Avenue & Oriole Parkway
January 14, 2006
Dear Mr. Rees,
Thank you for letting me know about the dangers of this intersection for pedestrians. I have forwarded your letter to staff and to my co-chair for follow-up either at the full pedestrian committee and/or at our safety subgroup. Personally I think it would be best to have a meeting of the safety group with you, and then go to the full pedestrian committee later if necessary. We need to know why the stop sign was removed, what studies may have been done on traffic flow including pedestrians, and what possible solutions have been looked at. The more informal small group meeting is better for discussing alternatives.
Thank you for all the work you have already put in to solving this problem. I'll keep in touch.
Helen
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
Rees To Riley (Chair, Toronto Pedestrian Council)
From: Mark Rees
To: Helen RileySubject: Dangers Faced By Pedestrians At Traffic Intersection of Oxton Avenue & Oriole Parkway
January 14, 2006
Ms. Helen Riley
Chair, Toronto Pedestrian Committee
City of Toronto
Dear Ms. Riley:
Recently, I read some alarming statistics (Toronto Star, January 4th, 2006) that indicated that some 200 pedestrians on average are hit by cars each month, of which last year 29 were killed. It is precisely for this reason that I am writing to you as part of my efforts to highlight the dangers faced by local pedestrians at the traffic intersection of Oxton Avenue at Oriole Parkway and to obtain your committee’s support in helping to make this corner safe for pedestrians.
As a ten year Oriole Parkway resident I have seen this intersection go from manageable several years ago to down-right dangerous today. A direct result of the city’s removal of the corner’s stop sign (among other pedestrian unfriendly changes) to create a non-stopping, free-flowing 20,000 cars a day artery (city statistic), “topped off” by the driver desensitizing “Pedestrian Wait For The Gap” signs. Clearly an accident is waiting to happen.
Local residents and pedestrians have been adversely affected such that they are…:
- Fearful and uneasy at the thought of crossing Oxton-Oriole.
- Forced into challenging traffic in order to cross.
- Forced to out of their way to avoid the Oxton-Oriole intersection on the natural route to the subway.
- That the near-by Oxton crosswalk is poorly located, out-of-the-way and seldom used (and I now understand that Mayor Millers has suggested that Toronto’s crosswalks could be unsafe).
- As drivers are now conditioned to be believe pedestrians are waiting a traffic gap are often totally surprised to find a pedestrian crossing the road (at a walking speed of 3km’s verse a car's 60km; it’s no contest)
- Many drivers now feel compelled to either (1) honk at you, (2) be belligerent to you or worse (3) try to pass dangerously close in front of or behind you to get by while continuing at unabated speed.
- Nearly every local resident I’ve talked to has had a very “close encounter” with a car (one car even ran over a ladies suitcase she was pulling it behind her).
- Should any driver attempt to stop for a pedestrian (remember it is now a 20,000 cars a day, non stop and free flowing river of steel!) or out of fear (since many drivers find this corner intimidating), a chorus of honking results that has made the lives of the residents of 130 Oriole Parkway (the corner building) totally miserable.
- Poor intersection lighting compounds the problems and makes it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians at night.
- You have to stop, wait, then run across or dodge traffic. No elderly, ill person or child let alone healthy adult can do it safety! It is only a matter of time before some is killed.
Personal action taken to date to make the corner of Oxton-Oriole safe for pedestrians…
Following another close call with a vehicle last year (even though I was well into the pedestrian gap) I decide enough was enough and launched a local website (http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/) to represent the pedestrian safety interests of people living in buildings 100, 110, 120 & 130 Oriole Parkway. I also, met with Councillor Michael Walker and presented a petition calling for the return at the very minimum of our former stop sign. Although Councillor Walker is intimately acquainted with our intersection and has request a 10km posted speed reduction and “Quiet, Residential Neighbourhood” signs posted I am given to understand steadfast resistance from Transportation Services to any additional measures that would return a degree of safety to this intersection has led to the matter being indefinitely deferred by the Toronto and East York Community Council. Consequently, he has arranged a local public meeting for February 2nd, at Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton West @ 7:00pm) to hear local concerns [this was before I learned that this date had been provided to by mistake].
Pedestrian Committee support needed to help make the corner of Oxton-Oriole safe for pedestrian...
While I am very appreciative of Councillor Walker’s efforts and his actions thus far we still have not made any significant progress on the core issue of pedestrian safety at this intersection. Transportation Services will tell you Oxton Avenue is a highway (11A), that there are no rules in the “manual” to accommodate the pedestrians dynamics at this intersection and that there are few pedestrians anyway.
It is true however, that many of the people who might naturally use this crossing point (including myself) are now so fearful of getting hit by a car that they feel forced to take alternate, long-way-round routes, the fact remains that people will cross and this intersection (including myself) as it is on the naturally route to subway and Yonge Street.
So why did the city take out the stop sign?
I am told the single over ridding reason for making the present corner configurations was to accommodate the wishes of near-by homeowners who wanted to stop non local cars short-cutting cars through their streets such that we living at Oxton and oriole are now inconvenienced (made to go out of our way), the lives of the corner building residents are made miserable (constant hooking) and our safety as pedestrians imperilled.
In summery:
If 20,000 cars a day are to be “pushed” on to Oxton Avenue, then at the very least the city should make it safe for local residents and pedestrians to cross the street. I hope that in your deliberations and review of pedestrian safety across the city of Toronto that you come to agree that serious attention needs to be given to the pedestrian safety concerns facing the local residents of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Parkway. To this end I would welcome the opportunity to appear before the to committee to highlight the issues and explore ways in which pedestrian safety can be satisfactory restored to Oxton-Oriole such that the cars keep moving (the city’s aim) and the pedestrians cross in safety (my aim).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Mark Rees
Toronto
Email: orioleatoxton@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.oxton.blogspot.com/
(You can comment on this post and others by clicking on the "Comment" link below)
D'Aoust To Rees (Public Meeting - Date Mistake)
From: :Pierre D'Aoust
ToMark ReesSubject: Public Meeting - Date Mistake
Hi Mark,
I actually just checked with the Councillor, and Oxton is outside of the area we were going to distribute to - the beltline serves as the southern-most boundary. However, we certainly do not want to prevent anyone from attending the meeting. Our notice will be posted on our website by Monday morning and anyone is welcome to attend the meeting on the 2nd.
Sorry for the confusion, and thank you again for your offer. On a different note, I haven't forgotten about our other meeting - it will be scheduled either for late February or early March.
Talk to you soon,
Pierre
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)