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)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment