Sunday September 22nd - 12:17 p.m.
A dozen or so streets participate in Car Free Day Toronto 2002. A couple of blocks on a side street here, a closed laneway there. On Sunday yet. Not much of an accomplishment, I think; how hard can it be to get rid of the car for a while?
My visit to one CFD site shows how little I know.
Part of Clinton St. is blocked off with a plastic white fence; hand drawn signs announce the reason why. A young man in a blue T-shirt and jeans stands idly by; I ask what happens if a car comes up, and wants to get by? "Let 'em in," he says, matter-of-factly.
| As I stroll along, music wafts by and balloons float overhead. A few homeowners capitalize on the situation as tabletop flea markets spring up for the afternoon. I'm actually starting to feel at ease, comfortable in the new surroundings - and in the middle of the street. Cyclists ride by, some ladies are doing stretching exercises, kids get face-painted in a makeshift booth set-up on the asphalt. It's all so...casual. |  |
As I turn back down the street, sure enough - a car approaches.
| I'm stunned! Sure, it's a street, but it's no longer
a place in which one should have to watch out for thousands of pounds
of hurtling metal. Yeah, he's going slowly, being careful in his
black Lexus or whatever - but geez, is this a car-free zone or what!?!
I take his picture as he goes by. |
 |
Moments later, he's asking why. He seems a bit defensive. I tell him I was surprised to see a car going through a car-free zone. He says he lives on the street, that he's a good neighbour. I say I was surprised to see a car going through a car-free zone. He says he went out at 11, but couldn't get back in time (for the noon closing). I ask him to be interviewed for my story. He declines.
Asking the block coordinator about the incident, I hear something to the effect "that's nothing...down in Kensington, there's been cars all day long...people are yelling and screaming about it...."
I'm off. READ ON
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS APPROACH