Sunday September 22nd - 3:17 p.m.
On my way to another locale, I've ended up right downtown, King and York Sts.
But there's no traffic! It's a ghost town, historically correct with no automobiles anywhere!
There's no plastic white fence, no handmade signs. But lots of police.
Suddenly I realize what's been missing at the other locations. It really
has been casual. Unofficial and happenstance, in seems, compared to
the now literally dozens of policemen guarding all the no traffic.
| Cars are being diverted at the big, complicated University
and York and Front intersection. This is the real thing...an official
perimeter to a car free zone. It's not a little neighbourhood game
anymore.
No, it's a film shoot, of course. Streets are blocked with iron
fencing, Toronto Police Services vehicles and uniformed officers.
No coming late to this party! |
 |
All the Car Free zones I've seen are little more than community affairs, local attempts to stem the traffic, punctuated by some ersatz commercial activity. Nowhere have I seen a concerned effort to not just ban the thing for the afternoon, but to present realistic, affordable and beneficial alternatives long-term.
There should be a TTC guy at every location. Anyone with car ownership papers who walks over gets a free ticket or something. Alternative energy spokespeople promoting anything but fossil fuel consumption. Bike repair technicians with free tune-up offers. Podiatrists and masseuses.
Local, provincial and federal politicians should be there. Explaining why the funds, subsidies, loans, tax deferrals and incentives they offer to automobile makers and road-users so far outpace those that go to public transit development and alternative fuel research you couldn't catch up with 'em in a speeding car.
Car-Free Day should be officially integrated with other environmental,
economic and health policies at all levels of government. A consistent
and integrated approach to the many inter-related issues around automobile
use should be established. Kyoto greenhouse gas reductions. Budget prioritizing.
Public transportation planning. Health care planning, personal accident
and injury prevention. Metal and rubber recyclers.READ
ON