slow it for safety

Transportation for Liveable Communities

PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
tlchamilton.blogspot.com
tlchamilton@gmail.com

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Transportation for Liveable Communities, a sustainable transportation working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group at McMaster University, would like to register our grave concern regarding a suggestion by Councillor Powers to raise the speed limit on Cootes Drive to 60km/h from the current 40km/h (Dundas Star News, November 30, 2007) in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing at Sanders Blvd.

TLC would like to remind all parties that speed has a direct impact on the survival rates in collisions,

i.e. the higher the speed the greater likelihood of death in a collision.

The 40km/h speed limit was introduced to this area as a protective safety measure at a very busy pedestrian crossing, with a large volume of pedestrian traffic originating or having destinations at McMaster University.

TLC awaits the result of the speed study being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the speed reduction, however, TLC cannot accept a decision that would allow lack of obedience to the posted limit to result in raising the speed limit. This would be rewarding law-breaking speeders at the expense of traffic safety. If we followed this logic, speed limits everywhere would reflect a dangerous upward curve resulting in higher fatality rates.

To alleviate the effect of velocitization¹ on drivers going from an 80 zone to 60 to 40, we suggest reducing the maximum speed limit on Cootes from 80 to 70, and to ensure compliance, would support the placement a permanent speed camera near the crossing.

TLC has also advocated for enhanced traffic-calming measures, such as lane-narrowing and vertical deflection. If speeding continues to be a problem at the site of the crossing, TLC would like the city to explore the idea of a physically engineered solution rather than relying on signs to accomplish the required speed reduction.

LIGHT

An ongoing issue related to the crossing itself, TLC would like the timing of the pedestrian crossing light reviewed in general, with particular attention to a significant and unnecessary delay, primarily during rush-hours, for the pedestrian crossing to be activated after pushing the button.

TLC also requests a digital count-down display for this crossing, like the one used at Bay Street and King Street for example. Such display has become the standard in many Canadian cities, including Toronto.

Finally, TLC is very disappointed not to have been contacted by any agency to inform us of the existence of the speed study, despite TLC's ongoing and direct involvement in the issues of pedestrian safety at the Cootes crossing, having to instead discover the news via the media. TLC thus requests a print copy of the report for our records, and a commitment to be included in any further discussion on this important pedestrian/cyclist crossing.

For TLC,

Randy Kay

1 the phenomenon that driver's experience when driving at a high rate of speed for extended periods of time and the speed no longer feels as fast when they enter into a zone with a slower posted speed limit (Hamilton Police Service)

never mind TLC (and others) have been pushing for years...

...as long as there is some action!

CATCH News – December 3, 2007

Making Hamilton friendly to pedestrians and cyclists

Public health staff are looking at ways to reduce car use and encourage more walking and cycling as part of an effort to cut high obesity rates in Hamilton. After hearing from Gil Penalosa of Walk and Bike for Life at last week’s Board of Health meeting, councillors agreed to consider ideas that will be developed by Hamilton Partners for Healthy Weights.

Penalosa said the central questions facing the city are “how do we want to live” and “what kind of a city are we going to build” to accommodate the expected growth over the next 25 years. He pointed to Vancouver’s adoption of a “pedestrian first” objective and Portland, Oregon’s “bicycles everywhere” theme.

“We need an attitude of ready fire aim because sometimes we say ready aim, aim, aim and we never fire,” he argued. “The vision has to be bold and ambitious.”

Penalosa had numerous specific suggestions for change, including adopting the Velib bike rental system that has put Paris in world headlines in the last few months. Over 10,000 bicycles have been installed in racks all over the city where they can be accessed with a credit card. Its success has several world capitals considering following suit including London, Rome and Vancouver.

“If you use it for less than half an hour, it’s free,” explained Penalosa, who had just returned from checking out the system. “You pick it up wherever you want and then you return it somewhere else. They have them at most within 300 metres of any place in the city, and in the downtown it’s within 150 metres.”

The system mimics one established earlier in Lyon, a city about the size of Hamilton, and it doesn’t cost the municipal government a cent.

“They allowed 1400 small ads of 4 square metres and in exchange for that the company put in 20,000 bikes,” noted Penalosa. “Any revenue that is generated goes back to the city.”

The staff report accompanying Penalosa’s presentation points to rates of obesity in Hamilton as evidence of a need for more physical activity. Hamilton’s rates are about 20 percent higher than in Ontario as a whole.

“While obesity levels cannot be solely explained by our built environment, we do know that each additional hour spent in a car per day leads to a 6 percent increase in the likelihood of obesity, while each kilometre walked per day translates to a 4.8 percent reduction in the odds of obesity,” says the report.

It goes on to note that over 80 percent of Canadians say they would like to walk more and two-thirds want to more opportunities to cycle.

“However, they feel that the current built environment discourages these forms of travel. A report released by the Ontario College of Family Physicians states ‘evidence clearly shows the people who live in spread-out, car-dependent neighbourhoods are likely to walk less, weigh more and suffer from obesity, high blood pressure and consequent diabetes, cardio-vascular and other diseases, as compared to people who live in more efficient, higher density communities’.”

The staff report stresses the importance of urban planning principles in the promotion of pedestrian-friendly and cycling-friendly cities and reducing obesity. These include mixed land use, higher population densities, grid street patterns, traffic calming measures and “the buffering of sidewalks by landscaping, street furniture, on-street parking, and boulevards” to improve pedestrian safety.

Mayor Eisenberger was enthusiastic about Penalosa’s talk and the staff report.

“I’m really excited about the opportunities for Hamilton,” he declared. “The pedestrian first notion I think is something we can talk about through our strategic planning exercises and we can talk about where we’re going and what kind of city we want to have. And I agree completely that we’ve got great opportunity in Hamilton to build on many of the things that we’re already doing and expand upon them significantly.”

CATCH (Citizens at City Hall) updates use transcripts and/or public documents to highlight information about Hamilton civic affairs that is not generally available in the mass media. Detailed reports of City Hall meetings can be reviewed at www.hamiltoncatch.org. You can receive all CATCH free updates by sending an email to info@HamiltonCATCH.org.

speed addict

Speed study puts Cootes limit under microscope

City will see if reduction near Mac had any effect

Craig Campbell

Published on Nov 30, 2007

Local drivers should know next week if anyone's following the new speed limit on Cootes Drive.

City of Hamilton traffic staff is currently reviewing the speed reduction made during the summer on the busy thoroughfare near Main Street West.

Dundas councillor Russ Powers said he wanted some analysis of the change, and the traffic department needed about six months to have appropriate data for an informed decision.

Tubes were stretched across all lanes of Cootes Drive earlier this week, about six months since the reduction.

City traffic technologist Chris van Berkel said the equipment keeps track of both traffic volume and speed. It was to record information for three days.

"We're interested in speed, we know the volumes," Mr. van Berkel said. "We want to see if the speed reduction has had an effect."

Mr. Powers said he was not very happy with the speed reduction from 60 km-h to 40 km-h for a section of Cootes Drive around a controlled pedestrian crosswalk when it was made in the summer.

He told the October meeting of his Dundas Community Council everyone he spoke to was fine with a speed drop from 80 km-h to 60 km-h but not the additional drop to 40 at the crosswalk.

Mr. Powers said he's suggested an increase in the current 40 km-h zone back to 60 km-h.

He and west Hamilton councillor Brian McHattie have already met once with traffic staff, and expect to review results of this week's speed study.

The speed reduction was part of an ongoing but troublesome effort to improve traffic and pedestrian safety on Cootes Drive.

Just a few months after new traffic lights were placed on the street to provide control for a McMaster University pedestrian crossing, a student from the school was struck and killed.

A Hamilton police Speedwatch at the crosswalk has found pedestrians crossing without activating the lights. Other observers have argued driver speeding is a problem.

Results from this week's speed study should be available next week. Mr. Powers expects local stakeholders, including McMaster, to discuss possible options to improve the traffic situation with recommendations potentially going to the public works committee of council before the end of the year.

The organization Transportation for Livable Communities has been calling for more traffic calming methods to be used in conjunction with the controlled crosswalk and speed reduction, including a lane reduction at the crosswalk.

Main Concern

Councilor Brian McHattie
City of Hamilton
November 29, 2007

Dear Brian,

I am writing on behalf of "Transportation for Liveable Communities" (TLC), a working group of McMaster's chapter of OPIRG (Ontario Public Research Interest Group).

TLC members appreciate your work to secure improved pedestrian safety on roads surrounding McMaster University. We think that the reduced speed limit at Cootes Drive next to McMaster has been very successful step to this end.

We request, however, that more actions will be taken as soon as possible to correct gross traffic hazards near McMaster.

First, as one travels on Main St. W eastbound from the 403, the standard 50 km/h speed limit changes to 60 km/h just east of McMaster Hospital and University. We perceive this change as reflecting gross negligence by The City of Hamilton Transportation Department an d urge you to request an immediate reversal to the standard default of 50 km/h with the accompanying timing of the traffic lights in this corridor to ensure that no speeding occurs. The section of Main St. W between McMaster and Osler Dr. has some of the heaviest pedestrian traffic in Ha milton. Furthermore, while the city policy is to allow 60 km/h on arterial roads with no private driveways, there are actually such private driveways in that section. In short, the current 60 km/h speed limit is incompatible with sensible safety considerations and should be reconsidered given the recent dramatic increase in pedestrian traffic in the area.

Second, TLC members are still troubled by the multiple traffic hazards created by the new automobile entrance to McMaster University and hospital. We have discussed this issue with you and members of the traffic department several times, but too little has been done to reduce the danger. The two major problem points are the pedestrian crossings on the north west and south east sides of the intersection.

To resolve the north west problem of cars turning into the pedestrian crosswalk while pedestrians are using the crosswalk, we request that the exit from McMaster have a separate right turn signal that would isolate the car-turning movements from the pedestrian crossing times. A similar traffic light operates successfully in downtown Hamilton to separate between westbound automobile traffic turning from James St N and pedestrians crossing King St.

To resolve both the south east and north west problems, we request that (i) the three exit lanes from McMaster would each be dedicated to a single direction, right, straight and left; (ii) the pedestrian crossing of the southern part of Main St. would be realigned with the street corner, shortened through widening and lengthening eastbound of the centre refuge area, and receive bright white markings.

We consider our above suggestions highly reasonable and well worth the price for correcting the obvious shortcomings in what was supposed to be a modern, welcoming entrance to a forward thinking institute of higher knowledge.

Sincerely yours,

Reuven Dukas

For TLC

no tax transit (riders pay more)

New routes, another fare increase(!) and no taxes to help pay for transit...

CATCH News – November 27, 2007

Fare hikes chosen over higher taxes

The bus fare hikes approved yesterday could have been replaced with a $12 annual tax increase on most households according to city treasurer Joe Rinaldo. Instead regular HSR users will pay $96 a year more to ride the bus next year.

The fare increases will take effect on January 1 if finalized tomorrow evening by council. They include rises of 15 cents on cash fares, 10 cents on tickets, $8 on the monthly adult pass and $7 on the monthly pass used by elementary and secondary school students.

Brian McHattie, one of four councillors who opposed the fare hikes, argued that it made more sense to use taxes to collect the $1.8 million a year that the fare increases are expected to generate for the HSR.

Rinaldo presented tables to the meeting showing the impact on average taxes with and without the fare increase. For a $200,000 home in Hamilton the difference would be $12 a year. The cost to suburban residents would have been about $3 in Ancaster, and $4 in each of Dundas, Stoney Creek and Glanbrook.

Each former municipality pays a unique transit tax rate based on how many miles of HSR service occurs there. Thus an average home in Hamilton this year pays $174 for HSR, while urban residents of Ancaster in the same value home pay $36. The comparable rate in Dundas is $41 and $53 in Stoney Creek.

The new fare hikes come only six months after similar ones that were imposed in July. The adult monthly pass that cost $65 in June will by $79 in January of next year – an increase of 21 percent, while monthly school passes will be up by 26 percent over the prices earlier this year ($63 instead of $50 a month).

HSR fare prices have risen faster than inflation since the mid 1980s. In 1985 riders paid 90 cents a ride. Inflation would push that to $1.58 in 2007. Most of the increases took place before 1998 – the point at which cash fares hit $2.00 a ride.

Despite the fare hikes, the inflation-adjusted amount spent on the HSR is about 20 percent less this year than it was in 1994. The transit budget is mainly funded by fares and city taxes, with some federal and provincial funding starting in 2005.

Councillors also decided yesterday to establish a transit subsidy program that will give up to 809 low income people a 50 percent price reduction on their monthly HSR pass. The one-year pilot program will start in April and is aimed at the 25,000 Hamiltonians defined as “working poor”. Some limited assistance with transit fares is already available to an additional 25,000 residents receiving disability or Ontario Works payments.

CATCH (Citizens at City Hall) updates use transcripts and/or public documents to highlight information about Hamilton civic affairs that is not generally available in the mass media. Detailed reports of City Hall meetings can be reviewed at www.hamiltoncatch.org. You can receive all CATCH free updates by sending an email to info@HamiltonCATCH.org.

Letter in Transit

A great letter in today's spectator:

Transit is part of our infrastructure TheSpec.com - LettertotheEditor - Transit is part of our infrastructure

Gary Buttrum
Hamilton
The Hamilton Spectator

(Nov 17, 2007)

Re: Hamilton Street Railway

Hamilton needs to start seeing the entirety of the transit system as infrastructure, as being in the same category as bridges, sewers and roads. If we can do this, we can eliminate the false argument that putting money toward transit is subsidizing transit users while building and maintaining roads is creating infrastructure and jobs.

Efficient and comfortable public transit is an incredibly cost-effective way to fuel investment in our communities. Development blossoms around bus, streetcar and tram routes and in turn increases the cost effectiveness of the whole system, creating more opportunity for expansion. Transit use reduces road use, wear and congestion and is also thus intrinsically linked with the concerns of drivers.

One possibly contentious but more equitable and sustainable way to fund the transit system is to reduce or eliminate the discrepancies of the area rating system currently in place. This system of property taxation is based on the myth that drivers paying tax for transit in areas without transit service is a subsidy, while transit users paying tax for roads without transit is helping build infrastructure for everyone. In both cases, taxpayers are supporting transportation alternatives that they have no ostensible access to and neither should be seen as a "subsidy." It is, simply, the government providing means for its citizens to live and work in a vibrant and diverse city.

This is how society is meant to function; we all put a little of what we have in and receive a little of what we need in return, regardless of whether we stand to gain from all the ways our taxes are spent. People who chose not to, or cannot, own a car are in exactly the same boat as people who choose not to, or cannot, live within walking distance of public transit.

While I am not a regular user of public transit, I encourage the mayor, city council, and city staff, as the new Red Hill Valley Parkway opens, to work with the same energy and enthusiasm to make Hamilton's public transit system as robust, efficient, and noteworthy as its recently augmented road network.

no bus stop

I heard if from the bus driver tonight first, when I asked (after loading my bike to the front mounted racks) and the SPEC confirms it: No bus strike!

Transit agreement reachedc.com - News - Transit agreement reached

The Hamilton Spectator

There won’t be a bus strike.

Negotiators for the city of Hamilton and Local 107 of the Amalgamated Transit Union reached a tentative agreement shortly before 9 tonight.

City negotiators will recommend the deal to city council and the union executive will recommend it to its 600 members.

The union membership rejected a previous proposal from the city in October and on Wednesday, voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action if no deal was reached.

That led to today’s bargaining session.

A union ratification meeting is likely to be held by mid-week.

CATCH the Good News!

Citizens at City Hall (CATCH) release the good news (that Thom had previewed earlier). It certainly feels rewarding after years of TLC and the City Cycling Committee pushing council for this:

Bike racks on all buses

There are now bicycle racks on all HSR buses. Delays in receiving the racks from the manufacturer slowed down the expected installation speed, and the variety of bus models also presented difficulties, but HSR director Don Hull says all the racks are now in place.

The news generated a round of applause at yesterday’s meeting of the city’s transit steering committee. Waterloo region preceded Hamilton in installing bike racks, but Ottawa and Toronto are yet to put them on all their buses.

[The CATCH article doesn't mention our next door neighbour Burlington also installed the racks well before Hamilton did]

Raising the issues

The great folks over at Raise the Hammer continue to do the grunt work of bringing issues to the attention of Hamiltonians. There is much there of value, but check out this info on the transportation master plan. Good background for TLC's work on one-way street conversions to two-way, and more.

meet and get active with TLC

Get involved in building a better and more sustainable transportation network at McMaster, and in the city.

TLC volunteers have been pushing for advances in cycling, pedestrian and transit infrastructure since 2000.

Join the movement toward sustainability: if you ever get around in the city without a car, you probably have a good idea of what needs doing. Join others with the same frame of reference, and do your part to make good things happen.

Open to all, you can check out TLC at http://tlchamilton.blogspot.com

Meeting at 6pm, Tuesday, November 13 in McMaster University Student Centre room 213.

dead end streets - oct 28

MEMORIAL FOR DEAD STREETS
5:00 PM On October 28, 1956 overnight, Hamilton changed many of its downtown streets to one way. This action effectively killed the vibrancy and life of these streets and our downtown. Join the memorial for these lost streets and demand their conversion to liveable two-way again. Location: Gore Park, Downtown Hamilton, Hamilton,

Transportation for Liveable Communities tlchamilton@gmail.com

to eat or drive, that is the question.

Ethanol demand pushing up cost of staple foods TheSpec.com - Business - Ethanol demand pushing up cost of staple foods

The Hamilton Spectator

Toronto (Oct 23, 2007)

The cost of everything from tortillas to cereals and corn starch will rise in Canada because America's policy of subsidizing ethanol to cut dependence on foreign oil has led to rising demand for corn, says a report released yesterday.

Corn-based staples like tortillas have become more costly, along with other grains, fruits and vegetables that are pushed aside as farmers cash in on corn, said CIBC World Markets' chief economist Jeff Rubin.

"When you add it all up it's fairly significant because food inflation is already well over 4 per cent and we would expect it to move higher as more and more corn production is diverted to ethanol as is required under President Bush's plan," Rubin added.

U.S. governments provide massive subsidies -- $8 billion last year -- to encourage ethanol producers to expand and corn farmers to supply the crops to help make the fuel. The growing diversion into ethanol has resulted in a 60 per cent rise in corn prices in the past two years, Rubin said. Corn prices are more than $3.60 US a bushel.

belated car free week events related...

"the 4th annual bike in movie at Gage park (Thursday, S. ) was a success with approximately 110 men women and children and two dogs in attendance to enjoy the 'Back yardigans' and the main feature 'A night at the museum'...we were entertained by hackey sackers with a ghetto blaster as the pre- game show" - Gord

And Critical Mass blew through town Friday (S. 28) with roughly 30 riders who went from Hess Village, through Westdale and back downtown via Main Street, ahead of a whole lotta cars...

(thanks to Mike Ventresca for the photos)

top secret meeting

Transportation for Liveable Communities Meeting

Begins at October 4th 06:30 PM
Ends at October 4th 08:00 PM
Organized by Transportation for Liveable Communities

OPIRG's Sustainable Transportation group is meeting to plan future events and campaigns to support public transit, cycling, and walking initiatives at McMaster, in Hamilton, and beyond.

All are welcome, no special knowledge required - if you get around without a car in the city, you probably know what needs doing...

McMaster University Student Centre room 224

tlchamilton.blogspot.com

Draft Agenda
1. Debrief Car Free Week
2. Thank You cards
3. Upcoming Issues
a) Light Rail
b) One Way Streets to Two Way (anniversary of 1956 change at end of Oct)
c) Bike Racks on GO buses?
d) event with Transit Users Group to celebrate bike racks on HSR
e) other....

Please RSVP to tlchamilton@gmail.com and forward the invitation to people who might be interested (especially McMaster students!)

bus and hike number double from last year...

...to four. But this year we had a naturalist (Alf Senior) to guide the group.

Like last year, rain was hovering on the edge of the bus stop.

Last year we went to Sherman Falls, this year, Tiffany.

The good news is Alf is willing to lead more hikes throughout the year. So watch for that.

In the meantime, the Hamilton Naturalist Club has lots of hikes and events, so check them out too.

transit talk

Monday night, sky dragon centre:

A discussion on the future of transit in Hamilton focused on Light Rail. Check out raise the hammer for more

photo credit - Thom Oommen

TLC on YOU TUBE

Pole-ish

This poster has survived for several days here in Dundas, even on a busy route of high school students who have been known to run straight through large election signs (for the conservatives, if that has any meaning?) at the urging of their freinds. I saw it happen, and it was pretty funny.
Anyway, here is the "official" car free week poster, made by Mr. Gord Pullar, for Transportation for Liveable Communities.
Have you seen one in your neighbourhood? Let us know at tlchamilton@gmail.com.

whatever the weather: car free!

Wednesday's forecast is for a chance of showers. so all you have to do is dress for the weather and join us as we bus and then hike to Tiffany Falls: to be honest, a little precipitation makes the woods look more, well, saturated with colour, and it may add to the flow of the falls.

Drought conditions are severe these days, with parts of Cootes Paradise marsh and upper reaches of Spencer Creek running dry. So rain? Bring it on!

Remember we are meeting at 5:30pm SHARP! (so we don't miss the bus) Wednesday (S.26) at the bus stop by the McMaster Museum of Art.

Full time Mac students bring your student card with valid HSR sticker, everyone else bring your pass/ticket/cash fare (bus drivers cannot make change, so exact change is $2.25)

We'll be gone for a couple hours all told.

Participants will also receive bike route, waterfalls, and eat local maps.

Our guide is Alf Senior from the Hamilton Naturalist Club.

REMINDER - Transit Talk at the Sky Dragon Centre (27 King William St) at 7pm tonight (Monday, September 24, 2007)
FULL EVENT LISTING HERE

cootes nature hike

Ward One city councillor Brian McHattie (in red, gesturing at left) leads a group on a CAR FREE COOTES hike in Cootes Paradise today. Participants learned to identify at least five trees in the Carolinian forest, as well as many smaller plants (like woodland goldenrod and poison ivy) and see something that Brian said hasn't been seen since 1956 - parts of the marsh dry from lack of water exposing the bottom of the marsh.

This is the fourth annual hike in Cootes that Brian has led for us, and each time I learn something new.

Parking Meter Party for CFD 2007

Car Free Day in Hamilton, 2007 - you could hardly see the sod for the people, and the couch. At the far end of the King Street East scene you can see the Recycle Cycle boys doing some free bike repairs. In the foreground, just to the left, Brian and Natalia do a stirring and well received hours-long set on guitar and violin and help power the friendly vibe. The rest of the crew are pictured chillin' as they enjoy the september sun.

One person actually saw the two chess sets on the grass and got off the bus at the next stop to walk back and join in. We also saw lots of puzzled looks and a few thumbs-up as people passed the scene in their vehicles.

The MacGreen crew did the hard work of greening the site with sod, which covered at least three parking spaces to make room for the parking meter party. TLC gave away dozens of cycling, waterfall, and eat local maps to passerby. Several area residents hung out and drank lemonade, and a small group of women happened by and put the rest to shame by dancing with great delight to the live music. Local roti shop Ya Man! did a brisk business with hungry cyclists and Neil the bus driver commandeered his articulated HSR bus (with front-mounted bike racks) from the site.

car free day 2007

PARKING METER PARTY ON CAR FREE DAY 2007

getting the message out

some TLC'ers go to the source to get the sustainable transportation message out to thousands of people: the hwy 403 overpass. Reports of lots of supportive honks.

TLC has also done media interviews on CHML 900am and some shadowy video project of the Spectator's.

Don't forget tonight's movie at the Ewart Angus Centre at McMaster Medical Centre room 1a6 - 7pm it's THE CITY AND THE WORLD, from the documentary series: New York. It's free and there's sure to be discussion following.

CAR FREE WEEK 2007

they're here....

Car Free Day falls on Saturday, September 22, 2007, and Hamilton will be holding a week of activities beginning Friday S.21 and ending Friday S.28.

TONIGHT!

• FRIDAY SEPT. 21, 7-10pm. Start Car Free Week in Hamilton with a thought provoking documentary film: The City and the World (1945-Present) from the series New York: A Documentary Film.

During the seventh episode of NEW YORK: A DOCUMENTARY FILM, the turbulent and often harrowing years from 1945 to the present are explored. Emerging from the Depression and the Second World War as the most powerful metropolis on Earth, New York soon confronted urban woes of unprecedented proportions, and fought for its very existence.

Program Description

In exploring the social, economic and physical forces that swept through the city in the post-war period, Episode Seven examines the great African-American migration and Puerto Rican immigration of the '40s, '50s, and '60s; the beginnings of white flight and suburbanization; and the massive physical changes wrought by highways and urban renewal -- all of which were directed, to a surprising degree, by one man: Robert Moses. The film comes to a climax with the destruction of Penn Station, the battle over the Lower Manhattan Expressway, the social and fiscal crises of the '60s and '70s, and New York's miraculous revival in the last quarter-century.

DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW THE FILM
Ewart Angus Centre (McMaster University Medical Centre) Room 1A6 FREE ADMISSION

• CAR FREE DAY: Parking Meter Party!

SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 22. 12 noon, KING STREET EAST at FERGUSON. Transform a roadside parking spot into party central, all you need is a quarter for the meter! The more people who come, the more parking spaces we will liberate for uses other than depositing a car.

TLC will supply the sod, bike mechanics will set up shop to do free bicycle check-ups, there will be live acoustic music, and the brave will dance.
Car Free Day is an international annual celebration of living in the city without a car, focusing on active and sustainable modes of transportation.
TLC has been celebrating CFD each year since 2000. Join the fun.

• CAR FREE COOTES

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23
Explore the natural beauty of Cootes Paradise, the nature preserve in McMaster's backyard.
Ward one city councillor Brian McHattie (also former president of the Hamilton Naturalist Club) takes us on the annual hike into the natural wonders of Cootes to explore the diverse environment. Learn about the native flora and fauna, the efforts to protect this Carolinian Forest and marsh habitat, and better understand how we can work to improve the environment.
Meet at 10am inside the McMaster Student Centre, at the tables in front of the Union Market (at the north end of the student centre). Wear sensible footwear, bring water and a sun hat, and binoculars if you have some. Please pre-register with randy(at)opirg(dot)ca or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

• TALKING TRANSIT
  

Monday September 24, 7pm
Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William Street

Hamilton has been promised hundreds of millions in funding for public transit this election. How are we going to spend this windfall? On more buses and business as usual or on a revolutionary new transportation system. Light rail, as opposed to bus rapid transit, is cleaner, more attractive to new users, stimulates economic development and is just plain cool. Ward One Councillor Brian McHattie will be on hand to join Raise the Hammer and Hamilton CATCH for a municipal politics discussion night at the Sky Dragon with a focus on the future of public transit in Hamilton.

• BASIC BICYCLE REPAIR - the dedicated volunteer mechanics at RECYCLE CYCLES will host a free, basic bike repair workshop from 6-9pm, Tuesday, September 25, at their workshop in the basement of Erskine Presbyterian Church (19 Pearl street North, enter off Morden). After learning the basics, consider volunteering with Recycle Cycles to help keep old bikes from the landfill, while making inexpensive bicycles available to the people of Hamilton. Space at the workshop is limited so please pre-register with randy(at)opirg.ca or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026.

• WOMEN ONLY BASIC BIKE REPAIR - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 7-9 pm at MaCycle (basement of Wentworth House, McMaster University) - space is limited, so please pre-register with randy(at)opirg(dot)org

Learn how to change a tire, fix a flat, adjust your brakes and gears along with general maintenance tips

• BUS and HIKE TO TIFFANY FALLS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Alf Senior of the Hamilton Naturalist Club will lead a BUS and HIKE from McMaster to Tiffany Falls, 5:30pm sharp!
- Meet at the bus stop beside McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University and take the 5C Bus - the entire trip will be less than 2hrs est. return - F/T mac students bring student card with valid HSR sticker - others please have HSR ticket or exact cash fare. TLC will have free tickets for those who request them.
Participants will receive free Hamilton Waterfall, and City Cycling Maps.
Wear sensible clothing and footwear, bring water and a snack. Stay on marked trails - take nothing but photos, etc. for a zero impact hike.

• CAR FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIE AT GAGE PARK BANDSHELL - THURSDAY, September 27, films start at dusk - a great outdoor family event - leave your car at home and walk, bike, or bus to Gage Park for the annual event celebrating car free week in Hamilton. Bring a lawn-chair or a blanket and a friend.
  

• CRITICAL MASS BICYCLE RIDE

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28
End Car Free Week with the monthly CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE, Friday, September 28, meet at 5:30pm at Hess and George Streets in Hamilton's "Hess Village" - the mass bike ride through the downtown is a great way to explore the city's reviving core in a friendly ride with other cyclists. The more the merrier, so grab a friend and come downtown.
The ride is about an hour long at a leisurely pace (it's not a race) and roller bladers, skateboarders, uni-cyclists, wayward youth, and ice-cream vendors all welcome.

local transit video: using bus bike racks

Saw this on Raise the Hammer - a you tube video by Hamilton's very own Thom Oommen - good work Thom, and the great actors!

My daughter and I used the racks the other day on the King bus, simple and effective!

randy

You Sod!

Parking Meter Party - JULY 16, 2001, King Street West at MacNab, Hamilton ONTARIO.

Street Reclaiming, King William at Hughson, Hamilton ON - September 22, 2002

We're unrolling the sod again - this time September 22, 2007 at King Street East at Ferguson, 12 noon. Bring anything you can to make it fun!

More Car Free Week Updates

A productive meeting last night for TLC and we finally settled on the location and time for the Parking Meter Party for CFD September 22 -

KING STREET EAST at FERGUSON, 12 noon.

And the Monday night event is back on the schedule with this:

TALKING TRANSIT
Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William Street
Monday September 24, 7pm
Hamilton has been promised hundreds of millions in funding for public transit this election. How are we going to spend this windfall? On more buses and business as usual or on a revolutionary new transportation system. Light rail, as opposed to bus rapid transit, is cleaner, more attractive to new users, stimulates economic development and is just plain cool. Ward One Councillor Brian McHattie will be on hand to join Raise the Hammer and Hamilton CATCH for a municipal politics discussion night at the Sky Dragon with a focus on the future of public transit in Hamilton.

We also have a flyer designed by Gord Pullar, and a commitment from McMaster's radio CFMU to play a generic 30 second Car Free Day advertisement on the air.

car free week update and meeting reminder

The week is all lined-up and an updated list of events can be found here.

Reminder of the TLC meeting on Wednesday, September 12 at the McMaster University Student Centre room 220, starting promptly at 5:30pm.

Help make it happen!

CAR FREE HAMILTON 2007 MAPPED

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THE job we've been fighting for...

Job Description

Job Title: Proj Mgr Alternative Transportation

Job ID: 4738

Location: Traffic


Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Temporary
Org Marketing Statement

CITY OF HAMILTON

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
(OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE – TRAFFIC ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS - LOCATION – 77 JAMES ST. N., SUITE 320)

PROJECT MANAGER, ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION – CUPE 1041
(1 TEMPORARY FULL TIME POSITION)

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Reporting to the Manager, Traffic Engineering & Operations acts as the central focus for all issues related to on-street cycling and manages specific projects, whether they relate to new development, off-road trails, cycling promotion, spot repairs and maintenance and cycling facility rehabilitation.

GENERAL DUTIES

Act as the central focus for all issues related to on-street cycling.

Manage specific projects, whether they relate to new development, off-road trails, cycling promotion, spot repairs and maintenance and cycling facility rehabilitation.

Support the rewrite of Shifting Gears by managing the consultant assignment, and coordinating the Environmental Assessment process with Capital Planning and Implementation.

Advise Council of programming and to work with CPI and other external agencies such as the Ministry of Transportation, Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Hamilton Conservation Authority, and City of Burlington to implement projects as per the Shifting Gears list and then, in the future, revise and adjust priorities as projects are implemented and as demands change.

Design, plan, implement, and coordinate all aspects of projects on the priority list as defined by the revised Shifting Gears.

Define and document project requirements, scope, deliverables, timelines, resource requirements, and identify project risks.

Responsible for project plan development and project resource planning along with the following:
• identification of project tasks
• estimated costs
• project schedules
• milestones and budget
• identification of project resources and skill requirements
• recruit project staff, coordinate and assign work
• determine allocation of financial resources to project tasks

Promote teamwork and provide direction to cross-functional and cross-departmental teams, provide clearly defined goals and objectives, function as a mentor to project staff, motivate, coach and provide advice to staff on project issues and problem resolution.

Negotiate with vendors and contractors for supply of services.

Prepare oral and written presentations to management and Council and report regularly on the status of projects, milestone achievement, fiscal status, change and risk management. Prepare recommendations and outline preferred course of action.

Administer and monitor the budget for projects in accordance with established Corporate and Departmental procedures, ensuring that project expenditures are within budgeted levels.

Conduct project evaluations. Evaluate project success and submit process improvement recommendations to manager.

Identify organizational problem areas and prepare background research. Prepare Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Proposals (RFP) to access external expertise when required. Prepare letters of agreement with external consultants and manage contracted work.

Investigate, develop, recommend and implement policies and procedures that enhance organizational effectiveness and create a supportive work environment.

Provide professional consultation to the Manager and Director as required. Act on behalf of the Manager in his/her absence on the divisional management team and for other assignments as required.

Maintain professional competence in the discipline of project management.

Review incoming neighbourhood plans to ensure that bike facilities and pedestrian facility continuity are an integral part of neighbourhood design.

Consider the current cycling infrastructure and determine those locations requiring repairs or rehabilitation such as poor pavement and deficient catch basins.

Undertake and promote activities on behalf of cycling such as reviewing the current cycling maps, city webpage and other opportunities to promote the use of cycling as an alternative to automobile use.

Act as the central focus for all issues related to pedestrians, mobility and "walkability."

Assist in coordinating pedestrian infrastructure planning and implementation as per the guidelines / criteria as identified in the Transportation Master Plan.

Act as staff support to the proposed Pedestrian Sub-Committee, both in a direct support role and in a coordination role where the City already has current capacity and expertise.

Provide general expertise in promoting walking as an alternative transportation form.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager or Directors on Senior Management Team which are directly related to the normal functions of the job as defined.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Demonstrated competence in bicycle facility design and operations and pedestrian facility design and operations, normally acquired through a degree in traffic engineering, geography or parallel disciplines; or suitable experience in a related discipline pertinent to the job functions combined with project management experience.

2. Progressive experience in project management, budgeting and fiscal control in a unionized public or private sector organization. Project Management designation and experience in transportation sector an asset.

3. Proven organizational skills and the ability to work with very tight deadlines and competing priorities.

4. Demonstrated ability to challenge, lead and inspire others to excel in an environment that fosters innovative approaches to problem-resolution.

5. Ability to plan, organize and lead project and project teams.


6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, facilitation skills and presentation skills, a team leader and mentor possessing highly developed negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

7. Must possess thorough knowledge of the current suite of Microsoft productivity tools, including PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Microsoft Project and web-based applications an asset.

8. Must be able to work in an independent and confidential manner, making sound judgements based on results of research and/or fieldwork.

9. Ability to deal effectively with management, peers, staff and the general public.

10. Working knowledge and understanding of statutes, regulations and by-laws affecting the department/section.

11. Must have above average analytical and problem solving skills.

12. Demonstrated knowledge of the Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations as it relates to the position.

13. Experience in supervising a unionized workforce would be an asset.

SALARY:

Salary Grade 5

$34.783 - $36.716 - $38.648 per hour ($32.851 probationary rate)

HOURS:

35 per week

NOTE:

This vacancy is due to a project with a term of approximately two years.

THE INCUMBENT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR THIS POSITION AND THE WORKPLACE.

LUCY MCGREAL: WORKFORCE PLANNING SPECIALIST

Please apply on or before:

29/08/2007

Shaping Up a Week of Car Free Action

Car Free Day falls on Saturday, September 22, 2007, and Hamilton will be holding a week of activities beginning Friday S.21 and ending Friday S.28.

A few activities already confirmed:

• FRIDAY SEPT. 21, 7-10pm. Start Car Free Week in Hamilton with a thought provoking documentary film: The City and the World (1945-Present) from the series New York: A Documentary Film.

During the seventh episode of NEW YORK: A DOCUMENTARY FILM, the turbulent and often harrowing years from 1945 to the present are explored. Emerging from the Depression and the Second World War as the most powerful metropolis on Earth, New York soon confronted urban woes of unprecedented proportions, and fought for its very existence.

Program Description

In exploring the social, economic and physical forces that swept through the city in the post-war period, Episode Seven examines the great African-American migration and Puerto Rican immigration of the '40s, '50s, and '60s; the beginnings of white flight and suburbanization; and the massive physical changes wrought by highways and urban renewal -- all of which were directed, to a surprising degree, by one man: Robert Moses. The film comes to a climax with the destruction of Penn Station, the battle over the Lower Manhattan Expressway, the social and fiscal crises of the '60s and '70s, and New York's miraculous revival in the last quarter-century.

DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW THE FILM
Ewart Angus Centre (McMaster University Medical Centre) Room 1A6 FREE ADMISSION

• CAR FREE DAY: Parking Meter Party!

SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 22. 12 noon, KING STREET EAST at FERGUSON. Transform a roadside parking spot into party central, all you need is a quarter for the meter! The more people who come, the more parking spaces we will liberate for uses other than depositing a car.

TLC will supply the sod, bike mechanics will set up shop to do free bicycle check-ups, there will be live acoustic music, and the brave will dance.
Car Free Day is an international annual celebration of living in the city without a car, focusing on active and sustainable modes of transportation.
TLC has been celebrating CFD each year since 2000. Join the fun.

• CAR FREE COOTES

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23
Explore the natural beauty of Cootes Paradise, the nature preserve in McMaster's backyard.
Ward one city councillor Brian McHattie (also former president of the Hamilton Naturalist Club) takes us on the annual hike into the natural wonders of Cootes to explore the diverse environment. Learn about the native flora and fauna, the efforts to protect this Carolinian Forest and marsh habitat, and better understand how we can work to improve the environment.
Meet at 10am inside the McMaster Student Centre, at the tables in front of the Union Market (at the north end of the student centre). Wear sensible footwear, bring water and a sun hat, and binoculars if you have some. Please pre-register with randy(at)opirg(dot)ca or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

• TALKING TRANSIT
  

Monday September 24, 7pm
Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William Street

Hamilton has been promised hundreds of millions in funding for public transit this election. How are we going to spend this windfall? On more buses and business as usual or on a revolutionary new transportation system. Light rail, as opposed to bus rapid transit, is cleaner, more attractive to new users, stimulates economic development and is just plain cool. Ward One Councillor Brian McHattie will be on hand to join Raise the Hammer and Hamilton CATCH for a municipal politics discussion night at the Sky Dragon with a focus on the future of public transit in Hamilton.

• BASIC BICYCLE REPAIR - the dedicated volunteer mechanics at RECYCLE CYCLES will host a free, basic bike repair workshop from 6-9pm, Tuesday, September 25, at their workshop in the basement of Erskine Presbyterian Church (19 Pearl street North, enter off Morden). After learning the basics, consider volunteering with Recycle Cycles to help keep old bikes from the landfill, while making inexpensive bicycles available to the people of Hamilton. Space at the workshop is limited so please pre-register with randy(at)opirg.ca or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026.

• WOMEN ONLY BASIC BIKE REPAIR - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 7-9 pm at MaCycle (basement of Wentworth House, McMaster University) - space is limited, so please pre-register with randy(at)opirg(dot)org

Learn how to change a tire, fix a flat, adjust your brakes and gears along with general maintenance tips

• BUS and HIKE TO TIFFANY FALLS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Alf Senior of the Hamilton Naturalist Club will lead a BUS and HIKE from McMaster to Tiffany Falls, 5:30pm sharp!
- Meet at the bus stop beside McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University and take the 5C Bus - the entire trip will be less than 2hrs est. return - F/T mac students bring student card with valid HSR sticker - others please have HSR ticket or exact cash fare. TLC will have free tickets for those who request them.
Participants will receive free Hamilton Waterfall, and City Cycling Maps.
Wear sensible clothing and footwear, bring water and a snack. Stay on marked trails - take nothing but photos, etc. for a zero impact hike.

• CAR FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIE AT GAGE PARK BANDSHELL - THURSDAY, September 27, films start at dusk - a great outdoor family event - leave your car at home and walk, bike, or bus to Gage Park for the annual event celebrating car free week in Hamilton. Bring a lawn-chair or a blanket and a friend.
  

• CRITICAL MASS BICYCLE RIDE

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28
End Car Free Week with the monthly CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE, Friday, September 28, meet at 5:30pm at Hess and George Streets in Hamilton's "Hess Village" - the mass bike ride through the downtown is a great way to explore the city's reviving core in a friendly ride with other cyclists. The more the merrier, so grab a friend and come downtown.
The ride is about an hour long at a leisurely pace (it's not a race) and roller bladers, skateboarders, uni-cyclists, wayward youth, and ice-cream vendors all welcome.

Car Free Volunteers

CAR FREE WEEK in HAMILTON 2007

Transportation for Liveable Communities has been organizing Car Free
Day activities in Hamilton since 2000.

Starting in 2005 the events blossomed to a full week of Car Free
activities, giving us more time to explore various ways of enjoying
life without a car.

By focusing on the positive aspects of Hamilton's unique geography and
thriving communities, TLC has been able to introduce the idea of car
free living to thousands of people.

EVENTS
TLC has organized guided tours of Hamilton's natural areas like Cootes
Paradise with Councillor Brian McHattie as the guide; we've held art
shows and poetry nights celebrating walking, cycling and transit; we
have introduced many McMaster students and others to Hamilton's
waterfalls with guided Bus and Hikes to conservation areas, beside
distributing hundreds of Hamilton Cycling Maps and Conservation Area
Waterfalls maps.

During the last three years we've established a popular tradition by
hosting a night of family movies outdoors at the Gage Park Bandshell,
billing it as a Car Free Drive-In.

Participants have taken historical bicycle tours along the
Harbourfront Trail learning about the rich history there while
becoming familiar with the excellent trail system along the
waterfront. Still others have learned basic bike repair and
maintenance skills at free workshops run by Recycle Cycles, a
non-profit, volunteer, community bike repair workshop in Hamilton.

Last year Car Free Day branched out further as neighbourhood street
parties were hosted, parties not organized by TLC, but inspired by
TLC's ongoing efforts to raise Car Free Day's profile locally. We also
inspired the first Walking School bus in Dundas as parents, teachers
and students took it upon themselves to organize the event at Central
Park School.

TLC has encountered willing partners to help broaden the scope of the
week, the most recent example being Mixed Media Art Supply on James
Street North who co-hosted a Car Free Sketch Walk last year.

STREETS FOR PEOPLE
Of course Street Parties are a big part of Car Free events around the
world, with municipalities being key players.

Street Closures allow for non-automotive use to flourish, while
enhancing commercial activity for local merchants.

TLC has held highly successful street parties in previous years on
King William Street downtown, bringing hundreds of people to the local
retail area, with the active support of local establishments like
Pepper Jacks and the Sky Dragon Centre. Local poets and musicians have
shown themselves happy to donate their talents.

WORKING TOGETHER
TLC has worked in various capacities over the years with McMaster
University's Alternative Commute and Transportation (ACT) office, City
Parks Department (Gage Park rental), McMaster Cycle Co-Op, Recycle
Cycles, Pepper Jacks, Sky Dragon Centre, Mixed Media Arts, Transit
Gallery (film screenings), Hamilton Street Railway, Mac Green, the
Staircase Cafe and Theatre, the Art Gallery of Hamilton (film
screenings), Green Venture, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group
(OPIRG) McMaster, Ward One Councillor Brian McHattie, CFMU 93.3 FM,
and others to offer an eclectic mix of family events. We've also
garnered some positive media attention in local media like the
Hamilton Spectator, CHTV, CHML, CFMU, VIEW Magazine, the McMaster
Silhouette, Raise the Hammer and many others.

2007
We are looking forward to making 2007 the best and biggest year so far
for Car Free Day locally.

Supporting Car Free events helps celebrate the sustainable
alternatives to the private automobile by raising the profile of
walking, cycling, transit, and car-pooling in a family oriented,
artistic and fun way.

A healthy community supports a diversity of transportation choices for
its citizens, and encourages active modes. Car Free Day is a high
profile way to enhance support while creating safe, pleasant,
therefore liveable communities.

ABOUT TLC
Transportation for Liveable Communities is an award winning all
volunteer working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group
(OPIRG) McMaster. Since 2000, TLC has advocated for sustainable
transportation options in Hamilton and region.

CONTACT
tlchamilton(at)gmail(dot)com
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
tlchamilton.blogspot.com

counting on cootes

Some analysis on stats from previous article:

185 vehicles recorded
108 travelling below the 50 km-h speed limit
63 at 50-59 km-h
8 at 60-69 km-h
6 at 70-79 km-h

As Percentages

• below or at 50 km/h 58%
• above limit (up to 59 km/h) 34%
• 10-19 km/h over limit 4%
• 20 to 29 km/h over limit 3%

Note from article:

"Because the auxiliary officers and speed sign are highly visible, drivers tend to lower their speed at a Speedwatch site."

So it's probably safe to assume that these numbers are low. The location is also not as likely to get high speeds compared to Cootes further east, where the roadway becomes more of a divided expressway (i.e. no businesses or driveways, or intersections, just woods and marsh). The police were only clocking eastbound vehicles at Thorpe Street, so prior to the 80km/h zone).

Just past Thorpe Street (148 m) is a traffic light, which may also help to account for the vehicles going slow (under the limit).

If we take traffic count estimates for Cootes (27,000 according to latest City estimates) and extrapolate these very conservative numbers of speeders going 10 to 20 km/h over the limit (7%), we can see that Cootes has at least 1,890 speeders each day.

Now back to the reason for watching the speeding: the large number of pedestrians and cyclists using the level crossing at Sanders Blvd/McMaster University.

So the question becomes: are we willing to slow down and make the streets safer for other users (people using sustainable modes of transportation, the kind of people the city purports to encourage)? or are we addicted to speed at any cost?

Star on Cootes

[Craig and the Dundas Star continue to give great follow-up coverage on transportation issues!]

Second speedwatch alerts drivers of pending change

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

(Jul 6, 2007)

Six drivers were travelling at least 20 km-h over the posted speed limit during a the most recent Speedwatch on Cootes Drive in Dundas.

The public awareness program is operated by auxiliary police. While no traffic tickets are handed out, a large radar board displays drivers' speeds in comparison to the posted limit.

Speeds are also recorded, then passed along to divisional safety police officers, and City of Hamilton traffic staff. The brief morning Speedwatch on Cootes Drive just before Thorpe Street, Monday, June 25, observed a total of 185 vehicles.

According to statistics provided by Sergeant Glenn Jarvie, 108 of those drivers were actually travelling below the 50 km-h posted speed limit.

Sixty-three drivers were recorded at the posted speed limit or less than 10 km-h over. And, in addition to the six drivers travelling 20 to 29 km-h over the limit, eight drivers were speeding by 10 to 19 km-h.

"This program assists the police service to identify resource allocation," Sgt. Jarvie said.

"Complaint areas can be given to the speedwatch auxiliaries, attended to, and if deemed to be a problem area then our divisional safety officers are directed to this area to initiate an enforcement and education awareness plan."

Because the auxiliary officers and speed sign are highly visible, drivers tend to lower their speed at a Speedwatch site.

The four kilometres of Cootes Drive - from York Road in Dundas to Main Street West in Hamilton - has been the focus on ongoing complaints for more than two years.

The roadway has received heavier scrutiny since Feb. 2006, when a 19-year-old McMaster University student was struck and killed crossing Cootes Drive.

Another Speedwatch was held near the pedestrian-controlled crossing at the opposite end of Cootes Drive on Nov. 6. Both Speedwatch days have only observed eastbound traffic on Cootes.

"When it comes to these identified locations, the Speedwatch people revisit these sites to determine if further enforcement is required," Mr. Jarvie said.

A Division one officer recently began an increased level of speed enforcement at the Main West end of Cootes Drive, while the other end of Cootes - near Thorpe Street - has long been a favourite of Dundas police for speed enforcement.

A reduction in speed limits is expected in less than two months.

Three bells

Bell rings at 9:10 for Osler students

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

(Jul 6, 2007)

Concerns over the planned early start time for Sir William Osler School convinced the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board to conduct a quick, and rare, parent survey.

According to local superintendent of education John Laverty, a slim majority supported the 9:10 a.m. start - and that time will be used for both Dundas District and Central Park in September, as well as Osler whenever it is ready for students.

"This was somewhat atypical," Mr. Laverty said this week after the new start time was announced to parents on June 28, the last day of school.

He explained bell times are usually decided in consultation between the board's transportation department and school principal.

In this particular case, two schools being closed by the board -- Central Park at 9 a.m. and Dundas District at 8:10 a.m. -- had a wide variation in start time.

"We've never faced that before," Mr. Laverty said.

An early 8 a.m. start time or a late 9:10 a.m. start would have allowed the board to use existing busses and not add new transportation. But when an 8 a.m. start time was announced by principal Maria Rowles, the school board started to hear from several concerned parents who felt the start time was much too early, particularly for younger students who walk to school. So board staff agreed to send home a parent survey on June 25 with a deadline for them to be returned by the morning of Wednesday, June 27.

Mr. Laverty agreed the opportunity for parental input was a short one, but noted choosing a bell time typically doesn't involve outside consultation. He said the Osler situation was not typical.

He said the board also normally finalizes start times before the end of the school year, so parents have a couple of months to make child care arrangements if necessary.

According to a letter sent to parents on June 28, 90 per cent of parents responded to the survey, and 53 per cent preferred the 9:10 a.m. start.

When it opens sometime after next September, Osler school will be one of three schools within half a kilometre on the south side of Governor's Road.

Start times will range from 8:15 a.m. at Highland Secondary School to 9 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary, and 9:10 a.m. at Osler.

The new school's principal must request any crossing guards necessary from the City of Hamilton. The city operated three crossing guards on Creighton Road this school year, including one at Creighton and Governor's Road.

Randy Kay, a Dundas resident and member of transportation for livable communities, an Ontario Public Interest Research Group, said the primary concern should now be getting kids to the school by walking, cycling or roller blading, while calming traffic and creating safe crossing points.

Opposed to widening

Mr. Kay said TLC is opposed to the city widening Governor's Road, which allows for increased traffic speeds and increases crossing distance.

The group supports the addition of bicycle lanes.

"Priority one should be pedestrians and cycling, then transit, then finally cars. And it's not clear to me at this point this is the emphasis we're getting," Mr. Kay said.