traffic woes nothing to sneeze at...

Safety issues won’t move H1N1 clinic

Governor’s Road site will remain in use

Craig Campbell, News Staff

Published on Nov 06, 2009

Dundas Baptist Church on Governor’s Road will remain one of Hamilton’s four HINI influenza immunization clinics as long as the city still has doses of the vaccine, despite problems with traffic safety in the surrounding area.

Hamilton Police expressed concerns over the location of the main immunization clinic when it was announced. And Division 30 Inspector Bob Buck said there were traffic and pedestrian safety issues on the already controversial road right from the start.

“It became dangerous,” Inspector Buck said. “We raised that issue. We expressed concern about that location. From a traffic and pedestrian standpoint, it’s a difficult location.”

As the only immunization clinic for at-risk residents open all five days Oct. 26-30, the Dundas Baptist Church site saw the biggest influx of people by far. Hamilton Public Health Services staff say more than 8,000 people were injected with the H1N1 vaccine –that’s more than 1,600 people each day and over 280 people every hour.

But residents saw the impact as thousands of people looked for limited parking and lined up along the side of Governor’s Road waiting their turn.

“It was crazy,” said Randy Kay of the group Transportation for Livable Communities, which has been calling for safety and pedestrian improvements to Governor’s Road.

“The parking lot filled, cars parked on the side street, and cars backed up two lanes wide to Overfield. Crazy!”

He went by the Baptist Church clinic last Friday about 15 minutes before it closed. Mr. Kay suggested hindsight may encourage Public Health to examine the location, and move the immunization clinic somewhere with more parking or find a site people can get to without a car if they choose.

But Public Health spokesperson Tara Hall said no review of the location has taken place, and the clinic will not move from that site

“Dundas Baptist Church is one of four permanent locations,” Ms. Hall said.

The site met the required criteria for H1N1 clinics, including providing enough space and being available to the city for the required four to six weeks.

As long as Hamilton still has vaccine available, the Governor’s Road location is scheduled to be used until just before Christmas. It wasn’t known earlier this week when the clinic will open to the general public.

Ms. Hall said the public health department hopes having more clinics open this week, and insisting only the most at-risk residents get the vaccine for now, pressure on the Dundas location will ease and there will be fewer traffic and pedestrian safety problems.

Hamilton Police put an on-duty officer at the site immediately, expecting it to be an issue when it opened last Monday at 1 p. m. But when police discovered how busy it was and the officer was unavailable to respond to calls, a paid-duty or overtime officer was assigned to the site.

But police and public health commended each other on their individual efforts to keep the location as safe as possible, and manage the large numbers of people.

Inspector Buck said clinic staff did a really good job managing the people who showed up, and Ms. Hall said police did a great job managing traffic and providing safe pedestrian crossing across Governor’s Road.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/193731

parking racket?

Not sure it's really fair that McMaster tickets bicycles parked anywhere but the provided bicycle racks when those bicycle racks are already overcrowded with bicycles.
It seems there need to be more racks available before people are threatened with fines, etc.

Valley Inn Bridge closed

Work underway on the old bailey bridge at Valley Inn Road, part of the improvements to the cycling and pedestrian environment that are to follow the fairly recent closure of the road to motor vehicles. Above, at around 2pm and below a couple hours later from the same side of the bridge.

My cycling partner and I were able to cross the bridge today, but we had to go over the flexible fencing to do so. Check back here to find out more about the bridge work and any expected work that would block passage.

UPDATE: checked the city web site for this project and this work is listed as the "first stage" of implementing the heritage design:

Implementation of the plan will occur in phases. It is anticipated that the works on the Hamilton side and the rehabilitation of the Valley Inn Road Bridge will be the first stage of the project. Discussions are ongoing with the City of Burlington to finalize interim termination details as no work on the Burlington side is anticipated in the first stage.

It would be helpful to know when, and for how long, the bridge will be out of commission for pedestrians and cyclists. Hopefully more info from staff is forthcoming. Stay tuned!

fare taxes

CATCH News – November 3, 2009

Higher bus fares versus higher taxes

It would cost the average Ancaster household less than $2.50 a year to avoid an HSR fare hike that would add over one hundred dollars to the expenses of a regular adult bus rider. Differential transit taxes mean a Hamilton home of similar value would pay just over $11 a year to keep bus fares at their current levels (see table).

The proposed twenty-cent-a-ride fare hike has sharply divided councillors. It is intended to raise $1.9 million which is about 4.2 percent of the $45 million in property taxes collected for HSR services this year.

An Ancaster home valued at $300,000 currently pays $58 a year for the HSR. A similar priced home in the former city of Hamilton pays $266 a year with households in the other former municipalities falling in between these two extremes – Waterdown $60, Dundas $65, Stoney Creek $85 and Glanbrook $114 (see table).

About 15 percent of households are rural and they neither receive HSR service nor pay any taxes towards its operations. All households receive DARTS service and share equally in its costs. The variable tax rates in the urban areas are a carryover from before amalgamation ten years ago when the former suburbs purchased transit service from Hamilton.

The proposed twenty cent HSR fare hike would raise the adult pass by $9 a month or $108 a year. Cash fares would rise to $2.60 a ride from the current $2.40.

Council has instructed city staff to limit increases in departmental budgets to no more than two percent, a directive made more difficult by already approved wage increases in the three percent range. The HSR faces the additional problem of a three percent drop in ridership that is expected to cut $1.3 million from its revenues this year and in 2010.

After squeezing other spending, the transit division is $1.9 million over the two percent target – an amount that it thinks can be recouped by the 20-cent-a-ride fare hike. However that could be optimistic because it assumes no drop in the number of passengers who will pay the higher fares to ride the bus.

The inconclusive outcome of last week’s debate on the HSR budget reflects the division between transit promotion and higher taxes, and largely pits suburban councillors against their colleagues in the former city of Hamilton. It’s further complicated by this being the last city budget before municipal elections next fall.

On October 29, five councillors endorsed a 20-cent fare hike – Dave Mitchell, Maria Pearson, Rob Pasuta, Russ Powers and Mayor Fred Eisenberger. That proposal went down to defeat 8 to 5 – the same fate that met an earlier move to raise fares by 10 cents that was supported by Mitchell, along with Chad Collins, Scott Duvall, Tom Jackson and Terry Whitehead.

Together that makes nine councillors supporting a fare hike. Four others voted against both proposed increases – Bob Bratina, Brian McHattie, Sam Merulla and Bernie Morelli – and three were absent – Brad Clark, Lloyd Ferguson and Margaret McCarthy.

A fare hike won’t entirely eliminate a rise in transit taxes, but it will lower the budget increase to the approved two percent increase. If there is no fare hike, the tax hit for the HSR will be 6.2% per household, or about $3.60 per household in Ancaster and $16.50 in old Hamilton.

The actual tax hike will also vary according to the assessed value of each house. A higher percentage of suburban residences exceed the $300,000 figure than the homes in the older parts of the city.

Much of last Thursday’s debate focused on whether or not to shift some capital dollars to the HSR operating budget, a move suggested by transit staff but not recommended by the finance department. That would have covered half of the budget overrun and reduced the fare hike to 10 cents per ride.

McHattie announced he’s pursuing an alternative option that would add $3 million to the HSR operating budget by shifting provincial gas tax monies from the capital budget to the operating side of the ledger and replacing the capital dollars with federal gas tax monies.

The latter monies were originally earmarked by the federal government for transit use only in cities over 500,000 population, but Hamilton fell below that threshold initially and the rules have subsequently been broadened to allow allocation to other capital expenditures. At this point, about half the annual subsidy of $79 million is being used for waste management facilities, with the remainder split between road construction and the renovations to city hall.

The fare hike is expected to be debated and voted on again at the November 11 city council meeting.

Taxes for HSR on a $300,000 home within the transit service area
and effect of avoiding a proposed 20 cent per ride fare hike

Area affected	Current HSR taxes per household	4.2% increase to avoid a fare hike	2% increase with fare hike	Total HSR tax increase with no fare hike
Ancaster	$58	$2.44	$1.16	$3.60
Dundas	$63	$2.65	$1.26	$3.91
Glanbrook	$114	$4.79	$2.28	$7.07
Hamilton	$266	$11.17	$5.32	$16.49
Stoney Creek	$85	$3.57	$1.70	$5.27
Waterdown	$60	$2.52	$1.20	$3.72
Rural areas	$00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

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.

car sick

A healthy child in Canada is about 20 times more likely to be killed by a car than by the H1N1 virus, Schabas said, but that isn't going to make the national news.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/11/06/h1n1-media.html?ref=rss

NEW MEETING LOCATION

Transportation for Liveable Communities - open meeting:

WHAT: TLC Meeting
WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:30pm
WHERE: NEW LOCATION DUE TO STRIKE ON CAMPUS: Ray's Place Boathouse (303 Dundurn Street South)

Bus tickets available upon request.

boost your bike memory

Tracking two-wheelers TheSpec.com - Local - Tracking two-wheelers

Police roll out program to ID, return stolen bikes

John Burman, The Hamilton Spectator, (Nov 3, 2009)

Can you describe your bike without looking?

Are you able to rattle off the serial number and the type of handlebars well enough to have a cop recognize it and return it?

For most cyclists, the answer is no.

That is why Hamilton police take in 600 to 1,000 bicycles a year -- most recovered after being stolen or lost -- and have a rough time finding the rightful owners.

Many of those bikes are expensive pieces of machinery. Now police are trying to do something to help owners with their memory.

Operation Bike Guard was unveiled yesterday morning at the beginning of National Police Week.

Bike owners get a simple printed envelope on which they fill in the blanks, making note of their bike's serial number and distinguishing features.

It's available from community policing centres or online at hamiltonpolice.on.ca, where you can download the form and print it.

If you go to the Ottawa Street, Landsdale or Concession Street policing centres, volunteers there can take a photo of your bike and give you a hard copy for your records.

Crime prevention co-ordinator Acting Sergeant Barry Mungar says the idea is to fill out the form and keep it in a safe place at home with a photo of your bike, ready to assist police in getting it back if it vanishes.

"With all the models and brands of bicycles out there, we needed something more to help the property branch get them returned," Mungar said.

The bike information package will also include pamphlets on bike and traffic safety. These are also available on the police website.

jburman@thespec.com

905-526-2469

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/665578

get some live TLC

Transportation for Liveable Communities - open meeting:

WHAT: TLC Meeting
WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:30pm
WHERE: NEW LOCATION DUE TO STRIKE ON CAMPUS: Ray's Place Boathouse (303 Dundurn Street South)

Bus tickets available upon request.

fare debate

Transit fare headache? TheSpec.com - Opinions - Transit fare headache?

Howard Elliott
The Hamilton Spectator

(Oct 28, 2009)

Pass the Tylenol Extra Strength -- an HSR fare increase is back on the table.

Pretty much every year we go through this painful dance in which HSR staff recommends to city council that a fare increase is necessary to offset the rising cost of operations and to improve and expand service. If there's no increase, the system won't grow, will exhaust reserves, defer capital spending and possibly reduce service, the argument goes. And HSR fares are 10 to 15 per cent lower than other big city fares across Canada, so we're underpaying for the service.

And every year, transit, environmental and social justice advocates yell loud and long against fare increases. Fare hikes are guaranteed to reduce ridership, so higher fares are offset by fewer riders, and there's no real gain, they argue. Shrinking ridership also contradicts the city's sustainability master plan, Vision 2020. Because HSR ridership is largely students and people on limited or low income, fare hikes penalize the most vulnerable, and may be a disincentive for people to work rather than rely on social assistance, poverty activists add.

The thing is, all of this is true. There is convincing evidence on both sides. Little wonder the matter ended with a tie council vote last year, which resulted in a proposal for a 10 cent fare increase dying on the table.

Some other salient points:

This time around, the debate is likely to be even more contentious than last year. The city was staring at the prospect of a $15-million deficit, brought about in large part by the recession. Given the bleak state of provincial finances, there's a worry the province may not deliver entirely on its uploading commitment of about $15 million, which could make the shortfall as much as $31.5m. This may not be the year to put extra burden on the overall tax base by deferring any fare increase for a second consecutive year.

The recession has also made poverty an even bigger problem in the city, with many more families unemployed, using food banks, applying for social assistance, and, yes, using public transit because it's what they can afford. The price of a monthly pass has already increased 22 per cent since 2007. This may not be the year to put extra burden on the people living in poverty, including the working poor.

In the wake of last year's split decision on a fare increase, a disappointed Mayor Fred Eisenberger said: "These are tough times. It's a question of balance." That's as true this year as it was then.

Council needs to strike a balanced approach to the pressures on the overall city budget and all taxpayers and the pressures on the HSR and passengers. There needs to be more collaboration and communication with transit users than there has been to date. The results of an operational review of HSR need to be released and understood before a decision is taken on a fare increase. Council needs to hear from and listen to social justice and taxpayer advocates. That process begins at a Committee of the Whole meeting tomorrow. A transit fare increase may ultimately be necessary, but not before a great deal of sincere collaboration and creative thinking rule out other alternatives.

http://thespec.com/Opinions/article/661727

let me take you higher!

Higher fares and dirtier buses

City staff are calling for a 20 cent fare hike for the HSR and DARTS, and switching bus purchases to 40-foot diesel vehicles instead of a mix of 40 and 60 foot articulated hybrids. The proposals were released on Friday and go before councillors as part of the ‘transit day’ budget deliberations on October 29.

The 9:30 am meeting at the Sheraton Hotel was also expected to consider changes to HSR routes proposed by consultants. A presentation on those changes (not yet made public) is on the agenda, but transit staff want no action taken by councillors until staff have an opportunity to respond.

The fare hikes, on the other hand, are recommended for finalization by November 30 so they can be imposed at the start of next year.

“Foregone revenue from a delay in a fare increase beyond January 1, 2010 would be in the order of $100,000 per month,” warns the report.

Staff say their proposals respond to a council directive that limits spending increases to 2 percent for 2010 – equal to a little over $850,000 for transit. Staff say the division is facing $2.1 million in additional costs next year plus a $1.3 million drop in revenue because of fewer riders, and that the combined effect would be amount to an 8 percent hike in spending.

The report doesn’t specify the precise effect on ticket or pass prices, instead only referring to “a fare increase of an average of 20 cents per trip”. Applied across the board, the hike would translate into approximately $10 extra per month on the adult and student passes that currently sell for $79 and $63 respectively.

As recently as June 2007, these passes were $65 for adults and $50 for students. Cash fares are currently $2.40 with adult tickets costing $1.85. The seniors pass is now $205 a year. Any fare hikes approved will also apply to DARTS tickets.

The report says fare hikes “ideally” should be for the purpose of improving transit services, and not to keep down taxes.

“Less desirably, in a challenged fiscal environment, fare increases are applied to meet fiscal goals for program budgets versus strategic goals,” explains the report. “Fare increases where the new revenue is used to offset increases to the general tax levy are detrimental to the sustainability of transit programs.”

Transit taxes are area-rated and only apply to portions of the city that receive HSR service with the vast majority collected from residents of the former city of Hamilton. A $300,000 home there pays $266 a year on their tax bill, while similar valued homes in Ancaster pay $58, in Waterdown $60, Dundas $63 and Stoney Creek $85.

Other recommended measures include purchasing only low-floor ramp vehicles for DARTS rather than the lift-equipped high floor design. Staff are also calling for a delay to increases in the Taxi Scrip program that have been recommended by council’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

Dropping the policy of buying hybrid buses, including some large articulated vehicles, will save $200,000 explains the report, while abandoning the purchase of lift-equipped DARTS buses will conserve an additional $100,000. There is no discussion in the report on the implications of these moves for either air quality or transit services.
Changes to DARTS to meet new provincial human rights rules are to be discussed in a separate report that staff promises for “the near future” but say won’t affect next year’s transit budget.

“However, there will be substantive financial impacts on future budget years beyond 2010 to achieve compliance with the pending AODA legislation as it is currently contemplated,” the report warns.

At this point, no formal opportunities are being provided to allow transit users to comment on the proposed changes, although council committees usually accept individual requests to speak if made by noon on the day prior to the scheduled meeting.


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.

The Big Cycle

Saw this first at i bike TO; something to inspire local planners?

stripes on sanders

Some new bike lanes painted on Sanders Blvd in west Hamilton. With oversized lanes and low traffic volumes, a fairly uncontroversial installation. Compare this to the situation on Dundurn South, where some shop owners have opposed new bike lanes, and the city has delayed (but not cancelled) painting lanes during road resurfacing there until the spring. Thankfully the councillor has held the line on the benefit of new cycling infrastructure; hopefully other projects in other city wards will have the support of the councillor, and not bend to the first angry opponent of cycling.

transit terminal transition

MacNab closes as new terminal takes shape TheSpec.com - Local - MacNab closes as new terminal takes shape

The Hamilton Spectator, (Oct 19, 2009)

Construction is set to begin bright and early this morning on Hamilton's new downtown transit terminal .

The work will close MacNab Street between King and Main for 10 months.

It includes the construction of a new terminal building, bus shelters, platforms and the reconstruction of MacNab Street between King and Main streets.

Although MacNab will be closed, local access will be available for the CIBC building and the Hamilton Convention Centre.

The new terminal is part of the city's plans to move the buses out of Gore Park and revitalize the area bounded by James and Catharine Streets, the north edge of Gore Park and the southern sidewalk along the south leg of King Street East.

HSR buses will be relocated from the south side of King Street East to the new terminal.

By removing buses from the south leg of King Street East, it's hoped to provide an opportunity to improve the pedestrian environment in that area through the Gore master plan project.

That project involves extensive public consultation and will be completed to co-ordinate with the timing of the new transit terminal.

The design of the new transit terminal features several "green" and innovative elements -- such as a "green" roof and heated platform, as well as new shelters, public washrooms and enhanced accessibility for wheelchairs and bicycles.

bike lift for the climate

The folks from hamilton350 hooked into Hamilton's Car Free week Critical Mass bike ride, with a bike-lift at the corner of King and James, downtown. The link between climate change and transportation is strong, and so is the movement to reduce our ecological footprint by replacing car trips with transit, walking and of course, cycling!

speedy streets?

CATCH News – September 19, 2009

Speed limit rules changed

The city has adopted new guidelines for speed limits on urban and rural roads that rely on drivers to determine the most appropriate velocity. The guidelines that were produced by a national road association will be supplemented with a modified policy for school zones.

The report from the city’s traffic management department argues that “motorists drive at a speed which they find comfortable based on visual cues and their surroundings and not from the speed limit signs” and therefore road safety is improved by setting speed limits “that match the expectation” of drivers.

“The ideal speed limit would be self enforcing,” says the report . “In most cases, the majority of drivers do find the optimum travel speed, and it is inappropriate to set a posted speed limit that is inconsistent with driver’s perceptions, and rely on police enforcement to try to reduce operating speeds.”

The new policy follows guidelines released this year by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), a 95 year old organization that was originally called the Canadian Good Roads Association. It changed its name in 1970 to the Roads and Transportation Association and subsequently dropped the roads reference as it “expand its mandate to include all modes of transport for passengers and freight in the 1990s.

“TAC has a primary focus on roadways and their strategic linkages and inter-relationships with other components of the transportation system,” says the group’s website .

The organization doesn’t have a policy for school zones, so city staff have devised one that will be considered for use within 150 metres of a school. It would set a maximum 40 km per hour limit but on major roads that may only apply for part of the school day.

“Arterial roads have a primary purpose of moving traffic. Lower speed limits are generally contrary to this explicit purpose”, explains the policy attached to the staff report. “However, recognizing the need to provide for the safety of school-aged pedestrians en route to school, it may be appropriate to slow the maximum permissible speed of motor vehicle traffic. The time-limited speed limit strikes a balance between the safety of school children and the need to ensure mobility through the city.”

Glanbrook councillor Dave Mitchell welcomed the change which he hopes will result in lower posted speeds on some rural roads – something that has been previously requested by the city’s agricultural and rural affairs subcommittee.

Hart Solomon, the city’s director of traffic engineering and operations, told Mitchell that in some cases the new rules could mean a 10 km per hour reduction in current limits.

Downtown councillor Bob Bratina wanted to know if the policy would affect a proposed 30 km speed limit sought by residents of the north end neighbourhood and endorsed in principle by council.

Solomon assured him that “council always has the authority to override” the new rules.

“This policy doesn’t look at speed limits under 50 km in local areas so this would just be a special case and we’ve already anticipated that it would exist as a pilot project,” he said.

The report doesn’t directly address pedestrian or cycling safety. The city’s public health department is advocating for more walkable communities through its Hamilton Walks project, and a new cycling master plan was recently presented to council by the city’s alternative transportation coordinator.

The staff report shows consultation only with the Hamilton police service who “agrees completely with the concept of setting speed limits based on good engineering principles” and “does not support artificially low speed limits due to the impact on fair and appropriate enforcement.”

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 .

It's time again to celebrate car-free mobility. It's become quite clear that using alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use supports more liveable cities by making streets safer for young and old alike, while contributing to better health and a less polluted environment.
Every year, Transportation for Liveable Comunities celebrates the good things that Hamilton offers in the way of car-freedom. This year, once again, the events span a week, but they could become events that stay with you a lifetime:

* Monday, September 21 - BUS AND HIKE TO SHERMAN FALLS - meet at the campus bus stop by McMaster Museum of art at 5:30pm sharp -bus leaves at 5:35pm (bring your MacID or bus tickets, water and a snack, proper footwear - rain or shine) - Free Waterfall and Hamilton Bike Route maps for participants. Optional Pub stop at the Phoenix upon returning by bus to campus (8-8:30 est time of arrival)

* Tuesday, September 22 - 6:00 to 9:00pm. Have a happy car free day and learn to do free basic bike repair and maintenance at Hamilton's first all-volunteer non-profit bike repair workshop: RECYCLE CYCLES. Located in the basement of Erskine Presbyterian Church (19 Pearl Street North, Hamilton) - enter at side door off Morden Street. There is no cost for the workshop, but please pre-register with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or by calling 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

* Thursday, September 24 - Annual CAR FREE DRIVE IN MOVIE AT GAGE PARK - free films for the whole family at dusk at the historic bandshell - take a bus, ride, walk to the movies under the stars.

BY BUS: From Central McMaster Campus take the HSR #5 Delaware Bus (eastbound, destination Greenhill) or check out the google maps for transit in Hamilton to make your route choices
BY BICYCLE? Grab a city of Hamilton Bike Routes and Parks map from the OPIRG office (McMaster Student Centre room 229)


* Friday, September 25 - Hamilton's monthly CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE meets at the corner of Hess and George Streets, in Hamilton's "Hess Village" at 5:30 pm on the last friday of each month. This is the CAR FREE WEEK mass ride - dress up, bring some noise, and let your spirits soar with your bike along Hamilton's downtown streets.

* Saturday, September 26 - McMaster to Market - self guide yourself: walk from the McMaster campus to two local markets - one, Westdale's weekly organic vegetable market (Saturday's from 8am to 1pm in front of My Dog Joe Fair trade coffeehouse ), and the Makers Market, 10am to3pm at St. Paul's Church in Westdale, the fourth Saturday of the month, featuring local produce and local artisans.

Cycling Progress on Dundurn

Dundurn construction begins today
Dundurn construction begins today
Resurfacing, bike lanes cause delays through October

John Burman, Hamilton Spectator

Construction crews are scheduled to begin resurfacing Dundurn Street South today.

The work – between Hill Street a block south of Main Street West and Aberdeen Avenue – includes removal of all parking on the east side of Dundurn for bicycle lanes.

The work should be completed by the end of October.

City council approved an updated cycling master plan for Hamilton in June. And that includes the bike lanes on Dundurn.

Ward one Councillor Brian McHattie says it may be possible to add three or four parking spaces on the west side of the street.

In an e-mail to area residents, McHattie notes there is significant concern from area merchants and some residential property owners who feel the loss of parking will “result in decreased business, cause more disruption around an already congested area around Earl Kitchener School, and disadvantage motorists with mobility issues who benefit from parking closer to their destination; whether it be church, doctor’s office or business.”

“While I agree that these impacts will occur, I also believe that we need to encourage a cultural shift away from dependency on the private automobile towards cycling as a different mode of transportation,” McHattie said.

The city’s cycling master plan notes bike lanes are a good thing for Dundurn because they will provide connection to the new CP rail trail via Glenside Avenue planned early next year, link to the existing Chedoke rail trail up the escarpment, and provide connections to the downtown via Herkimer Street, Charlton Avenue and Jackson Street.

The plan also says the bike lanes will connect to the McMaster Innovation Park on Longwood Road via the extension of Frid Street via the west end of Charlton Avenue and link to the waterfront over King Street and Longwood Road in 2010.

Sharing can get you to your destination

A new and welcome component to the sustainable transportation mix in Hamilton:

Hamilton CarShare Launch Event & BBQ - Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009

• Part 1: 11:00am – Ribbon Cutting at City of Hamilton Lot #80, King St. W. & Bay St. S.
• Part 2: 11:30am – Ribbon Cutting at First Unitarian Church parking lot 12:00pm – BBQ, Green Venture Tire Pressure Clinic (at First Unitarian Church)

Check out Hamilton Car Share on the web here.

city cycling staff

Dear Mayor and City Councillors,

We are writing to ask that you support cycling in Hamilton by continuing to fund the Cycling Coordinator position, currently held by Daryl Bender.

As you may recall, TLC has advocated for this city staff position in the past, and after the initial experience with the staff position in place, we think our advocacy was justified.

Prior to the hiring it was our experience that programs and infrastructure for cycling were continually falling years behind schedule, while frequent changes to part-time city staff for cycling issues made follow through difficult. This situation left TLC with the clear perception that there is a strong correlation between having a staff person, and the ability to move cycling support forward.

The position of cycling coordinator fulfills the goals set out in the Transportation Master Plan, "intended to move the City towards the achievement of the objectives of Vision 2020 and are reflective of the 9 Strategic Directions to guide development decisions...identified as part of the GRIDS process, including Direction #6 - Expand transportation options that encourage travel by foot, bike and transit and enhance efficient inter-regional transportation connections," where it specifically states the need for a "permanent full-time staff position for Cycling and a permanent full-time position of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Coordinator."

TLC strongly believes that this position should be made a permanent staff position, especially at the time when the city is poised to begin implementation of the significant improvements outlined in the Shifting Gears Cycling master plan.

Transportation for Liveable Communities
(TLC) Hamilton
tlchamilton.org
tlchamilton@gmail.com
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton ON L8S 1C0

A volunteer working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group - McMaster

Pedaling the Planet's Future

Environment Hamilton's Don McLean (pictured) speaks at the Pedal for the Planet event today outside City Hall in Burlington, Ontario. He spoke of the need for action to reduce the effects of climate change and referred to actions planned in Hamilton this coming October 24, 2009, part of the 350.org climate movement. The 350 web site spells out their cause this way:

A year ago, our greatest climatologist—NASA’s James Hansen—and his team produced a landmark series of studies. They showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere top 350 parts per million, we can’t have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”

The bad news is we’re already past that number—we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why people are already dying from diseases like dengue fever and malaria occurring in places where they’ve never been seen before.

Meanwhile, the event hosts, who happen to be pedaling their bicycles to Ottawa from myriad starting points in Canada, are taking a message of their own to Canadian politicians.

A new international climate change treaty will be signed next December and the final negotiations are happening now. But Canada is blocking progress. Pedal for the Planet is a chance for Ontarians to send a clear message to Ottawa: we want our country to make us proud and start acting like a leader in global efforts to confront climate change. Cyclists from across the country will converge on Parliament Hill on September 15th.

Pedal for the Planet is an initiative of KYOTOplus, a national, non-partisan, petition-centred campaign for urgent federal government action on climate change that is supported by more than 70 health, environment, labour, youth, women, development, peace and social justice organizations.

Pedal for the Planet riders will hit cities across southern Ontario over the next two weeks, visiting Members of Parliament to ask them to sign the KYOTOplus pledge. “We’re hoping to get as many signatories as possible,” says Cane. “Canada is one of the last industrialized countries opposed to targets for deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This is an opportunity for everyone to join together to call for federal government action on climate change.”

So, there are obviously things you can do to make a difference, like using alternatives to private automobiles such as car-pooling, transit, cycling, and walking; but some, like these groups, are doing this and more: they are not letting politicians off the hook for fiddling while the planet burns.

Planet Pedals to Burlington for Kyoto Plus

CROSS-CANADA CLIMATE CHANGE CYCLING TOUR
ARRIVES IN BURLINGTON, ONTARIO

For immediate release
28 August, 2009

Burlington, ON – A welcome event for cyclists riding in Pedal for the Planet will be held at 2pm on September 1st at Burlington Civic Square in front of City Hall. The event will include speeches by local and national campaigners and there will be an opportunity to meet the cyclists. Pedal for the Planet is a unique cross-Canada bike relay encouraging individuals and organizations to speak out on climate change and sign a national petition demanding that Canada do its fair share to fight global warming.

“It’s a really engaging, positive way for people to show our government that citizens are seriously demanding climate change action – serious enough to bike across the country!” says Emma Cane of Sierra Club Canada, Ontario Coordinator for Pedal for the Planet.

A new international climate change treaty will be signed next December and the final negotiations are happening now. But Canada is blocking progress. Pedal for the Planet is a chance for Ontarians to send a clear message to Ottawa: we want our country to make us proud and start acting like a leader in global efforts to confront climate change. Cyclists from across the country will converge on Parliament Hill on September 15th.

Pedal for the Planet is an initiative of KYOTOplus, a national, non-partisan, petition-centred campaign for urgent federal government action on climate change that is supported by more than 70 health, environment, labour, youth, women, development, peace and social justice organizations.

Pedal for the Planet riders will hit cities across southern Ontario over the next two weeks, visiting Members of Parliament to ask them to sign the KYOTOplus pledge. “We’re hoping to get as many signatories as possible,” says Cane. “Canada is one of the last industrialized countries opposed to targets for deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This is an opportunity for everyone to join together to call for federal government action on climate change.”

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Follow Pedal for the Planet cyclists as they share their stories at:
http://kyotoplus.ca/pedal/

all racked up at University Plaza

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre
2300 Yonge Street, Suite 500, PO Box 2386
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4
Tel: 416-866-3033; 1-800-465-2733
Fax: 416-866-3020

Monday, August 17, 2009

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


Dear RIOCAN


As advocates for sustainable transportation, Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) would like to suggest that University Plaza in Dundas, ON, could benefit if adequate facilities for secure bicycle parking were provided.

We believe you will find such a policy is beneficial to you and your tenants as it will make University Plaza a more appealing destination for the many cyclists in the area.

The location of the plaza is ideal for cyclists, as it is connected through the parking lot to the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail, a busy cycling route for residents of surrounding Dundas and Hamilton neighbourhoods, and nearby McMaster University.

Currently the plaza has only one bicycle rack outside the Metro store, and no other cycling provisions for the rest of the plaza.

As both cycling advocates and regular visitors to the plaza, we request that Riocan invest in more bicycle racks at various convenient locations at the plaza. One rack in one location obviously is not adequate for the growing number of cyclists visiting the stores.

TLC has previously worked with the city councillor and the management of the nearby Fortinos outlet to ensure adequate bicycle parking, to which they have responded well, even doubling the original number of bicycle racks to meet demand.

We see our request for more racks as good business policy, as it will mean cyclists will not have to lock to hand rails, or other similarly unsuitable locations.

Representatives of TLC would be happy to meet with you to discuss how the plaza could be made more cycle-friendly, where racks could best go, and what kind of racks work best, for example.

We look forward to your reply,

Thanks,

Randy Kay

for Transportation for Liveable Communities

(Photo taken at the one bike rack at University Plaza, Dundas, May 2009)

paving the way for flooding

Flooding from thunderstorms forced the city to close the Red Hill Creek Expressway for 48 hours. Seems even the latest engineering can't entirely contain nature's raw power. Indeed, more pavement means less opportunity for rain water to be absorbed by the earth. Perhaps Hamilton will make a start by taxing massive parking lots.



Photos from today's Hamilton Spectator on-line edition

no talk no text: just drive

Driver cellphone ban starts in October TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Driver cellphone ban starts in October

Police expected to go easy — at first

TORONTO — Ontario’s ban on the use of cellphones, BlackBerrys and other hand-held electronic devices by drivers will take effect in October.

Transportation Minister Jim Bradley says motorists can expect an education period when the ban first comes into effect, which means police will show some leniency.

He says that’s what happened in other jurisdictions when they banned cellphones for drivers, and Ontario will follow that pattern.

Ontario drivers could be fined up to $500 if they’re caught using their hand-held cellphones or BlackBerrys to talk, email or send text messages while behind the wheel.

Bradley says hands-free devices aren’t covered by the legislation, but they are not recommended for use while driving.

Ontario is the fourth province to enact such a ban, following Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Manitoba has introduced similar legislation.

Drivers are also banned from using portable video games and DVD players but they are allowed to use their cellphones for 911 calls.

Global positioning systems are allowed, as long as they’re properly secured to the dashboard.

There are no demerit points attached to the Ontario law, unlike in other provinces.

However, Bradley says Ontario motorists using a banned cellphone could also be charged under careless driving laws and face fines, six demerit points, a driver’s licence suspension and even jail time.

ridership down

Hamilton feels transit pinch TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Hamilton feels transit pinch

2 per cent ridership drop costs $600,000

Nicole MacIntyre, Hamilton Spectator


Hamilton’s job losses are also hurting the city’s transit system.

Ridership is down 2 per cent — a $600,000 budget hit.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s connected to the economy,” said transit director Don Hull.

Increased unemployment means fewer people travelling in general, he said, noting other cities with high job losses have also seen a ridership dip.

If cities haven’t seen a drop, it’s likely because they’ve had new service come on line, noted Hull.

Toronto’s ridership, for example, is up nearly 3 per cent. Observers point to service enhancements that started in the last year.

Across the country, it appears transit ridership is holding steady, a welcome surprise given the poor economy, said Michael Roschlau, president of the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

He also credits service improvements and suspects the figures would be much worse without recent investments.

The association is still waiting for firm numbers, but has heard anecdotally from many communities, he said.

Roschlau cautions against cities slashing services to make up for the budget shortfalls. Cuts now will only leads to further ridership losses and mean a longer recovery, he said.

“You start to get in a downward spiral.”

Hull said the city has no plans for cuts, but hopes savings from lower gas prices will offset the lost fare revenue.

giving laundry the gears

A comment on an article about laundry at Raise the Hammer lead me to this video on Youtube.
I want one...

SNAFU

As a system for moving people, the privately owned, single-occupancy motor vehicle has to be the most costly, dangerous, dirty and inefficient way (one "accident" can clog the main highways for hours). Given viable alternatives, who wouldn't want to switch?

The following headline kind of sums up the logic of car-centric cities:

---

Scott Gardner, the Hamilton Spectator

A city trapped in traffic paralysis TheSpec.com - Local - A city trapped in traffic paralysis

Mid-afternoon 403 crash chokes Hamilton roads for hours

Daniel Nolan


One mid-afternoon accident on the eastbound 403 Thursday literally turned Hamilton into a parking lot.

Major arteries across the lower city and Mountain ground to a halt in a chain reaction of congestion as traffic first backed up on the 403, then onto Main Street and then throughout the city as police closed the highway and then Linc.

Hours after the 2 p.m. accident that left a London man in critical condition, routes across the Mountain were still backed up for kilometres as drivers tried to get across the city. The Linc was closed to stop traffic reaching the 403. And police were urging Toronto-bound motorists to take the Linc, Red Hill and QEW to get around the stopper in the bottle.

But even that didn’t help as a pair of accidents on the QEW created a perfect storm of congestion.

The worst was at rush-hour last night when traffic was backed up for miles. Some reported seeing people relaxing on their cars and talking to their parked neighbours.

Hamilton police closed eight on-ramps to prevent traffic from getting onto the eastbound lanes of the 403. It shut down ramps between Upper James Street on the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway and King Street on the 403, just a few kilometres west of the accident scene.

Those caught behind the accident were backed up and brought on to the Main Street on-ramp in front of The Hamilton Spectator.

"Everybody is just parked on the highway and we're trying to get everybody moving," said Staff Sergeant George Narozniak.

To make matters worse, the Niagara-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way in Beamsville were closed for 90 minutes following two separate collisions at about 6:30 p.m. One involved a collision between a van and a tractor on the South Service Road, between Bartlett and Sann Road. A person was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital in serious condition.

And a third accident in Stoney Creek also caused serious injuries. Two vehicles crashed head-on at about 4:30 p.m. on the South Service Road, near Jones Road. One person was initially in critical condition, but improved last night. Two others were taken to hospital. The South Service Road was closed to traffic for a short time.

The London, Ont., man was ejected from his pickup truck when it rolled over during the Highway 403 accident, just before 2 p.m. Witnesses say his truck rolled a few times on the highway near the York Boulevard on-ramp and landed on its roof. He was taken by ambulance to the Hamilton General Hospital. He was in critical condition this morning.

A taxi cab and a SUV were also involved. The drivers were not injured and the vehicles sustained minor damage. The accident is now being probed by the OPP Traffic Support Unit.

The crash caused two other accidents. A tanker-truck and a pickup truck collided on the 403 shortly after the first crash, just west of the accident scene. There were no injuries. An OPP officer rushing to the first accident lost control of his cruiser and crashed into a ditch on Highway 6, between Highway 5 and Highway 403. The officer received minor injuries.

bridging highways for pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrians, cyclists getting Linc bridge, trail TheSpec.com - Local - Pedestrians, cyclists getting Linc bridge, trail

Eric McGuinness, The Hamilton Spectator

(Jul 16, 2009)

More than $2 million in federal and provincial infrastructure grants is paving the way for construction of a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists across the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Arbour Road and the start of a 10-kilometre east Mountain trail loop that will eventually cross the bridge.

Just under $1 million is coming from a federal-provincial program, and $1 million-plus for the bridge from Investing in Ontario.

The federal-provincial money will also pay for energy-efficient washrooms in the new Eramosa Karst Conservation Area and expansion of the Fifty Point Conservation Area campground in Winona.

The bridge is a City of Hamilton project, the campground and karst land belong to the Hamilton Conservation Authority and the trail loop is a joint effort.

The trail, intended to compensate for open space lost to the Red Hill Valley Parkway, will one day connect Felker's Falls Conservation Area, Paramount Park, Glendale Falls, Albion Falls Park, Mount Albion Conservation Area, the karst conservation area and Valley Park.

The partners will call tenders for the first two kilometres as soon as permission is obtained from the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

The first of four phases will run from Felker's Falls west to the top of the parkway near Glendale Falls, connecting to trails through Red Hill Valley that will extend to Lake Ontario once a planned pedestrian bridge is built across the QEW.

Sandy Bell, the authority's manager of design and development, said Fifty Point will add 24 serviced sites to its existing 46 to meet growing demand.

Rob Norman, the city's manager of open space development and parks planning, says the Arbour Road bridge will serve as a hub connecting the Escarpment Rail Trail, Bruce Trail, Red Hill Valley Trail and the Chippawa Trail leading south to Caledonia.

bicycles and beers

TLC continues our unofficial support for local invention from two McMaster engineering students: vote for the Crosstown Trailer in this international competition: http://www.jamesdysonaward.org/

Watch it in action, Canadian style!

carnage

Accident victims were newlyweds TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Accident victims were newlyweds

Runaway SUV killed Burlington couple, Hamilton cyclist

Hannah Gordon-Roche and Jeffery Roche were married June 6.

The Burlington couple, both 29, was killed June 26 by an out-of-control SUV Friday, just four days after returning from their honeymoon.

An 81-year-old cyclist, Tong Vi Duong of Hamilton, was also killed in the late afternoon series of collisions that left a trail of destruction along York Boulevard near the High Level Bridge and closed the road for 11 hours.

The tragedy unfolded at 5:28 p.m. Friday when a black, Ford Explorer driving north on York Boulevard at the start of the High Level Bridge hit a cyclist.

Witnesses say the SUV continued north dragging the cyclist for about 15 metres and then continued around a curve and eastbound across the bridge before colliding with the rear of a small, eastbound sedan near Valley Inn Road. The car then bounced into the path of an oncoming pickup truck at Valley Inn Road near the border with Halton.

The driver, 40-year-old Allan Maki, of Stoney Creek, has been charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and three counts of dangerous driving causing death.

Police shut a huge swath of York Boulevard and Plains Road West while collision reconstruction investigators examined the scene and kept it closed overnight.

The force of the collision destroyed the small sedan, killing the Roches and their West Highland Terrier, Piper-Bear.

Staff Sergeant Glenn Jarvie, of the police emergency response section, said today the SUV then continued off the road and police found the driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, there with minor injuries. He was taken to hospital, treated and released.

The three deaths brought the number of traffic fatalities in Hamilton so far this year to 10.

At the other end of the bridge, Conrad Zurini said he tried to help Duong, but it was too late.

"The man was on a bike with fenders and a large container on the back," Zurini said. "It dragged the bike and man for about 40 feet. We got there and he was spread out on the ground. A nurse rushed in to give him CPR but when I felt for a pulse, there was no pulse. There was bleeding coming from the back of his head."

Although intial police reports indicated the driver of the SUV may have suffered a medical emergency, Jarvie said today that is still the subject of investigation and there has been no final conclusion on that issue.

Jarvie said investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Jarvie said the evidence at the scene warrants the charges laid.

He also said police need witnesses to the collision to come forward and urged anyone with information to contact the collision reconstruction unit at 905-546-4753.

Funeral Service for Hannah Gordon-Roche and Jeffery Roche will be held Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. Christopher's Anglican Church, , 662 Guelph Line, Burlington, where visitation will take place one hour prior to the service before burial at Parklawn Cemetery, Toronto.

In lieu of flowers friends have been asked to please make a donation to Interval House, Hamilton, UNICEF or a charity that supports children.

jburman@thespec.com, 905-526-2469

http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/591435

terminal start

City Releases Transit Terminal Designs
Ken Mann (CHML 900 AM) 6/26/2009

The city has released conceptual drawings of the new MacNab Street Transit Terminal.

The design includes a "green" roof and heated platform, as well as public washrooms, new shelters and improved accessibility.

Plans also call for the closure of MacNab Street, between King and Main, starting on Sunday as the pre-construction work begins.

The new terminal will be completed by next fall.

Mayor Eisenberger calls it "another significant step in modernizing our public transportation infrastructure".

The project's completion will also divert busses away from Gore Park making that area more "pedestrian-friendly".
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Details from the HSR here.