Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster. PO Box 19 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON, Canada, L8S 1C0 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

SATURDAY MAY 14, 2005

alternative transportation walk-about in Dundas with Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC)

The threatened morning rain held off long enough to allow a dozen people make the trek around Dundas examining sustainable transportation issues with the ward councillor.

Representatives from Transportation for Liveable Communities, Transit Users Group and the City Cycling Committee, and others attended the hour and a half walk-about with councillor Art Samson and Community Council member Jeff Saunders.

TLC set up the event to allow citizens to examine and discuss outstanding issues involving cycling, transit, pedestrian and access issues with the ward councillor.

Information sharing was back and forth between Samson and the others as specifics around crosswalks, bike parking, bike lanes, bus routing, and hiking trails were discussed.

The example of bike-rack placement underscored a lack of consultation with local bike users - while the city finally installed much needed ring and post bike racks, it was pointed out that they are in locations not likely to get much use. Darlene Mills, chair of the Dundas Business Improvement Area (BIA) was nearby and was brought into the discussion. She acknowledged that more discussion might be a good thing, and a TLC representative suggested the BIA get together with TLC to choose better locations nearer to where cyclists shop along King Street.

Samson gave an update on talks with the HSR (Hamilton Street Railway, the city bus company): a meeting with the HSR is scheduled for Monday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. which a TUG representative will now be attending to hear about planned service changes for Dundas. TUG is holding a meeting next week (Thursday, May 18) to discuss the plans and take input from bus users (something it seems the HSR may not be doing).

Samson also provided some information on new crosswalk infrastructure, necessary since the city stopped re-painting “uncontrolled” intersections, i.e. intersections with no traffic lights or stop signs. Interestingly, the walk-about had to make crossings at some points where there were no longer painted crosswalks.

Also discussed were the proposed painted bike lanes on Hatt Street. Issues of parking were raised and solutions sought to accommodate concerns about loss of street parking. TLC and the City Cycling Committee will be pursuing a workable solution with the councillor to see improvements made to this important cycling route in the city.

The group then stopped at the McMurray Street bridge over the Spencer Creek to talk about protection and improvement to the Spencer Creek Trail developed by local resident Ian Reid to connect the Bruce Trail in the west end of town, with the Royal Botanical Gardens trails in Cootes Paradise to the east of town, as well as to have a car free footpath along the creek. Some of the trail is on land that needs easements to ensure its future, and there are missing links that need improvement at different points, which will be followed up on.

One person in attendance using an electric scooter did a preliminary examination and found fairly good infrastructure in place along the route. Corner ramps were fairly good, with some notable exceptions where the crosswalk lines lead to a raised curb, with ramps off centre forcing disabled out into turning lanes to access the sidewalk.

TLC will prepare a more detailed report and follow-up with Art Samson to see that action is taken on these issues.

rk may 14, 2005