Letter to Hamilton City Council

Transportation for Liveable Communities
PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
905-525-9140 ext. 26026
www.hwcn.org/link/tlc

August 9, 2004

Dear Hamilton City Council,

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC), an all-volunteer working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster, is currently planning a week of "Car-Free" events in the city to celebrate International Car Free Day (September 22). The events run from September 20 to the 26th.

In the interest of encouraging sustainable forms of transportation and supporting the goals of Vision 2020 in this area, we are building a series of events that celebrate and encourage walking, cycling, transit and "car-free" or "pedestrian priority" areas, all infused with a community spirit.

For example, this year we are offering free guided cycling tours of the waterfront trail, a "bus 'n hike" guided trip to Spencer Gorge using the HSR regular routing, neighbourhood street parties, a night of "car-free" art, film, poetry and music at the Staircase Café Theatre, and a "Bicycle Drive-In" outdoor movie.

Another event we would like to hold at the end of the week is a "Car Free Cootes Sunday."

CAR FREE COOTES

Currently, the spectacular Royal Botanical Garden's Cootes Paradise Nature Reserve is girdled with roads - Highway 403 at the east end, and Cootes Drive, an 80 km/h four lane expressway, in the west. By closing Cootes Drive to vehicular traffic on Sunday, September 25, 2004 we are in effect opening Cootes for people to explore the various footpaths and cycling trails, to canoe along Spencer Creek, to take advantage of the abundant bird-watching opportunities, and to enjoy the scenery, all in a much quieter, cleaner and safer environment, while simultaneously giving a reprieve to the many animals who live in the area and suffer the devastating impact (literally) of cars.

The area around Cootes is well served by public transit so people can easily access the area while the road is closed. There are good alternate routes available to people driving between Hamilton and Dundas and beyond.

Details of the closure would include:

• keeping the McMaster entrance open for cars coming from Main Street, but closing the road between McMaster and Dundas (East Street).
• Cars coming from York/Olympic would be detoured along King Steet West in Dundas.
• A few barriers with road closed signs would be all that would be necessary to close the road to traffic. A "Car Free Cootes" banner hung from the bridge over Cootes Drive at McMaster would welcome people to the area.
• There would be no interruption of city transit routes.

With good promotion, surrounding business areas could participate with sidewalk sales and/or special promotions with a car-free theme.

CAR FREE DAY

International Car Free Day is an annual event celebrated by 100 million people across every continent. Last year on September 22 over 1400 cities in 40 countries celebrated car free-dom.

TLC has been organizing Car Free Events in Hamilton since 2000. A number of Canadian cities have recently begun celebrating Car Free Day with street closures and other related events: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Kitchener, Halifax, Victoria have all taken the plunge.

"Car Free Day focuses on raising the awareness of urban dwellers with respect to the nuisances caused by the use of private cars in the city; air pollution, global warming, sprawl, stress, and safety issues. Car Free Day also emphasises the rights of pedestrians and cyclists, the need for more and better public transit, and helps people rediscover their local community outside the confines of their vehicle." (www.carfreeday.ca/PDF/report.pdf)

CAR FREE DAY AND VISION 2020

Car Free Day supports Vision 2020 in the following areas:

• Changing Our Mode of Transportation by encouraging "a shift in personal lifestyle and behaviour towards transportation choices that enhance personal health and fitness, save money, and have the lowest environmental cost;"
• By encouraging pedestrian priority, car-free areas, Car Free Day supports the vison for Land Use in the Urban Aea by encouraging "development which makes efficient and economical use of infrastructure and services," and aiding the redevelopment of "Hamilton’s central core as the regional centre," and "to use alternative modes of movement, such as, walking, bicycling, and public transit everyday;"
• Arts and Heritage by achieving "community-wide awareness and participation in the arts and our natural and cultural heritage;"
• Safety and Security by developing "the social and physical environments that allow all citizens to participate fully and safely in our community;"
• Community Well-Being and Capacity Building by developing "cultural institutions, public facilities and parks and open space which inspire community pride and sense of place" and "To build and develop the capacity of individuals, community organizations, the private and non-profit sectors to be self-reliant;"
• The Local Economy is enhanced by improving "the ability of local businesses and organizations to compete both locally and globally;"
• Natural Areas and Corridors - The Cootes Drive closure specifically enhances the Vision "To develop and protect a system of interconnected natural areas which provides for the growth and development of native plants and wildlife and, where appropriate provides access for all citizens of Hamilton."

CAR FREE DAY AND THE CITY - OUR REQUEST

Our request to the city is for a temporary road closure permit to allow the Cootes Drive event to occur. With difficult summer schedules and the fact that we are doing this on a very limited budget, we realize that the turn-around time on this is short, however, since there is very little as far as structural needs (some barriers and signs) we are hopeful that the city will grant the road closure and waive insurance and liability requirements (since closing a road to traffic makes the area safer.)

We also would like the City of Hamilton to officially proclaim Car Free Day and work with TLC and other interested groups in the future to build this positive and community based annual event in the city.

Thank you for your time, we look forward to your response,

Randy Kay
Transportation for Liveable Communities

WEB RESOURCES

Car Free Day (Toronto) www.carfreeday.ca
International Car Free Day www.22september.org
European Mobility Week www.mobilityweek-europe.org
Vision 2020 www.vision2020.hamilton.ca