(Image: Jack Dylan)
One of Toronto’s biggest, most aggravating problems is traffic. In a recent poll about the upcoming mayoral election, Torontonians ranked congestion as one of their most significant concerns, above even the economy. Gridlock costs Toronto untold millions in lost productivity. Then there’s everyone’s wasted time, not to mention missed flights and appointments, and overall frustration. “Our roads and transit systems are strained,” says Julia Deans, CEO of the Toronto City Summit Alliance, who believes efficient roads are critical to our competitiveness and quality of life.
This summer, if getting from one part of the city to another seemed particularly hellish, that’s because it was. The 2010 municipal capital budget is 50 per cent larger than last year. In addition, road repairs ramped up as the city eagerly spent federal infrastructure stimulus funds that will expire at the end of March.
How is city hall addressing congestion? This year, it’s green-lighting about 500 special events that will shut down roads, creating even more gridlock. These days, we treat our roads not as roads, but as a means of expression. Toronto is choked with protest marches, disease-related charity runs, ethnic festivals, holiday parades and car races. We love our street parties: the Taste of Lawrence, Taste of the Danforth, and Salsa on St. Clair. There’s the Beaches Jazz Festival, Luminato and Nuit Blanche—plus not one but two marathons. Woofstock draws tens of thousands of dogs and their owners for such events as the Stupid Dog Tricks show and a Ms. and Mr. Canine Canada Pageant. Unfortunately, the festival also shuts down a key stretch of Front Street for an entire weekend in June. Then BuskerFest shuts the same stretch down for four days in August.
I have nothing against the Cure. Or Caribana. Or, for that matter, something called Toronto Chinatown Festival 2010, which in late August shuts down much of Spadina Avenue (for two days!). Of course we should raise money for good causes. But can’t we Crochet for the Cure instead? Must we always close our streets? And if we have to use our roads for non-transportation purposes, shouldn’t we set some limits? We appear to have put ourselves at the mercy of every interest group, ethnic group and splinter group. There’s even a parade for Protestants cheering a 17th-century victory over Catholics in Ireland. Every July for the past 190 years, the Orange Association has held a march that typically begins at the Moss Park Armoury and goes up to College and Yonge. Why not march in memory of Genghis Khan, too?
I raised my concerns recently with Gary Welsh, Toronto’s general manager of transportation services and the city’s road-closure czar. “You’ve got all these cultures that want to celebrate their heritage, and council wants to encourage that,” Welsh said. “Other activities like road races and marathons are part of the ‘be healthy’ kick. In general, special events make Toronto an exciting place to be.”
To shut down a road, a city resident fills out a simple form and, if approved, pays $74.19. “We are receptive to requests and try to accommodate permits wherever possible,” Welsh added, noting there was a road-hockey tournament tying up the Esplanade as we spoke. Any limits? “Well,” he said, thinking for a moment. “You can’t have a family get-together on Yonge Street.”
Welsh’s solution to the frustration of roadblock season is publicity: his office issues press releases. A new Web site announces road closures, and he’s quite proud of a new sign: a round, orange alert sign that’s screwed to the top right corner of regular rectangular road-disruption signs. All this, he suggests, will provide enough notice so people can plan to take alternative routes, stay home or get out of town.
“If someone’s going to drive across town on a Saturday morning,” he told me, “they should be aware of road closures and leave enough time.” He added, rather breathtakingly, “If a member of the public is caught in traffic, he should be saying to himself, ‘I should almost be mad at myself.’ ” How Canadian. You step on my foot, I say sorry.
poor old Jan Wong. She was much better when she took chicks out to lunch and then slimed them in her Globe column.
September 1, 2010 at 3:19 pm | by davidWhy is the Chinatown festival o.k, JAN WONG ? I think the more street parties the better. Let different cultures celebrate. Let orginizations do fun things that inspire participation ,for charity. Why do you want to kill fun in Toronto? Because it took you an extra 10 minutes to get where you going one day. I have friends and family who visit T.O. in the summer and they love the atmosphere that these festivals provide.
September 1, 2010 at 3:29 pm | by DavisAww, poor Jan. Caught in traffic a few too many times because you failed to listen to the traffic updates on the news? That’s quite the sob story you tell. I can’t say that I agree with you one bit. Street Festivals are what bring out the people to celebrate the city’s diversity, beauty and all it has to offer. If you know enough to check the traffic and keep up with what’s going on in the city, you don’t run into these problems. Street closures happen for more reasons than just festivals. Street repairs, traffic accidents, charity marathons, etc…but of course you don’t see people up in huff about them.
Don’t complain just because you were careless enough not to keep up to date on the city’s goings-on. We always check the weather forecast when planning an outing…checking the traffic before you go out should be no different.
Yes Jan, it is your fault that you got stuck in a traffic jam this past weekend. Suck it up.
September 1, 2010 at 3:53 pm | by Jim ToddNever really have this problem on my bike.
September 1, 2010 at 4:11 pm | by wahhhI have to partially agree with this.
There are plenty of other ways to celebrate without causing major traffic paralysis. Some people work on weekends too, you know! and TTC is not the most reliable option lately, or not even an option sometimes (especially when streets are blocked).
How about hosting this events in the many, many parks/parking lots/general empty spaces you see all around the city, even in downtown?
This is the way it’s done in various other cities and countries, and I was fairly shocked when I arrived to Toronto that we had this many street festivals. Not that I don’t enjoy them, but I think there should be a better filtering when it comes to closing down roads.
September 1, 2010 at 4:12 pm | by JaeJan Wong, perhaps city life is not for you.
September 1, 2010 at 4:27 pm | by ZuzuStreet festivals are a great part of Toronto. As a concierge I recommend these all the time to tourists. These events happen every year and with enough notice in the news. It is very easy to work around these events.
September 1, 2010 at 7:48 pm | by AndrewBuzz kill much, Jan Wong?
We only have three legitimate months of summer, let us enjoy it for what it’s worth.
They’re called walking shoes, dear.
September 2, 2010 at 9:02 am | by ValerieWow…wah wah wah…this has got to be the stupidest article I have ever read. Do you want some cheese with that whine? Why don’t you turn on the radio or the TV before you leave, even the night before, to find out how these amazing festivals THAT BRING LIFE TO THE CITY will interfere with your drive?
Articles like this, ones where the writer basically complains and whines about things that are happening in the city really irks me. And then they will probably write about how there’s nothing to do and how Toronto is such a boring city. What a waste of time.
September 2, 2010 at 9:05 am | by Allan CorderoWhat a moron! Get out of your car, and join the revolution. Nobody cares about guzzling gas and lattes in their car while driving at a steady speed. There will always be traffic, so get smart but a bike, walk, TTC, or stay home! We want culture and community events! Wake up Wong!
September 2, 2010 at 9:39 am | by Aaron RothermundJan Wong, the only reason I read whatever you write is to check whether you are getting less insipid as years go by. Sadly, that’s not the case.
September 2, 2010 at 9:47 am | by Mario BI totally agree with Jan – the city is becoming unlivable. But it’s not just the street festivals – it’s also the road construction (have you seen Avenue Road lately? It’ll be under construction for another two years!!) and the new bike lane on Jarvis – in sum, it’s unbearable. And public transit doesn’t solve the problem – surface routes get caught in the same mess.
September 2, 2010 at 10:15 am | by stephFor your challenge today, count how many of these comments don’t know the difference between attacking to opinion and attacking the person with the opinion, nastily and personally. Sad.
September 2, 2010 at 10:34 am | by Tobywowwww… if you dont like the festivals you should move to somewhere else… lol and for all of you dont live in downtown then dont even bother to come if you like to complaint. stay where you are. and drive around your neighbourhood LOL… I live and work in downtown love my walking and biking . I hate the cars especially from out of Toronto,,, most of them stupid ignorant drivers anyway…
September 2, 2010 at 10:51 am | by DUH!!!!Wow, once Jan enlightened me about the dangerous of Mao and his regime. Now she’s pointing out the perils and hassles of dancing in the streets!
Thanks Jan. You obviously have alot of time on your hands these days.
September 2, 2010 at 11:13 am | by Stephen Roden