Runners finish the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in front of city hall in 2008 (Image: Ben Lawson)
Rob Ford has already pledged to get cyclists and streetcars off Toronto’s streets—and it looks like marathons are next on his hit list. According to the Toronto Sun, Ford’s office received complaints about yesterday’s Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon disrupting traffic along the Gardiner. Apparently, drivers can still tell the difference between a half-working Gardiner and something even worse.
“I’m a city councillor and I didn’t know the waterfront marathon was on,” he said. “I had calls from constituents who didn’t know.
“It’s up to the city to advertise through the media,” Ford said.
Several off-ramps were closed to traffic on the Gardiner Expressway. Lake Shore Blvd. was off-limits to motorists from 5 a.m. to mid-afternoon on Sunday and there were other street shutdowns to accommodate the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. About 20,000 people took part in the event which raised $2.7 million for charity.
Ford is proposing that large marathons instead be held in places like Downsview and High Park, where there’s enough space to keep runners away from traffic arteries. The mayoral front-runner isn’t claiming that these suggestions are gospel or anything—he told the Globe and Mail editorial board that he’s just throwing ideas out there. (Ford’s brother Doug even took the opportunity to make fun of him. Lesson: don’t campaign for office with your siblings.)
Of course, they’d probably have to change the name of the Waterfront Marathon, and there’s a question about how many runners would sign up to do a dozen laps of High Park—it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
• Take marathons off city streets — Ford [Toronto Sun]
• Ford suggests taking marathons, runs off city streets [CP24]
• Ford wants marathons taken off streets and moved to parks [680 News]
• Ford In Favour Of Taking Marathons Off Streets [Newstalk 1010]
He’s a city councillor and he didn’t know this huge waterfront marathon was happening? Wasn’t this a huge item in the news back at the beginning of the year?
I really don’t understand how he is a front runner when he’s basically taking everything that Toronto is away…
September 27, 2010 at 2:24 pm | by AllanMaybe he should ease on the not so healthy life style that he lives and promote sport as a way to get people going, save us some money on health care. I’m sure there would be more than few takers who would invite him for some personal training sessions.
September 27, 2010 at 3:09 pm | by DannyThe key is how to get him out of Timmy’s
As one of the runners who participated at the Scotiabank Waterfront race, I’m deeply troubled by Mr. Ford’s comment. His proposal is ill-conceived, detrimental to the city’s economy and disheartening to Canadians who have raised money for charities while keeping an active lifestyle.
Message to all responsible Torontonians: I highly encourage you to participate in this fall’s election but PLEASE, vote for the candidate who will forward the city by implementing initiatives that are inclusive, progressive, and innovative.
Hint: Ford is NOT fit (pun intended) for the job!
September 27, 2010 at 3:14 pm | by Kristoffer Mso I thought that Rob Ford was this frugal guy…Today I see him on CP24 talkig about how marathons should be taken off city streets and into parks, for example James Gardens which his house backs onto….Hello? he lives on Edenbrige in Etobicoke? If you’re not familiar a home on Edenbridge run a cool 3-5 Million bucks….how does a penny pinching city councillor afford this??? well I guess he doesn’t spend city $ because he’s rolling in it…holy crap!
September 27, 2010 at 3:17 pm | by whaatHe’s pathetic, look at him, he couldn’t run around the block. We have a world class event in a major city, as all major cities do, raising money for charities, promoting healthy living, creating tourism, hospitality and bringing world class athletes to Toronto and all he can do is complain about it.Wow, it going to be interesting if this guy actually wins.
September 27, 2010 at 5:32 pm | by Wayne RI am sure that Mississauga would be happy to become the
major marathon city of Southern Ontario.
You didn’t know he was born rich? Yep, that’s how he thinks that slashing everything will suddenly balance the books. He’s never seriously had to worry about money in his life.
September 27, 2010 at 5:43 pm | by SalanthGrrr. I live in Ottawa and I knew this was happening this weekend. What a joke. He is the stereotypical politician. I am moving to Toronto again in May when I am finished school, and if this man wins I am seriously going to be sad for Toronto.
September 27, 2010 at 6:13 pm | by KatePerhaps somewhere outside the city core would be agreeable to everyone. Rob Ford is all for compromise as long as the solution is what he offers as a compromise. Someone tell Mr. Ford that when he speaks it should be ready, aim, fire; not fire, ready, aim. If he doesn’t practice this he better keep his feet clean because he will constantly have one or the other in his mouth.
September 27, 2010 at 6:31 pm | by Terrence RupertThings I would like to shut down because they affect my life and I get no enjoyment from them: the Indy, the Air Show, the Ex, the Santa Claus Parade, random other parades in the city… however, like any other resident of a diverse place, I recognize that other people do take part in these and enjoy them, so I live with them. Rob Ford and the complainers should do the same. (And I’m not quite sure he understands how far 42 km is, and why we need full lanes for running races – does he not know that they’re actually crowded all the way across? And that people pass each other in races? Sigh.)
September 27, 2010 at 6:36 pm | by KatI am a business owner with a store on King Street East. Normally on a Sunday in Sept we would do 5 to 6 thousand dollars in sales. On Sunday the store did exactly zero.
Rob Ford gets it. Theses street closings hurt our downtown businesses. The store I own has 10 employees and has created 4 jobs in the past year. We get tickets for parking at our dedicated loading dock and Mayor Miller and the current council do not care at all about the loss of revenue we suffer each time the streets around us are close.
Neither do the self centered people who are posting all the negative comments here it appears.
September 27, 2010 at 7:55 pm | by Todd CRob Ford is supportive of this- the well-being and maintenence of Rob Ford. He certainly knows how to complain, but does not offer any alternatives.
September 27, 2010 at 10:03 pm | by Christina ArcherPeople in Toronto are so self centered. Always in a rush and out to make a buck. Me,Me ,Me. Todd C thinks that shutting down the street he has a busines on for 6 hours on a Sunday has hurt his income. Give me a break. you rely on people in this city..runners and non runners alike. don’t think for a minute life will be easier with Rob ford at the helm. Quite the contrary. Removing races and events that cater to all walks of life is what keeps the city moving and growing. Not your complaining.
September 27, 2010 at 10:19 pm | by Dan CelettiTodd C:
If your business usually does $5 000 – $6 000 in sales on Sunday and you had absolutely no sales to speak of this past Sunday that has a lot less to do with the marathon than it has to do with your business.
The marathon was done with by the early afternoon. How do you explain your complete lack of sales for the rest of the afternoon/day?
September 28, 2010 at 7:01 am | by Matt JEvery time the major roads are closed sales drop at downtown businesses. When a store has constant sales each Sunday but zero on the day of the Marathon the connection is pretty clear.
The loss of business comes directly off the bottom line.
September 28, 2010 at 7:39 am | by Todd CI have to somewhat agree with Rob Ford. There are too many events, not just the marathon, shutting down too many streets in Toronto. Every weekend you can barely move with all the closures. The Danforth, Bloor St., The Gardiner, it just goes on and on. I believe Jan Wong wrote an article about this in a recent issue of Toronto Life. The city has just become to big and busy to have all these road closures.
September 28, 2010 at 8:05 am | by Donna M