Montreal City Weblog

Kate 21:16 on 2020-04-03 Permalink Reply  

• Dhomas 00:20 on 2020-04-04 Permalink

  The Repos Saint-François d’Assise out east has been closed for about a week now, too.

• Kate 08:58 on 2020-04-04 Permalink

  I guess I can see why. You don’t want to risk a gathering of people at a graveside. But for taking a stroll far away from most (living) people, all three of these cemeteries are good places. Mount Royal is especially nice in springtime, because the oldest sections have some crabapples and other flowering trees.

  I wouldn’t have thought the cemeteries dangerous for casual visitors, but I suppose they’re running with short security staff.

• Ian 12:16 on 2020-04-04 Permalink

  Last weekend I had to go to a Canadian Tire for emergency supplies and on my way home took a meandering route, originally planning to visit Notre Dame des Neiges just to be able to walk around for a bit without too many people around, or at least that was my plan, as it was already closed except by appointment. I drove to Mont-Royal instead but opted not to walk around as there already a surprising number of people walking around, mostly in groups of 2. Coming down through upper Outremont there were tons of people around, not maintaining social distance at all. I saw one group of 2 families with children openly sharing snacks from tupperware. Surprisingly way more in the very wealthy neighbourhoods than down the hill.

  I guess now that the city is asking that we not leave our neighbourhoods trying to go for a solitary walk anywhere around my neighbourhood, Mile-End, will be pretty much impossible. I guess i’ll be getting my sun by sitting on my stoop. This morning I took my coffee on the stoop as my neighbours up and down the block did their Sabbath prayers together from their own stoops & balconies, including a kaddish for the dead.

• Chris 13:10 on 2020-04-04 Permalink

  I wonder how much they think through the unintended consequences of these things. Like Ian says, in dense neighbourhoods, closing parks will just result in more crowding of sidewalks. Could be worse overall.

  With so little car traffic now, pedestrians should take back the streets. 🙂

• Ian 19:23 on 2020-04-05 Permalink

  I don’t know where you live, Chris, but in my neighbourhood the locals walk in the streets all the time regardless.

  Careful what you wish for though, we still need food deliveries and most of that comes by truck. If the streets are full of unaware ding-dongs wandering around like they do in the parks, and on the sidewalks, there will be a slowdown in restocking of groceries, pharmacies, deps, etc. at best and pedestrian deaths from getting run over by trucks while walking in the streets at worst.

• GC 08:01 on 2020-04-06 Permalink

  I’ve been walking on the street at times, just to get physical distance from other pedestrians. I can’t believe how many people are still walking in the MIDDLE of the sidewalk or out in groups of two to three adults, walking side-by-side and taking up the entire sidewalk. How is it possible to be so selfish?