Driving piece on Camillien-Houde
Postmedia has a site called Driving, which currently has an ugly piece about the closure of the Camillien-Houde. Starting with the headline calling Projet an “anti-car administration” (which it isn’t, it can’t be, but evidently the position of this site is that anything that holds back total car domination of the city is bad), it goes on to call Luc Ferrandez Plante’s “anti-auto axeman” and says “It’s important to note that Ferrandez is not above smearing himself in blood to further advance his anti-car agenda.” The rest is written in a heavy-handed style to match.
Nobody loves Postmedia or has high expectations of it, but this piece is ridiculous. It shows how far our media are willing to go to court car manufacturers and sellers.
Kevin 08:58 on 2019-05-13 Permalink
I rode over the mountain twice last week and the same problems exist.
If U-turns near the lookout are a problem, put up a wall between the up and down lanes.
To prevent cyclists from being killed by cars going down the mountain and turning right into the lookout, create a separated cycling area next to the uphill lanes.
Or if nobody likes barriers, install traffic lights or a stop sign at the lookout so people can enter and exit safely.
qatzelok 09:10 on 2019-05-13 Permalink
The article includes the scoop that two people were killed by cyclists the same year that a tourist killed a cyclist on Camillien Houde. No other news source has this story! It must have been kept hush-hush by the all-powerful bicycle lobby. (eyeroll icon)
Ephraim 10:38 on 2019-05-13 Permalink
Shouldn’t be called an article, a feature or a feature story… it’s clearly an opinion piece. And shame on “Driving” for printing it as such. It should have definitely had the words “Opinion” posted on it. Are we really getting so far from Journalistic integrity in Canada? But I digress…. you have to understand that people who live in the suburbs and those who live in the inner city won’t see things that same way. The same way that I don’t see things the same way having to deal with older people and handicapped people (and the fact that younger people don’t understand this and can’t sympathize… until it’s too late.) who don’t have the same mobility. The percentage of cars per person is entirely different in the Plateau than in Cartierville. You also have to understand that walking neighbourhoods and density offer things that lower density cannot, like restaurant density. Been to a large American suburb and looked for a good restaurant? Notice it’s all full of chains, which can survive, but a local chef’s restaurant can’t. There is a trade-off for everything.
Ian 13:59 on 2019-05-14 Permalink
While I completely agree that Postmedia is a steaming pile of hot garbage, to Kevin’s comment, I was up on the mountain on the weekend too, and specifically opted to walk back down through the cemetery because on the path up to the belvedere from the foot of the mountain my family had to keep dodging bikes (including electric bikes)… so much for a stress-free stroll up the mountain! I think separated bike paths are a great idea, and not just on the roads. Bikes are great, cars are bad, got it… but let’s remember people on foot need some quiet space, too. Where’s the all-powerful pedestrian lobby at?